Jaguar

Motorbike enthusiasts William Lyons and William Walmsley formed the Swift Sidecar Company in 1922 but transitioned into the ’30s as a car manufacturer, calling models SS Jaguars from 1935. The SS Jaguar 100 would be a highlight of the ’30s, though following World War II the company – now run by Lyons alone – renamed itself Jaguar Cars to avoid unwanted connotations. The XK120 sports car was the star of the ’40s, while the ’50s were memorable for the C- and D-Type racers that won multiple Le Mans races, and the “Grace, space and pace” MkVII sedan that emerged as one of the finest sedans of its era. The ’60s started brightly, too, with the 1961 E-Type that would become the most iconic Jaguar of all time. Its successor, the F-Type, didn’t materialise until 2013, after ownership of the brand passed from Ford – where it had struggled to reach its potential – to Indian industrial giant Tata (which also grabbed sister brand Land Rover). The new sports car formed part of a wave of impressive all-new Jaguars aimed at the German premium brands.