Jaguar Motor Cars - Could This Classic Auto Have Evolved Differently

Jaguar motor cars. The name says it all - sleek like a Jaguar or Panther cat. Sleek fast and stealthy. Yet among automobile manufacturers Jaguar is unique in that although its pedigree is British and deeply bred at that, the vehicle evolved within an American auto consumer's framework. The two grew together and evolved along the highways, race and rally tracks together so to speak.

Yet the story of Jaguar is also the story and tale of the venerable Sir William Lyons. No doubt about it in the historical auto record - the strengths and weaknesses of Sir William were also those of the company or vice versa. With the 20/20 wisdom of hindsight it is possible to see and note that while he created some of the most beautiful high performance cars ever to grace the roads and highways, he ran the company single handled with little thought of who or whom to carry on the reins after he exited. Yet it came spiraling down after the boss Sir William was tragically killed in a car crash unexpectedly in 1955.

Perhaps it can be said this is the single biggest reason that Jaguar is unique and did not follow in the footsteps of other luxury and sport car leaders or their business plan.

Jaguar and its vehicle to a great degree did not employ long term plans and planning.

Their vehicles came to market, met customers needs and the ball or motor car kept rolling in. It was akin to punting in an industry where everyone else was run by bean counting and bean counters who worked down to finding every last penny with which to multiply out pennies saved times vehicles output equals millions dollars more profit, yet produced look a like cars on as few variations as possible and although brightly colored and loaded with expensive options were all too often rather sterile and ordinary.

Hence in the mid 1950's Jaguar, especially with the owner and general manager's tragic death did not emulate BMW in producing upwards of 500,00 unit cars in that year but only a much smaller number of 50,000. As can be said who knows and you cannot change history. In retrospect had Sir William survived or fate had it that his deathly automobile crash had not occurred, then perhaps Jaguar could of or would of ramped up production. If auto unit production figures had increased

under the helm of previous stalwart management, since the export market in the US was more than established, then perhaps cash flow of the company and it solvency would have been maintained into the 1980's. Had that situation occurred, and not the actual course of events that occurred in reality, then the alternative outcome might of well been that Jaguar as a car company and auto manufacturer could of survived intact and never had to be a takeover bid in the 1980's to Ford.

Yet had that occurred would we have had the wonderful legacy and full product line that we came to enjoy and expect from Jaguar. Hardly likely. Simple as that.