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| This D-Type was hardly noticeable among the other, even more rare street and racing cars on display. Few are as pretty though. (Photo: Symbolic Motor Cars) |
It would have almost been easy not to notice a stunning 1955 Jaguar D-Type tucked off the side, it's so low and tiny in comparison to some of the larger machinery. What a perfect design. Gracefully simplistic compared to over-chromed, tailfin adorned American cars of the era, the D was the forerunner to the beyond legendary E-Type.
Why all the history? Well the F-Type, the subject of this article in case you've forgotten after all my rambling, is the product of one of the world's richest automotive histories. If its design tugs on the memory strings, pulling in thoughts of Jaguar's D and E-Types in the process, that wasn't coincidental. Jaguar wanted to cause an emotional connection to its glory years.
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| Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle, Chairman, Premier Automotive Group introduces the Jaguar F-Type concept vehicle at the 2000 North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in Detroit. (Photo: Sam VarnHagen) |
One year after the concept was launched at Detroit in 2000, production rumors were verified. At the Los Angeles show in 2001 past Jaguar Chairman, Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle stated, "Jaguar is one of the most evocative brands in the world and there is a renewed commitment at Jaguar to create cars that stir people's emotions. The overwhelmingly positive reaction across the globe to last year's concept has convinced Jaguar to build the F-Type roadster."
Why don't we see it today? Well, to be fair it would have taken Jaguar about this long to build a production ready version as it is, but the car that could have created an entirely revitalized image for the luxury brand was killed due to Ford's economic belt tightening long before. Ironically what made it special, a fresh design approach not relying completely on the Jag parts bin, also inevitably caused its demise. All we have left are some wonderful memories, a few pictures and somewhere, the actual concept itself.