Jaguar’s modern models, classics and colours
An iconic British marque like Jaguar is an ever-lasting source of delight. Since the first Jag rolled off the production line in 1935 - a 2.5 litre sports saloon - these cars have been admired and envied the world over.
Jaguar is a luxury brand with a classic car heritage, yet it had humble beginnings. The Swallow Sidecar Company was founded in 1922, making - as you might have guessed - motorcycle sidecars. The business was bought out in 1934 by one of the founders, William Lyons, who formed S.S. Cars Limited.
Jaguar has launched almost 40 models launched to date and more than 20 concept cars in a wide range of different car paint colours and interiors. Now unofficially in its 100th year, Jaguar Classic has its own facility and customers can buy pre-loved or limited edition classic models.
It’s far from a brand stuck in the past though: Jaguar has pledged that all cars made under the Jaguar brand will be fully electric by 2025.
A drive-by historical overview
Eventually, in 1945, S. S. Cars changed its name to Jaguar Cars. In the following decades, it merged with several other car companies and was absorbed into other manufacturers’ identities - yet always held its own.
In 1966, it merged with British Motor Corporation and they became British Motor Holdings (BMH). Only 2 years later, BMH merged with Leyland Motor Corporation and became British Leyland, which was nationalised in 1975.
Then in 1984, Jaguar was listed on the London Stock Exchange until 1990, when it was bought by Ford. Jaguar and its stable-mate Land Rover were sold to Tata Motors in 2008 and became Jaguar Land Rover.
Jaguar models through the decades
- 1930s - first car with a Jaguar badge, a 2.5 litre sports saloon
- 1940s - first car launched after WW2, the XK120 sportscar
- 1950s - a 2.4-litre saloon, Jaguar’s first monocoque (unitary) car
- 1960s - the iconic E-Type sports car and the S-Type saloon
- 1970s - Series II and Series III of the XJ6
- 1980s - XJ40, a completely redesigned XJ
- 1990s - ‘fastest production car in the world’, the XJ220
- 2000s - the third generation XJ, the X350
- 2010s - the XF, or X250 sports sedan, continues its run
What is the monocoque?
A monocoque car is also known as a unibody system. They have been designed to provide strength to the vehicle’s structure using box sections, bulkheads and tubes - rather than relying upon the strength of the skin of the car.
It’s a confusing description, in all honesty: monocoque means ‘single shell’ and is normally used to describe structures that can bear a load on their skin (like an egg).
Modern Jaguars now have a carbon-fibre monocoque cell design. In fact, the first ever production car with carbon-fibre monocoque design was the Jaguar XJR-15.
Jaguar paint colours
Classic Jaguar car paint colours can be replicated today as easily as modern car paints can, using state-of-the-art mixing machines and a nitro-acrylic base that makes colour match car paint for classic cars possible.
Popular classic colours include Squadron Blue, Tungsten Poly, Signal Red, Willow Green, Pale Primrose and Racing Green.
Modern Jaguar car paints come in an array of luscious-sounding hues: Bluefire Blue Metallic, Carpathian Grey Metallic and Firenze Red.
Our most popular colours include Azure Blue, Racing Green (still a favourite!), Carmen Red, Old English White, Opalescent Gunmetal Metallic, Opalescent Silver Grey Metallic, Pale Primrose Yellow (again!), and Signal Red (again!).
Find your classic Jaguar paint code
Unlike modern cars, where we’re able to look up your car colour with your reg, ordering original classic car paint requires a code. You can get the paint code from a car club or other specialist website, a dealership, or the manufacturer.
You might also find your paint code in one of these locations:
- Under the boot lid
- On the door jamb or frame
- In the door hinge
- Under the bonnet
- On the firewall
- In the glove box
- In the spare wheel well
Bear in mind, with classic paint colours there can be multiple codes for the same colour. For example, they can have a BLMV or BLVC code which can also have an ICI, Glasurit or PPG equivalent code – all which would create the same colour.
Confused? Don’t be! Just let us have your paint code and we’ll make sure you get the right colour of car paint for your Classic Jaguar.
How to order your touch-up paint
To order car paint for a modern Jaguar, simply enter your paint code, make, year and key (basic) colour into our search tool and follow the instructions.
As classic car paint suppliers, we’ve also made it easy to order directly from our Classic Jaguar product page. If you’re not sure of the era your car falls into, don’t worry - we’ll know whether you need the classic car paint composition or the modern car paint.