Jaguar Cars Visit

Thursday 4th December 97 - By Andy Moss

(Jaguar factory reception. Photo: Andy Moss)

Seventeen club members made the trip to Coventry to visit the home of Jaguar cars. We arrived at the Browns Lane plant and were directed to the reception area where we were provided with coffee. This area was usually a museum of Jaguar cars, but many of them had been removed to allow a long service presentation for Jaguar employees to be held in the building the next day. Two exhibits that did remain were a 1988 Le Mans car and an XJ220. There were also many display cases with various trophies won by Jaguar over the years, as well as displays of some of the parts used in the cars. There was also an impressive collection of Jaguar related paintings around the walls.

Having been joined by some other visitors to the factory, many of whom were lucky enough to be purchasing cars, we were divided into four groups. Each group would be taken around the factory by a tour guide who was a retired Jaguar employee. Our group started off on the XJ series production line. The factory itself was very impressive, the Ford influence being apparent in the very slick production line. We were shown the engines, which are now produced in Ford's Bridgend facility, we were told that it was now more economic to buy in many components.

(Le Mans 24 Hour Car in the factory Museum. Photo: Andy Moss)

Alongside the XJ line the XK8 sports car was being produced. We were told that around 80% of the factories output was exported, and the convertible version of this car must be very popular in sunnier parts. Among the trickier jobs on this line was fitting the hood, which was taken through a special heat booth to ensure it was stretched tightly into position.

One of the few components made on site is the wooden dash assemblies. We were taken to the wood shop and shown the process of producing this trim. Veneer is imported from America - over half of a given batch is rejected as not upto the standard required. The veneer is then bonded to Aluminium formers, before having any inlay applied then sanded and polished. This was a very labour intensive activity, but the finished result was very impressive and undoubtedly plays a big part in the look of the finished car.

Next stop was the body store, here painted bodies are delivered from the suppliers and stored in two huge racks which run the length of the building. This facility is fully automated, with bodies being collected by a lift type mechanism from their stored position and then being inspected before, starting their journey down the assembly line.

On our way into the factory we had seen a large number of new cars with three mile road test - this must be the best job in the factory! On returning from the road test the cars are washed, the paintwork is inspected and then any necessary rework is carried out.

Before leaving the factory, we met back up with the other groups in the reception area. Here there was an XK8 and an XJ on show. Many members took the opportunity to examine the cars closer, and we were encouraged to have a good look inside and outside the cars.

(Inspecting the finished article - Jaguar XJ Series Saloon. Photo: Andy Moss)

An excellent Pub lunch at a recommended nearby pub followed, before making our way into Coventry to visit the Museum of British Road Transport. Thanks must go to Tim Murray for organising the trip and to everyone at Jaguar for making us so welcome.