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AGUAR BEGAN ITS AUTOMOTIVE LIFE in the early 1930s as S.S. Cars, building a few stylish sportscars followed by what the British call sports saloons — larger coupes and convertibles. After the Second World War, the S.S. name was quickly abandoned with founder William Lyons choosing Jaguar as a name, noting that "it is distinctive and cannot be connected or confused with any similar or foreign name." e selection of a smart, fast predator's moniker has clearly stood the test of time. In 1948, Jaguar introduced the XK120 at the London Auto Show and the beautiful, fast sportscar was an instant sensation. Other XK models followed, and in 1961, the E-Type stunned the automotive world once again with dramatic, contemporary styling that was well ahead of its rivals. Fast forward to 2014, and after XJ-S and XK8 four-passenger convertibles, the F-Type was launched as the true spiritual successor of Jaguar's remarkable E-Type in proper two- place coupe and roadster form. While the F-Type may not have been quite as dramatic a new design as its XK120 and E-Type predecessors, the flowing lines and classic form have honored Jaguar's legacy of producing sports cars with superb style. From every angle, this Jaguar exudes appeal, whether at the curb or in motion with the throbbing symphony of its supercharged V8 burbling from four exhaust pipes. And isn't that just the kind of soul stirring a sportscar should do? From the F-Type's beginning, Jaguar resisted the folding metal roof that can instantly create either a coupe or convertible at the flick of a switch. Jaguar designers decided that the obvious benefit of combining models was outweighed by sacrifices in shape and style, and perhaps there's the stubborn British sense of tradition that also played a role. Today, both Mercedes and BMW rivals have abandoned their retractable hard tops, leaving just Jaguar to offer either coupe, or for a modest $2,000 premium, a soft-top convertible sportscar. detour transportation PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JAGUAR LAND ROVER 2024 e F-Type R75 celebrates its legendary past BY BRIAN DOUGLAS Jaguar's Homage to Sportscars J ranchandcoast.com 78 FEBRUARY 2024 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE