That scene was set in the Artic Circle with Bond driving a car fit for the World’s most famous Spy. Hopefully XK owners in the Midlands kept their pride and joy off the roads last November when God asked the question of all drivers as the roads turned to ice rinks the equal of any glacier. No-one who has ever owned an XK would surely want to risk the looks of the ‘princess’ that they park on their drive each night and slither across an ice rink. This November there was a celebration of the XK at the Motor Museum Gaydon.

Brought together for a unique sale after the special weekend, with only 400 specially invited guests from all over the Country to view the display were, 77 XK coupes and convertibles, including a car in a hundred, a true ‘leader of the XK tribe’, the XKR Carbon Fibre which has a 4.2 litre supercharged V8 engine that achieves 0-60 in just 5.2 seconds.

That is not to say that through the XK range super technology has ever looked so beautiful, nay dare I use the word ‘sexy’. The 77 cars on display (see later) have been hand-selected from 18 Jaguar dealerships across the UK, offering the chance to purchase exceptional value demonstrators and ex-management vehicles – but its not eloquent to describe the XK as just a vehicle. It has a distinct nature, a visual presence, a performance that is ‘sports’ and more. Add in the luxury of the interiors which are refined, luxurious and spacious and you have a sports car that is a very different animal to its forefathers from the 60s. The Sports Cars of the 00s lack the whistling of the wind through gaps in the doors and over bodies that buffeted the air, what the first of their breed were noted for. Now aerodynamics make the wind a friend to a sleekness of simple perfection.

To celebrate this celebration of Jaguars’ prestige sports car, does a visiting golf writer or photographer have a test drive, perhaps in the company of an F1 testing driver? Forget the F1 connection as Jaguar has very sensibly left that sport to its profligacy and lack of entertainment. Forget the test drive.

Pendragon Premier Ltd, the owners of the dealerships which have supplied today’s cars have done something very different. The beauties are arranged into formation, an image of the letters X and K and we are to photograph this art from a helicopter, from Harrods Aviation. Its great advertising except when you, the photographer, are uncertain whether there is no quick release for the safety belt which is the only thing holding you into the whirling flying machine canted at a ridiculous angle so that your get the best picture. Have you ever written anything, even a vowel that was un-complimentary to this company? Do they own another industry which might be on your written hit list for poor quality, naff service, bad product?

I am re-assured – I did test drive an XK a few years before, and I rated it 9 out of 10 – with 10 unobtainable and clearly stated as such. I lean further out into the sky (not!) knowing I am looking down at 77 pieces of British engineering perfection – where was the harness made though?

‘You’ve changed the engine to something with even more smoothness and performance’, I think but that borrowing an XK for the weekend is not forthcoming – all the cars will be sold.

This is taking place on the weekend of Remembrance Sunday, so very generously; all those involved have decide to support the Royal British Legion with a part of the proceeds from the sale of the cars. It’s been a worthwhile weekend all round.

© FGA Ltd 2004