Jaguar Land Rover’s recently launched Special Operations division has acquired the entire 543-strong collection of British cars – including 130 Jaguars – compiled over a lifetime by the multi-millionaire dental pioneer, Dr James Hull.
Acquisition of the collection, which features C- and D-types, an XKSS, an SS100, a rare alloy-bodied XK120, several early E-types and a Mark X once owned by Sir William Lyons, underscores JLR’s determination to “invest more” in its distinguished heritage.
“We share the same objective as James Hull of keeping this unique collection in British hands,” said John Edwards, managing director of Special Operations. “There is a strong brand and business rationale underpinning our agreement.”
Jaguar will maintain some of the cars in a new workshop at Brown’s Lane, Coventry, its former manufacturing site, and use them to support the many events it stages for customers around the world.
For the time being most of the cars, which are in excellent running order, will stay in their current location in specially erected buildings in Hertfordshire.
Company bosses have declined to reveal what JLR is paying for the collection but Dr Hull, who made his fortune pioneering new forms of cosmetic dentistry. Classic car experts have estimated the collection's value at between £25-35 million.
As well as the Jaguars, the collection is understood to include a wartime Austin used by Winston Churchill, a Bentley owned by Elton John, a Mini Traveller owned by Lord Mountbatten and a collection of early Land Rovers and Range Rovers.
Jaguar Land Rover bosses have talked in the past of establishing a “brand centre” on the site of the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, and some of the cars could eventually go there.
Get the latest car news, reviews and galleries from Autocar direct to your inbox every week. Enter your email address below:
Join the debate
Add your comment
Sale of non-Jaguar items from the collection
I've visited Jaguar Classic works in 2018 and saw 300-400 cars in a warehouse behind the workshop which now makes sense as the remainder probably of this collection.
I also attended a Brightwells auction in 2018 which presumably was selling cars from the collection. You can search for it but I'm not allowed to include a link to it here, it was the "affordable classics" auction.
I've recently bought a Bentley at auction which has in its file James Hull purchasing it himself after the death of the first owner. Then the next owner bought the car in July 2014 which ties in with the collection. So even though I haven't seen the current V5 it looks like the car I've bought has been in the collection and in all that time hasn't moved a mile.
Now waiting for it to be re-commissioned and get it back on the open road where is belongs!
Nice to remember the other marques too.
Daimler (Love to see them get all of the Docker show cars together as well as the Corsica bodied Double-Six 50 Drophead Coupe. The Double-Six 40 Sport Saloon bodied by Martin Walter.)
Lanchester (Especially King George the 6th's Landaulette)
Rover (P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, SD1 etc)
BSA Motorcars (the Scout especially)
Guy.
Star.
Starling.
Stuart.
@Symanski
But heritage is important in the premium sector....all of the major players have it in spades...BMW, M-B, Audi, Porsche etc. in fact the lack of heritage probably harms Lexus....it is after all just a rebadged Toyota.
Land Rover has been able to make the most of its heritage because it still makes(for now) the original product, albeit expanded some.