There wasn’t a shortage of eye-candy at The Royal Windsor Jaguar Festival, but while the iconically curvaceous lines of the 1,200 Jags present drew most of the attention, there were also some pretty special engine bays on display.
We list 5 of the awesome engine bays which were kindly put on display by their owners at the festival. This is one for the grease-monkeys!
1. Jaguar D-Type
A special enough car with its bonnet down, none other than the second D-Type ever made was present at the festival, complete with its resplendent engine compartment.
Dressed in the best classic Jaguar tradition, with brushed aluminium and chrome aplenty, the iconic XK engine has rarely looked as fantastic as it does in ‘OKV 1’.
And while it’s a pretty sight in its own right, the history of OKV 1 and this engine bay make it all the more spectacular. Second places in both Le Mans and Reims with the Jaguar team were followed by a successful competition history under the private ownership of Duncan Hamilton.
2. Jaguar XK8
There were also interesting modern powerplants on show, such as the AJV8 in this XK8. Lined up along a collection of other track-prepped Jags on The Long Walk, this XK8 drew constant attention with its aggressive looking heart.
If it’s possible for something to look loud, this engine bay certainly does. We imagine the trumpet like intakes put most cars to shame when it comes to induction roar. Not to mention the collection of at least 4 horns behind the front bumper!
3. Jaguar XJ12 (XJ40)
It’s not just racers and 60-year-old classics that caught our eyes, however. This XJ12 was worthy of attention not just for its rarity – it’s one of just 95 currently on the road – but for its exceptional condition.
The XJ12 must be one of the best condition XJ40 V12s around and it’s unusual to see a more modern version of the Jag V12 in such pristine condition. Most are still being used every day!
The 314hp 6.0-litre unit remains one of Jag’s most powerful engines, with only recent V8 and turbocharged engines surpassing the V12. However, it wasn’t an engined tuned for outright power, instead, it was legendarily smooth and unstressed.
4. Jaguar XK150
We had to have a road-going XK engine on this list and there were indeed many at the festival that caught our eye. This XK150 was a particularly interesting display, however, as a car that often doesn’t receive as much attention as both its younger and older siblings.
The tight dimensions of the engine bay of the XK150 are markedly different to that of the E-Type with its ‘clamshell’ bonnet. Conversely, there isn’t much to separate the XK150 from its predecessors the XK120 and Xk140, although extra shrouding around the radiator does make it seem even more claustrophobic.
A great piece of packaging the XK150’s engine bay may be though, it’s inevitably those cam covers that draw the eye, creating a classic yet purposeful look with its simplicity.
5. Jaguar XJS
Engine bays don’t need to be pretty or exceptionally clean to be interesting, however. This XJS pulled up on the side of The Long Walk demonstrates that perfectly.
The owner of this racer has managed to get an engine renowned for its refinement – the Jaguar V12 – to look as aggressive, raw and visceral as anything else you’ll see in a pit lane.
The twelve flowing, blunderbuss-like intakes make no excuses for the amount of air this engine needs to inhale, while a pair of braces don’t harm the sense of purpose the car possesses, to say the least!
The Royal Windsor Jaguar Festival
1,200 Jaguars joined us on the 6th of May in the grounds of Windsor Castle for one of the largest gatherings of Jags ever seen, featuring a parade through the town and festivities throughout the day.
The festival was in aid of the Prince Philip Trust Fund, which raises money to help young people living in the Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, having been established using a small sum of money taken from contributions to fundraising events that took place during Her Majesty The Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977. Since this modest beginning, the Trust Fund has benefited from a number of special fundraising events including several car rallies, and it is in this tradition that the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club organised the Royal Windsor Jaguar Festival.
Why not purchase a picture of the event from our official photographers?
