Photo: Jaguar
Jaguar Heritage Racing confirmed that the dream team of this year's Mille Miglia historic rally will be comprised of U.S. TV talk show host Jay Leno and Ian Callum, Jaguar's design director.
The British sports car manufacturer announced a little while back that at the 2014 Mille Miglia it will field a total of 10 old-timers from the 1950s, the decade Jaguar won five 24 Hours of Le Mans titles. Leno and Callum said nay to the gorgeous C-Types and the unique D-Type on offer for a 1951 Ecurie Ecosse XK 120 roadster.
'LXO 126' is the only surviving example of three original Jaguar XK 120 roadsters built by the Scottish racing team in 1952. A race winner in its period, this very special vehicle is most famously associated with the bohemian Anglo-Scottish aristocrat Sir James Scott-Douglas.
The blue Ecurie Ecosse machine was loaned to Jaguar Heritage Racing for the Mille Miglia in Brescia by its current owner, who bought it at a Bonhams auction event in 2013 for a cool $965,827. An original Ecurie Ecosse racing transporter along with two endurance racers which competed for the Scottish team back in the day will keep the 'LXO 126' company at this year's rally.
"As a Scotsman, Ecurie Ecosse is incredibly close to my heart - so the chance to drive this incredible XK 120 through Italy is a once in a lifetime opportunity," declared Ian Callum, Jaguar's design director. "Factor in a co-driver who's almost as much of a Jaguar man as me - and there's no doubt I'm going to love every minute!"
"I'm fortunate to have an XK 120 in my garage - not to mention a few other incredible cars from Coventry - but this Ecurie Ecosse XK 120 is one of the most beautiful Jaguars ever built," commented Jay Leno. "It's a real honor to be asked to drive it on the Mille Miglia and to be able to revel in its history with someone like Ian is a true privilege."
For real-time updates on their Mille Miglia experiences, be sure to keep an eye on Jay Leno's Twitter profile (@LenosGarage) between May 15th and 18th.
'LXO 126' is the only surviving example of three original Jaguar XK 120 roadsters built by the Scottish racing team in 1952. A race winner in its period, this very special vehicle is most famously associated with the bohemian Anglo-Scottish aristocrat Sir James Scott-Douglas.
The blue Ecurie Ecosse machine was loaned to Jaguar Heritage Racing for the Mille Miglia in Brescia by its current owner, who bought it at a Bonhams auction event in 2013 for a cool $965,827. An original Ecurie Ecosse racing transporter along with two endurance racers which competed for the Scottish team back in the day will keep the 'LXO 126' company at this year's rally.
"As a Scotsman, Ecurie Ecosse is incredibly close to my heart - so the chance to drive this incredible XK 120 through Italy is a once in a lifetime opportunity," declared Ian Callum, Jaguar's design director. "Factor in a co-driver who's almost as much of a Jaguar man as me - and there's no doubt I'm going to love every minute!"
"I'm fortunate to have an XK 120 in my garage - not to mention a few other incredible cars from Coventry - but this Ecurie Ecosse XK 120 is one of the most beautiful Jaguars ever built," commented Jay Leno. "It's a real honor to be asked to drive it on the Mille Miglia and to be able to revel in its history with someone like Ian is a true privilege."
For real-time updates on their Mille Miglia experiences, be sure to keep an eye on Jay Leno's Twitter profile (@LenosGarage) between May 15th and 18th.
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