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26 Jaguar and Land Rover cars to attend Jubilee Pageant – driven by Bear Grylls, Luke Evans and others

Some very special Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles will be joining in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this weekend. Jaguar Land Rover Classic in Ryton is sending 26 cars to London to take part in the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on Sunday, June 5 – and some big name celebrities will be at the wheels.

Bear Grylls, Hollywood star Luke Evans, England rugby union legend Jason Robinson will be among those taking part. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant is a celebration of the creativity and ingenuity of the people of the UK and Commonwealth during the 70 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Two of Her Majesty’s beloved Land Rover Defenders will take part, along with three Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles from James Bond films, and a collection of rare Jaguar convertibles including a bespoke 1965 Series 1 E-type Roadster.

The one-off renovation by Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works features a comprehensive list of enhancements carried out by the expert technicians at Jaguar Classic Works in Ryton, and metallic blue paintwork inspired by the Union flag. Other Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles of note participating in the pageant include the first Land Rover the world ever saw, unveiled at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show.

READ MORE: Jaguar Land Rover unveils giant Land Rover Defender – and it can seat eight people

The Jubilee Pageant will also see the participation of the very last old Land Rover Defender made. It rolled off the production line in Solihull in January 2016 and will be driven by Bear Grylls in Sunday’s cavalcade. In a celebration of Jaguar’s move towards an all-electric future, the parade will feature an F-Pace electric hybrid in a bespoke livery designed with drumming sensation Nandi Bushell and an all-electric I-Pace from the E-Trophy racing series.

There will also be a selection of historically important Jaguar E-Types, and seven convertible Jaguars all carrying famous Dames. The vibrant and colorful procession will cover a 3km route taking in The Mall and Buckingham Palace, echoing the route of the Coronation 70 years ago.

A one-off E-Type renovation by Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works inspired by the Union flag and the last old Land Rover Defender to be built. Both take part in the Jubilee Pageant on June 5

It will feature more than 10,000 volunteers and creatives celebrating each of the Queen’s seven decades on the throne through a carnival of art, music, theater and dance. The Jaguars and Land Rovers will feature throughout the parade with notable brand fans and cultural icons aboard, from Bear Grylls to Dame Joan Collins.

Chris Thorp, chief of staff, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “It is a true honor for our vehicles to play a part in this momentous occasion to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. As the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Head of the Commonwealth, patron of more than 600 charities as well as a mother, grandmother and great grandmother, the Queen is a remarkable role model and we are delighted to celebrate with her today.”

Jaguar Land Rover has a long and proud association with the royal family and holds three Royal Warrants. The car maker has an association with the Royal Family dating back even further than the Queen’s Coronation in 1952.

Land Rover received its first Royal Warrant in 1951 from King George VI, who had tried one of the company’s very early models in prototype form. In the same year Daimler, which became part of Jaguar in 1960, also received a Royal Warrant from HM The Queen—who was to become The Queen Mother.

Jaguar Land Rover today holds the Royal Warrant as ‘Manufacturers of Motor Vehicles, ‘By Appointment’ from both grantors: HM the Queen, and HRH the Prince of Wales.

The vehicles taking part

Iconic vehicles from the two British brands to feature in the Jubilee Pageant, including two of Her Majesty’s beloved Land Rover Defenders and several historically important Jaguar E-Types:

  • Bond interlude: A Jaguar XKR from Die Another Day will be joined by Land Rovers from Skyfall and No Time To Die
  • One of a kind: A specially commissioned, bespoke 1965 Series 1 Jaguar E-Type Roadster makes its public debut in the parade.

A number of celebrities, including Luke Evans, Bear Grylls, Jason Robinson, model David Gandy and racing driver Jess Hawkins, will be driving some of the iconic vehicles in the Jubilee Pageant.

A very special E Type

A one-off E-Type renovation by Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works inspired by the Union flag

A one-off E-Type renovation by Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works inspired by the Union flag

Jaguar Land Rover Classic is particularly proud of one E-Type taking part in the Jubilee Pageant on Sunday, June 5. The one-off renovation features a comprehensive list of enhancements carried out by the expert technicians at Classic Works and metallic blue paintwork inspired by the union jack

The customer, thrilled to participate, will be joined by American dancer, model, and fashion designer, Eric Underwood in the passenger seat. Jaguar Classic creates beautifully crafted E-Types by restoring Series 1 models to their original specification.

This bespoke example goes even further, showingcasing the full breadth of personalization available from its state-of-the-art home in Ryton. The E-Type was commissioned by a client who had specific requirements.

He wanted a Roadster manufactured in the year he was born and finished to a bespoke specification. The team at Jaguar Classic set to work and tracked down a Series 1 E-Type that was built just two days after the customer’s date of birth.

A one-off E-Type renovation by Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works inspired by the Union flag

A one-off E-Type renovation by Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works inspired by the Union flag

Over the following 12 months, the car underwent a complete rebuild, beginning with the bodywork. Finished in a unique deep metallic blue inspired by the blue of the Union Jack, the new blue, was exclusively mixed by the paint shop following numerous consultations and sample creations to craft the perfect hue over several months.

The bespoke interior features striking leather upholstery finished in a shade of red inspired by iconic British pillar boxes, and was hand finished using traditional methods at the in-house Jaguar Classic Works trim shop. Bespoke lead engineer, Jaguar Classic, Stephen Hollis, said: “Being able to bring a customer’s vision for their dream E-type to life is hugely rewarding. The result is a complete one-off that showcases the full breadth of capabilities provided by the team at Jaguar Classic. With a color scheme inspired by the Union Jack, I can’t think of a better place for it to make its first appearance than the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant. I am so excited to see it parade down The Mall.”

With the body assembly and paintwork complete, the engineering team went to work refitting mechanical elements – including a host of enhancements. The original 4.2-liter straight-six was replaced by a larger 4.7-liter engine, delivering superior performance. It is optimized for road driving and married to Jaguar Classic’s specially developed five-speed gearbox, for a smoother, quieter and more refined driving experience.

A one-off E-Type renovation by Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works inspired by the Union flag

A one-off E-Type renovation by Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works inspired by the Union flag

Uprated suspension ensures the chassis can exploit the performance provided by its powertrain, while wider wheels, tires, and uprated brakes deliver superior grip and confidence. A sports exhaust and manifold ensure the E-type’s soundtrack suits its dynamic character.

Modern technologies include 21st century connectivity provided by the Classic Infotainment system – combining touchscreen controls, satellite navigation and Bluetooth with a period look that is perfectly in-keeping with the rest of the vehicle. Powerful exterior LED lighting also brings illumination up to modern standards for additional confidence driving at night.

A series of bespoke details complete the vehicle, including a unique plate and dash plaque. In addition, this one-off blue E-Type features a few elements inspired by the limited E-type 60 Collection. The new owner said: “I wanted a classic E-Type that could be relied upon for daily driving and be comfortable on grand tours while remaining authentic to the original – and I’m blown away by the results.

“You sense the history and knowledge when you enter the Jaguar Classic Works facility and even after several visits, I still get excited to be in the building. I’m so proud of the car the passionate team there has created, and I’m privileged to be part of its story.”

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