Hemmings reports that the US Congress recently designated today, Friday, July 9, 2010 as Collector Car Appreciation Day. A list of events are to be found here on the SEMA, Specialty Equipment Market Association, website.

Come on Canada – let’s support our southern neighbours and celebrate by driving our (British) Collector Cars today.

In 1959, John Dolce flipped his Jaguar XK150S while testing its high speed capability at the Bonneville salt flats. He reportedly survived the crash in better shape than the car, which had only covered 553 miles at the time. Fast forward half a century, three changes of owners and a recently completed major restoration effort and you have a virtually new Jaguar XK150S with matching numbers and only 574 original miles.

Current owners Ray Miles and Mike Hill hope to sell this amazing time machine for “upwards of £280,000″.  See the full story at the United Arab Republic’s The National.

Jaguar have announced a special edition of the XKR to celebrate their 75th birthday, to be introduced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 2, 3 and 4, 2010. This limited edition (75 cars only) model will “deliver a combination of enhanced performance, superb chassis and steering control and grip levels to inspire the driving enthusiast to explore the true potential of the XKR’s capabilities.”

Press Release below the break …

Read the rest of this entry »

I only report exceptional eBay offerings, but this one certainly qualifies on so many fronts.

The star of the 1999 Austin Powers movie International Man of Mystery is currently listed on eBay (item 260620514073). With 36 hours left in the auction as of this post, the auction has 8 bids and has not reached half of the Buy It Now price of US$59,900 – are you man enough to be seen in public with this car?

This Numbers Matching 1970 4.2 litre manual Jaguar XKE features include:

• British Flag Custom Paint – more than 400 man hours
• Custom Interior – Blue & Red with White Piping
• Hand Made Red Convertible Top & matching Red Boot Cover
• Red Custom Carpeting
• Chrome Wire Wheels and Red Line Tires
• Original Radio, Gearbox, Engine, etc.

UPDATE: 23 June, 2010:
The auction closed after 42 bids at $51,100 “Reserve not met“.

BBC News reports that Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive David Smith is leaving. No reasons for the departure are being given by Jaguar Land Rover, though they do say that his departure was not linked to the recent breakdown of talks with unions over pay and pensions.

Ravi Kant is to handle Smith’s duties until until a permanent successor is found.