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Jaguar and SS cars: books - history and technology

A book on Jaguar and SS passenger cars? Explore here our selection of illustrated books on the history, models and technology of Jaguar.


The Jaguar Book

Fitting for the 60th birthday of the E-Type: star photographer René Staud stages the epitome of elegance and luxury in body form - the Jaguar. A fast-paced ride through the model range of the cult brand plus highlights from racing history, legendary film appearances and exclusive insights into the garages of celebrities.

Elegance and luxury - that's what the Jaguar brand stands for. Founded in 1922 by William Lyons and William Walmsley as Swallow Sidecars and renamed Jaguar Cars Ltd. after 1945, the brand still inspires numerous car lovers after 100 years.

Legendary Jaguar models such as the E-Type or XK 140, the SS 90 from the 1930s, the elegant Mark 2 from 1959 or the I-Pace as Jaguar's first electric car: star photographer René Staud, who has already published several bestsellers with teNeues, offers a captivating rally through the model range of the British carmaker in this book with his impressive, lavishly produced pictures.

Jürgen Lewandowski is responsible for the text. In addition to the models from a century of Jaguar, there are exciting stories about racing history or iconic Jaguar film appearances in James Bond, Harold and Maude & Co.
This volume is a must-have for lovers of elegant cars and aesthetic automotive photography: As dazzling as a film star and "a very British affair": For 99 years, Jaguar has been synonymous with elegance and luxury in automotive culture - it is high time to commemorate the horsepower icons from England with this extraordinary book of photographs.

Author:René Staud, Jürgen Lewandowski
Specs:272 pages, 35 x 28.5 x 2.8 cm / 13.75 x 11.2 x 1.1 in, hardback
Illustrations:29 b&w and 146 colour photographs
Publisher:teNeues Verlag GmbH + Co KG (D, 2021)
EAN:9783961713592
Book: The Jaguar Book

The Jaguar Book

Language: English

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Jaguar Century : 100 Years of Automotive Excellence

Established in 1922 by William Lyons and William Walmsley, the Swallow Sidecar Company transformed into one of the auto industry's most revered car brands, synonymous with performance and luxury. "Jaguar Century" chronicles this company and its remarkable vehicles, from the 1935 Jaguar SS sporting saloon to today's F-Type sports cars, F-Pace SUV, and X-Type sedans - filled with images, history, and in-depth analyses of the incredible cars Jaguar has created year after year.

Automotive historian Giles Chapman showcases how company visionaries developed the brand in the trying economic times leading up to World War II before resetting Jaguar during England's bleak postwar years, first with its XK120, then the XK140 and XK150.
Sporting saloons (i.e., sedans) like the Mark 2 and Mark X established further standards for four-door luxury in the 1950s and '60s, while the stunning E-Type unveiled in 1961 became a holy grail of automotive design and gave Jaguar a genuine 150-miles-per-hour sports car.

The story continues to the present, tracing all of Jaguar's ups and downs right up to the acclaimed all-electric I-Pace. Chapman also covers Jaguar's rich motorsport heritage, including open-wheel Formula 1 racers and the sports cars that went head-to-head with Ferrari, Porsche, and others at legendary circuits such as Le Mans over the decades.

From pre-Depression motorcycle sidecars hammered out in a modest shop in Coventry to the cutting edge of 21st century automotive technology, "Jaguar Century" offers a full review of British design and engineering at its finest. The book is illustrated with hundreds of historic, contemporary, and racing photographs, as well as detailed text. It is a definitive volume no Jaguar enthusiast can be without.

Author:Giles Chapman
Specs:224 pages, 32.5 x 26.5 x 3.6 cm / 12.8 x 10.4 x 1.42 in, hardback
Illustrations:250 b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:Motorbooks International (USA, 2021)
EAN:9780760368664
Book: Jaguar Century : 100 Years of Automotive Excellence

Jaguar Century : 100 Years of Automotive Excellence

Language: English

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Jaguar - Die komplette Chronik von 1922 bis heute

Umfangreich überarbeitet und aktualisiert, präsentiert Jaguarexperte Heiner Stertkamp das ultimative Standardwerk der charismatischen Marke von den bescheidenen Anfängen bis hin zum aktuellen Modell F-Type Coupé.
Akribisch recherchiert und mit zahllosen, wenig bekannten historischen Details und Anekdoten angereichert, erzählt die opulente Neuauflage die spannende und wechselhafte Geschichte der berühmten britischen Automarke und ihres Gründers Sir William Lyons.

Pages of the book Jaguar - Die komplette Chronik von 1922 bis heute (1)

Die informative und reich bebilderte Chronik dokumentiert aber auch detailliert die gesamte Modellpalette aus dem Hause Jaguar, von den bescheidenen Anfängen in den 1929er Jahren mit den ersten Swallow-Beiwagen bis hin zu den aktuellen Modellen wie dem innovativen F-Type Coupé oder dem 550 PS starken und 300 km/h schnellen Sportkombi XFR-S.

Die komplette Jaguar Chronik: 560 Seiten dick und über 3kg schwer! Dies ist die ultimative Jaguar-Bibel in umfangreich überarbeiteter und aktualisierter Neuauflage! Dieses umfassende und einmalige Werk ist ein absolutes Muss für alle Jaguar-Enthusiasten!

Pages of the book Jaguar - Die komplette Chronik von 1922 bis heute (2)

Author:Heiner Stertkamp
Specs:560 pages, 28 x 28 cm / 11 x 11 in, hardback
Illustrations:1500 b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:Heel-Verlag GmbH (D, 2014)
EAN:9783868529364
Book: Jaguar - Die komplette Chronik von 1922 bis heute

Jaguar - Die komplette Chronik von 1922 bis heute

Language: German

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Jaguar (Collection Prestige)

Voici le livre de référence (en coffret) consacré à l'une des marques automobiles anglaises les plus réputées. Il est l'oeuvre de Heiner Sterkamp, un des plus grands spécialistes de Jaguar.

Fruit d'un travail de recherche méticuleux et regorgeant de détails historiques peu connus et d'anecdotes, cet opulent ouvrage raconte l'histoire passionnante et aux multiples rebondissements d'une marque de tradition à l'aura exceptionnelle, ainsi que celle de son fondateur, sir William Lyons.

Pages of the book Jaguar (1)

Cette chronique très dense et richement illustrée est une source de renseignements unique en son genre, abordant par le menu l'ensemble des modèles Jaguar et des marques ayant jalonné son parcours, depuis les modestes débuts des années 1920 avec les premiers side-cars Swallow jusqu'aux derniers modèles, comme la récente F-Type, héritière de la légendaire Type E, ou le break ultra-sportif XFR-S fort de 550 ch et capable d'atteindre 300 km/h.

Author:Heiner Stertkamp
Specs:560 pages, 29 x 24 cm / 11.4 x 9 in, hardback, in cassette
Illustrations:1500 b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:ETAI (F, 2015)
Series:Collection Prestige
EAN:9791028300906
Book: Jaguar (Collection Prestige)

Jaguar

Language: French

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Jaguar : The Art of the Automobile

Created in collaboration with Jaguar, this stunning book is the definitive story of its legendary cars. "Jaguar: The Art of the Automobile" is a journey through 100 years of beautiful cars - an essential companion for any fan and the perfect gift.
With unprecedented access to material from the Jaguar archive, the book tells the story of the marque's cars through the years, from the earliest models and much-loved classics to the most recent machines.

Features include:
- Entries on each of the greatest Jaguar models
- Stunning photography throughout - including never-before-seen images
- Detailed technical information
- The full story of the creation of the most legendary models
- Other treasures from the Jaguar archives
- With insightful, thoroughly-researched text, "Jaguar: The Art of the Automobile" is the ultimate history of an enduring icon, told through its greatest machines.

Author:Zef Enault, Nicolas Heidet
Specs:240 pages, 31 x 25.5 x 0.3 cm / 12.2 x 10 x 0.12 in, hardback
Illustrations:200 b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:Octopus Publishing Group (GB, 2019)
EAN:9781784726171
Book: Jaguar : The Art of the Automobile

Jaguar : The Art of the Automobile

Language: English

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Jaguar, le mythe anglais

De la compétition aux palaces royaux, des premiers ateliers de Coventry aux usines indiennes, la marque Jaguar ne s'est jamais refusé aucun défi. Pourtant, à travers la ligne de chacun de ses modèles, une identité persiste, celle forgée par son créateur, William Lyons. Elle émane des lignes de ses premières automobiles, qu'il a modelées de ses mains, unissant la puissance et l'élégance au cœur de ces étranges objets qu'il considérait proches du vivant.

Pages of the book Jaguar, le mythe anglais (1)

Jaguar occupe ainsi une place exceptionnelle au sein de l'univers automobile. Elle a donné naissance à des modèles mythiques, de la Type-E à la XKSS en passant par la XJ6, et à une lignée de moteur, le XK, dont la longévité reste unique...
Aujourd'hui comme demain, Jaguar s'efforcera toujours de propager le souffle de vie que William Lyons transmettait à ses créations.

Author:Zef Enault, Nicolas Heidet
Specs:240 pages, 30.5 x 24.5 cm / 12 x 9.7 in, hardback
Illustrations:numerous b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:Editions E/P/A (F, 2019)
EAN:9782376710455
Book: Jaguar, le mythe anglais

Jaguar, le mythe anglais

Language: French

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SS I and SS II Cars - The Birth of the Jaguar Legend

This book is the first ever detailed study of Sir William Lyons S.S. Cars with which he launched his automotive career. Drawing on original research, this book explores this critical phase in the history of Jaguar, examining every aspect of the cars' development, production and sales. Full descriptions of all models of S.S. I and S.S. II are provided, with notes on specifications, equipment, performance and press reactions.
The text is accompanied by some 200 colour photographs showing surviving examples of the cars, along with 50 black and white illustrations from the JDHT Archives.

Author:Allan Crouch
Specs:200 pages, 28 x 22 x 2 cm / 11 x 8.7 x 0.79 in, hardback
Illustrations:50 b&w and 200 colour photographs
Publisher:Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (GB, 2006)
EAN:9780954103927
Book: SS I and SS II Cars - The Birth of the Jaguar Legend

SS I and SS II Cars - The Birth of the Jaguar Legend

Language: English

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SS & Jaguar Cars - 1 1/2 Litre, 2 1/2 Litre, 3 1/2 Litre, SS 100 & Mark V, 1936-1951

Following on from his book S.S.I and S.S.II Cars, Allan Crouch studies the models that succeeded them: the 1½ and 2½ Litre of 1936-37, the SS 100 sports car, the 1½, 2½ and 3½ Litre of 1938-48, and the Mark V of 1948- 51. Apart from the 1½ Litre models, what was common to these cars was the six-cylinder engine, based on a Standard sidevalve unit for which Harry Weslake designed an overhead-valve cylinder head giving very respectable power outputs.
These engines endowed the cars, starting with the 1936 2½ Litre, with performance that placed them straight into the class occupied by much more expensive machines such as the Bentleys and Lagondas of the time. Combined with flowing body styling inspired by William Lyons himself, the result was some strikingly attractive and desirable machines at extraordinarily keen prices.

The author, as a volunteer researcher in the Jaguar Heritage Archive, has spent years compiling a database of all the cars manufactured through the period, establishing a complete history of their production. This he has put to good use in the preparation of this definitive work, which examines the cars, their development and their features in unprecedented and probably unsurpassable detail, to satisfy the most demanding enquirer. Competition history, sales, exports, coachbuilt cars, one- offs, colour schemes, production changes, production numbers, chassis numbers and rally entrants are all included.
Containing some 250 colour photographs of outstanding surviving examples of the cars, along with images from the archives, this is truly the most in-depth study ever published of William Lyons's memorable family of cars of this period.

Author:Allan Crouch
Specs:176 pages, 27 x 21 cm / 10.6 x 8.25 in, hardback
Illustrations:250+ b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:Herridge & Sons Ltd (GB, 2013)
EAN:9781906133498
Book: SS & Jaguar Cars - 1 1/2 Litre, 2 1/2 Litre, 3 1/2 Litre, SS 100 & Mark V, 1936-1951

SS & Jaguar Cars - 1 1/2 Litre, 2 1/2 Litre, 3 1/2 Litre, SS 100 & Mark V, 1936-1951

Language: English

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The Jaguar Story

The Jaguar name is synonymous with style, power, performance, luxury and an intangible element of Britishness. It's hard to imagine its humble origins in a Blackpool backstreet as the Swallow Sidecar Company.
Jaguar Cars was formed in 1945, and the metamorphosis began: superb engines, knockout design, epic racing victories and thrilling sports saloons followed. Over the years it has become a living legend.
Here, Giles Chapman captures the astounding story of this iconic car company with a collection of beautiful pictures.

Author:Giles Chapman
Specs:128 pages, 13 x 19 x 1.4 cm / 5.1 x 7.5 x 0.55 in, hardback
Illustrations:100 b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:The History Press Ltd (GB, 2019)
EAN:9780750989244
Book: The Jaguar Story

The Jaguar Story

Language: English

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Jaguar, l'âge classique (Autofocus)

Depuis plus de 80 ans (création en 1935), pour tous les amoureux de belles automobiles, le nom Jaguar évoque immanquablement un style inimitable...
Des courbes à la fois agressives, sensuelles et racées, le confort du cuir Connolly, des bois vernis à foison, un remarquable moteur six cylindres à double arbre à cames en tête, des performances de premier ordre.
En somme, comme disait la réclame de la maison : " Grace, Space, Pace " - la grâce, l'espace et la vitesse...

Cet ouvrage s'intéresse à l'âge classique des automobiles Jaguar, une période marquée de l'empreinte de William Lyons (son fondateur), l'âme de la marque, et par ses modèles les plus mythiques.
L'ouvrage a l'ambition d'éclairer le néophyte sur les principaux épisodes de l'histoire de Jaguar, de lui faire découvrir les modèles les plus emblématiques, mais il n'oublie pas pour autant le Jaguariste aguerri, qui y trouvera de nombreuses anecdotes et le portrait de quelques-unes des personnalités majeures de la firme de Coventry (GB).

Sommaire (13 modèles emblématiques) :
- SS 100, the first lady
- Mark V, à la croisée des chemins
- XK 120, l'essence du mythe
- Mark VII, à la conquête de l'Amérique
- XK 140, XK 150, une glorieuse descendance
- Mark 1, naissance du Sport Saloon
- XK SS, du circuit à la route
- Mark 2, la plus belle berline du monde ?
- Type E, sculpture mobile
- Mark X, le haut du panier
- Type E série 2 et 3, un long chant du cygne
- XJ6, XJ12, le dernier chef-d'oeuvre de Sir William
- XJ-S, une longévité exceptionnelle.

Author:Enguerrand Lecesne, Xavier de Nombel, Pierre-Yves Gaulard
Specs:160 pages, 29 x 24 cm / 11.4 x 9 in, hardback
Illustrations:300 b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:ETAI (F, 2015)
Series:Autofocus
EAN:9791028300777
Book: Jaguar, l'âge classique (Autofocus)

Jaguar, l'âge classique

Language: French

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Jaguar Design : A Story of Style - People, Process, Projects

Arguably a greater proportion of people have more passion for Jaguar than for any other car manufacturer. And the reason for this passion is style. Being more than merely functional motor cars, Jaguars stir the blood.

Now this tremendous new book tells the great Jaguar styling story in fascinating detail from the earliest Swallow motorcycle sidecars, which the fledgling firm began producing in Blackpool in 1922, through the famous icons - such as the XK 120s, the Mk 2 saloons, the E-type and the XJ6 - to the very latest stylish pre-eminent cars produced so successfully today.

This is, essentially, the story of three men - company founder and owner Sir William Lyons, aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer and current Design Director Ian Callum.
But author Nick Hull, himself a former Jaguar designer, also introduces readers to the little-known men behind the scenes and how each of the great trio achieved their stunning cars. Callum, who has written the Foreword, has opened doors and contributed great insights.

Pages of the book Jaguar Design : A Story of Style (1)

With 512 pages and over 500 illustrations, including drawings and designers' renderings, as well as many unseen photographs, this weighty, beautifully produced book is a great addition to any enthusiast's library.

Nick Hull worked for Honda from 1992-2002, initially heading up the interior design studio in Germany. Previously, he was employed by Jaguar as a designer, being involved in such projects as the Jaguar XJ41, XJ220 and XJS facelift. He later moved to Peugeot and then joined TWR, where he was involved in bringing the Jaguar XJ220 into production.

Pages of the book Jaguar Design : A Story of Style (2)

Author:Nick Hull
Specs:512 pages, 29.5 x 24.5 x 4.2 cm / 11.6 x 9.7 x 1.65 in, hardback
Illustrations:500+ b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:Porter Press International (GB, 2015)
EAN:9781907085291
Book: Jaguar Design : A Story of Style - People, Process, Projects

Jaguar Design : A Story of Style - People, Process, Projects

Language: English

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A Life in Car Design - Jaguar, Lotus, TVR

Gives a unique insight into design and project work for a number of leading companies in the motor industry, including Jaguar, Lotus, TVR and General Motors.
The book recounts the author's experiences from within the industry, tracing the changes in the design process over a period of nearly 50 years, and follows his career at home and around the world.

It shows how the change from imperial to metric measurements and the growing use of computers revolutionised the quality and accuracy of modern vehicles. It also covers the issues and challenges of meeting project targets, and some of the issues that can deflect those efforts. It features previously untold stories, and is thoughtfully illustrated with historical engineering drawings and photographs.
As well as informing automobile enthusiasts it is also hoped that this book will inspire upcoming generations to consider a career in the creative field.

Features:
- A personal and in-depth look at car design from inside the industry
- Oliver Winterbottom's experience working for talented industry leaders Sir William Lyons, Jaguar; Colin Chapman, Lotus, and Martin Lilley, TVR
- The author's work with Guigiaro at ItalDesign, Turin, observing the design processes
- An account of working with Chinese companies to develop a new cultural understanding
- Producing new designs to severe time and cost restraints
- How the author developed suitable project processes for low volume built cars at GM USA
- An account of the privilege of working with Toyota Japan, and learning their approach to the motor industry
- The author's experience of extensive development projects for car safety and airbags.

Author:Oliver Winterbottom
Specs:160 pages, 26 x 22 x 1.9 cm / 10.25 x 8.7 x 0.75 in, hardback
Illustrations:200 b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:Veloce Publishing Ltd (GB, 2017)
EAN:9781787110359
Book: A Life in Car Design - Jaguar, Lotus, TVR

A Life in Car Design - Jaguar, Lotus, TVR

Language: English

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Jaguar in Coventry : Building the Legend

Since 1928 Jaguar has played an important role in the working life of Coventry. This illustrated history offers a fascinating insight into the company and the city. It tells the story of the fluctuating fortunes of the company at Browns Lane, and offers a revealing account of car production techniques and processes at Jaguar as they have evolved over the years.
The book also offers an intimate portrait of the local people who have depended on Jaguar for their livelihoods, for generations.

Author:Nigel Thorley
Specs:192 pages, 23 x 16 x 1.4 cm / 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.55 in, paperback
Illustrations:illustrated
Publisher:DB Publishing (GB, 2013)
EAN:9781780913315
Book: Jaguar in Coventry : Building the Legend

Jaguar in Coventry : Building the Legend

Language: English

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Jaguar from the shop floor : Foleshill Road and Browns Lane 1949 to 1978

In "Jaguar from the Shop Floor", Brian Martin tells the story of his life as a long-time employee at Jaguar, giving a first-hand account of the development and production processes, and the ups and downs of factory life through the eyes of someone who was actually there.

In this part-autobiographical and part-historical account, the author tells of his childhood in a typical working family of the depression era, and then describes his career from starting at the Jaguar factory in 1949, through a spell doing national service in the RAF and then going back to Jaguar.
He left briefly in 1972 to try other jobs, but returned to the factory in the mid-1970s.

Pages of the book Jaguar from the shop floor (1)

Providing a fascinating insight into the Jaguar production process, the book also covers the development of the XK120, Mk V, Mk VII, MK X, the Mark 1 and 2 saloons, the XKSS, E1A, E2A, lightweight E-types, XJ6, XJ12, and XJS.

Pages of the book Jaguar from the shop floor (2)

Author:Brain James Martin
Specs:176 pages, 23 x 15.5 cm / 9.1 x 6.1 in, hardback
Illustrations:99 b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:Veloce Publishing Ltd (GB, 2018)
EAN:9781787112797
Book: Jaguar from the shop floor : Foleshill Road and Browns Lane 1949 to 1978

Jaguar from the shop floor : Foleshill Road and Browns Lane 1949 to 1978

Language: English

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Jewels in the Crown - How Tata of India Transformed Britain's Jaguar and Land Rover

Provides an analysis of Tata's acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover in 2008, and subsequent revitalisation under their new leadership, written by an award-winning motoring writer. Ray Hutton goes behind the scenes to examine how Tata have not only returned the business to profit but also transformed the public image of these long-established British brands.
At the time of the takeover, both brands (once the crown jewels of the British motor industry), had been tarnished by a patchy reputation for quality and reliability. Tata bought a new approach to the business, with fast decision-making and a solid, sustainable, long-term strategy. Factory efficiency was improved and major export drive was accompanied by a succession of carefully positioned new models, from the Jaguar XJ Saloon and F-Type sports car, to the Evoque, and new, lighter but more luxurious Range Rover flagship. The result was a remarkable change in fortunes.

This book shows how it was done.

Author:Ray Hutton
Specs:224 pages, 23.5 x 16.5 x 2.6 cm / 9.25 x 6.5 x 1.02 in, hardback
Illustrations:illustrated
Publisher:Elliott & Thompson Ltd (GB, 2013)
EAN:9781908739827
Book: Jewels in the Crown - How Tata of India Transformed Britain's Jaguar and Land Rover

Jewels in the Crown - How Tata of India Transformed Britain's Jaguar and Land Rover

Language: English

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Related titles:

The Complete Book of Jaguar: Every Model since 1935

The Complete Book of Jaguar : Every Model Since 1935

Nigel Thorley

English | hardback | 256 p. | 2019

Jaguar, tous les modèles depuis 1935

Jaguar, tous les modèles depuis 1935

Nigel Thorley

French | hardback | 256 p. | 2020

Jaguar, modèles d'exception

Jaguar, modèles d'exception

Paul Walton, Colin Salter

French | hardback | 208 p. | 2016

Jaguar - Alle Modelle

Jaguar - Alle Modelle

Nigel Thorley

German | hardback | 400 p. | 2018

Jaguar, les berlines

Jaguar, les berlines

Dominique Pagneux

French | hardback | 160 p. | 2001

Jaguar - Berlines 1955-1968

Jaguar - Berlines 1955-1968

Hubert Baradat, Stéphane Schlesinger, Laurent Duchène

French | paperback | 120 p. | 2019

Jaguar, panorama illustré des modèles

Jaguar - Panorama illustré des modèles

Didier Bordes

French | hardback | 160 p. | 2019

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The TMB Bookshop offers not only general books about Jaguar . Click here to discover all books about Jaguar (including technical books like workshop manuals, restauration manuals, driver's handbooks, parts catalogues, etc.).


Last update:27-03-2024