Jaguar Infrastructure? (Past and Present)

[richdraper]

Today i learned the 'X' was built in Halewood. I've spent more years than i care to admit, wrongly, thinking us midlands lot were the ones responsible for building Jags. 

I live within urinating distance of the, now leveled, Browns Lane Assembly Plant in Coventry. I've driven past Whitley more times than i care to remember (something to do with engines, although they have just build a new plant in Wolverhampton for engines).

 

If anyone has any info/links on what the different plants do/did I'd be interested, especially round the midlands, specifically in Coventry. History is brilliant, love the history of whatever is parked on my drive (really enjoyed the one below from the 1961)

 

Father inlaw used to be on their payroll but its very difficult to gleam any info out of him about his time there. i do know he used to test drive for them back in the days of the 4.6 XKs and such, also know he spent sometime on the track at Solihull. (doesnt really make up for the many years he spent there lol)
 

 

[JOE-DOT-COM]

Hi

if you look at your vin number, prefix number 11, will confirm your car was made at Halewood

cheers

Joe

[richdraper]

Thanks Joe.. in part your post over in x-type forum sharing this table prompted me to make this post :)

[Old Peter]

I was born and lived about 5 miles from Halewood and nearly went there for a Job just after it was built.  When Ford took over Jaguar it had also taken over Saab and Volvo, and had also built factories in other EU countries, and built several Ford Models in countries such as Belgium.

The x type fitted into Halewood quite easily and in a way, saved the plant from oblivion.

Peter. 

[richdraper]

10 hours ago, R2e said:

Great video! Interesting to recall how things were done in those days, though I was horrified by the lack of oil used for engine assembly, camshafts going in dry seemingly, and not a torque wrench to be seen anywhere! I loved the valve lapping machine which simply automated what one did manually but all valves at once.

 

one of the many reasons you ended up with 'Monday' and 'Friday' engines. id be interested to know who had the first fully automated engine production. i know Fiat had the FIRE (Fully Integrated Robotised Engine) motor that was put in all their little models (769cc-1.4l) from 1985-ish, and its still used in the 500 today.

[Old Peter]

Hi Rich, 

Rover put an automated produced engine into the Mini Metro.  I visited Longbridge around 1984 and saw two  engine production lines, one for the last few minis and the automated line.

Seeing a row of machinists making the parts on lathes next to a gleaming automated line was rather interesting.

Peter.