Hi There,
Doing some very preliminary research for a future trip and want to surprise hubby with an special addition to our itinerary. Is it possible to visit the Jaguar plant in Whitley, Coventry? Is it even still there? I'd heard operations were moved here to the U.S. Or is it more feasible to visit a really nice dealership, perhaps one of the oldest, or first (???) in London (since that'll be our base)? Open to any suggestions... TIA

Most Jaguar manufacturing operations are at Castle Bromwich (Birmingham) or Halewood (Liverpool). Whitley's an engineering and design centre, not a manufacturing plant

There's a Jaguar museum at the Brown's Lane, Coventry, site (which has been making for Jaguar longer than any of their other sites, and is the site that my Coventry chums see as the classic Jaguar site, though I think there's only a veneer plant there now). Limited access, though they say they'll open by appointment. www.jdht.com

Dear CDG,

Jaguar is owned by Ford, as is Volvo and Land Rover.

Do you really want to visit them?

I'd rather remember Jaguar as it was.

Well on that basis the OP woul;d have to go to Manganese Bronze who are Britains largest British owned car plant. Do you really want them to go to a taxi factory?

Morgan's factory would be quite fun I think - lots of blokes in brown overalls smoking pipes.

<<owned by Ford>>
So that's why they look just like Fords.

<<I'd rather remember Jaguar as it was>>
Yes; sigh....

Great idea, A.

See www.enjoyclassiccars.com/MorganMotorCo.htm

Do they still push the cars uphill?

"I'd rather remember Jaguar as it was"

You mean when it made cars that broke down all the time - on the few days a year the local unions weren't trying to create a people's republic in one city by forcing Jaguar workers to come out on pointless, politically-motivated strikes?

Ford and GM have done far, far better at getting British workers to make decent cars than any UK-owned mass manufacturer ever managed. It's just in their homeland they limit themselves to hopeless gas-guzzlers that struggle to get from 0 to 60 in the same week.

My dear F,

Only a few days ago, I attended a local "do", and was able to inspect some new Jaguars and Volvos.

It is not so much that they look like some sort of generic automobile designed by a UN committee, but that they no longer have any style.

I don't see why one can't build a presentable car of good quality for the same price.

There is a museum (visit by appointment only): http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/museu...n/AM35395.html

Also see this link: http://www.europeancarweb.com/museum...eum/index.html

You may enjoy a visit to http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/ at Gaydon in Warwickshire. It is mainly British Leyland, so MG's plus the rest, but has a couple of Jags, Morgans etc.
Many many moons ago we went there at saw the Jaguar XKR being test driven past the gates, months before it was made public.
My OH and son were really drooling at that. Made a right mess of the car seats

Thank you all so much for the generous replies and the links, too!!! I'm visiting the sites right now...