In September 1935 the name ‘Jaguar’ was first seen on a motor car with the launch of the Jaguar 2½-litre saloon. The Jaguar was revealed at the prestigious May Fair hotel in London by Sir William Lyons, where he asked the assembled guests to estimate the price of his beautiful new car. The average guess was £632. In fact, the luxurious machine was to be sold for a very reasonable £385.

As part of the 75th Anniversary celebrations of Jaguar Cars Ltd, Jaguar Heritage organised a celebratory drive from Coventry to the very same May Fair Hotel and then on to the Goodwood Revival meeting in West Sussex. Of the 75 Jaguars that assembled early on the Friday morning, most were privately owned by enthusiasts and they represented the full range of Jaguar motor cars since 1935.

Coventry remains the spiritual and intellectual home of Jaguar Cars, with its design and R&D departments being based at the Whitley Engineering Centre just outside the city. The Jaguars mustered in the forecourt of the Coventry Transport Museum, above; then, with rally plates affixed, they set off to Newbury, some 93 miles away, for the first lunch stop.

Jaguar Cars’ managing director Mike O’Driscoll was in Jaguar Heritage’s Mille Miglia C-type ‘NDU 289’, and he generously gave me the driving seat for the first stint. International entrants included Eric Biass from Geneva in a Series 1½ E-type, and Gary Bartlett from Indianapolis, USA, in his highly original but well-prepared S1 E-type, while William Salmon was piloting his pre-war 2½-litre Jaguar Saloon – the model that started all this.

The well-plotted route took the Jaguars along the undulating Roman road – the Fosse Way – and then across the Vale of the White Horse to Wantage, in Oxfordshire. This was followed by the most superb drive along the almost traffic-free B4000 through the bucolic countryside to Stockcross near Newbury for lunch of traditional roast beef at the beautiful Vineyard Hotel.

After lunch, the Jaguars blasted up the M3 and into Knightsbridge, where the visiting Pope caused some traffic congestion around Harrods. But the cars made it safely into the parade grounds of Wellington Barracks, home to the Scots Guards and Foot Guards, just opposite Buckingham Palace, from where drivers and crew were ferried to the nearby May Fair hotel.

After a black tie banquet held in the magnificent Crystal Room, Jaguar’s former engineer and test driver – and now Jaguar ambassador – Norman Dewis gave a most amusing talk about his 33 years at the company. As part of what seems to be a ‘world tour’ celebration of his 90th birthday, Norman had the audience in stitches as he regaled them with tales of high-speed adventures and mishaps during his long career. Michael Quinn, Sir William’s grandson, then gave his riposte.

Next morning the collection of Jaguars headed out of the Barracks and down to Goodwood. After a beautiful drive through the South Downs, teams were treated to another lunch in the exclusive War Room, an authentic recreation of a Second World War military mess but with infinitely better food – and unrationed chilled champagne.

Watching the great racing from the trackside suite, the owners and guests realised that driving a Jaguar has always been a special pleasure. And it still is.

Thanks to Jaguar Heritage (www.jdht.com).