Matua man Tony Johnson is not only looking forward to parking up his special lady at Classic Flyers this Saturday, September 24, to celebrate 100 years since the first Jaguar was made in Britain.

He also can't wait to peruse the public display of more than 50 Jaguars – from the 1930s through to the 2000s – arriving from all over the country to celebrate the centenary of the iconic British car.

'Many people like seeing different cars – and Jags are special. The older, rarer models coming this Saturday will be interesting to see. And with 100 years since the first Jag was made, it is worth celebrating.”

Tony says the event, co-sponsored by Ebbett Prestige, will allow Jaguar owners to share their beautiful cars with others.

'In America there's a term ‘Trailer Queen' where cars are pristine and lovely-looking but never used. They get carted on a trailer from place to place.

'We're bucking that trend – we enjoy sharing our cars with others, and driving them.”

A key part of the event is the launch of new book ‘Classic Jaguars in New Zealand – Grace Space Pace' written by Richard Waugh.

The book project has been a major voluntary project by enthusiasts for this 100th anniversary year of Jaguar origins. Tony's rare 1955 Jaguar XK140 OTS MC features in the book.

Tony, a member of the Jaguar Drivers Club (Bay of Plenty) Inc, has never seen another Jaguar like his in New Zealand. 'I bought it in 1996 from a guy who'd owned it for 36 years. He lived in Los Angeles.

'Although Jaguars are British-made, back in the 1950s their biggest market was the USA. So mine is more normal than what you'd find in Britain because mine is left-hand drive.”

Before this he'd only owned model Jaguars and raced slot cars – so what's the appeal? 'It's just a lovely car. When it came out in 1955 it was the fastest production car that was produced.

'It's got beautiful lines – I always think of it as lady. It has nice curves,” says Tony, who reckons it 'still just purrs along – it can easily do 100 m/hr”.

His model is an OTS, an Open-Two-Seater sports car. 'It has a great engine sound being a 3.4L with a straight six – the six cylinders are lined up in a row.

The M in the name means ‘modified' so it has twin exhausts, wire-wheels, fog lamps and windscreen washers. 'The ‘C' in MC means it has a higher compression rating, 8:1 which means it is rated at 210bhp, so it goes a bit faster. That is what guys like.”

Of this specific model 1420 vehicles were made in 1955 – Tony's never found another in Aotearoa. 'There are other XK140s – they came in three body styles: mine, the sports model; a Drop Head Coupe; and a Fixed Head Coupe with a solid roof.”

Tony takes his 'lady” out regularly. 'If I'm working down in Kawerau or Tokoroa I'll take her over the Kaimai.”

He says the Jaguar Drivers Club (BOP) Inc is a very active club and very welcoming.

'So come along to Classic Flyers to meet the owners and see their special cars this Saturday, September 24.”

The public is welcome from 9.30am-3pm at Classic Flyers, 9 Jean Batten Drive, Mount Maunganui.

The book launch is at 11.30am, with launch price of $65. Enquiries to: richard.waugh.rev@gmail.com