Episode 86: Meet the team that built the Lightweight E-types

Jaguar Enthusiast Magazine has teamed up with our heritage partners, The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, to track the human stories behind one of Jaguar's best-selling model ranges that was in production for nearly a quarter of a century! Launched in 1975 as the successor to the legendary E-type, the XJS celebrates 50 years this year. So, buckle up — we’re going to explore the highs, lows, and lasting impact of Jaguar’s misunderstood masterpiece: the XJS. Ed began his career at Jaguar in the 1970s, where he worked as a development engineer on the company’s road cars and competition projects. His work spanned chassis, suspension, and performance development, giving him a front-row seat as Jaguar navigated one of the most fascinating and challenging chapters in its history. After his time at Jaguar, Ed went on to found Abbott Racing, a specialist engineering company that built a reputation for extracting performance and reliability from both road and racing machinery. That blend of hands-on engineering expertise and entrepreneurial drive has made him a respected voice in the world of automotive development. With first-hand experience of the XJ-S from the inside, Ed brings invaluable perspective on what it took to turn Jaguar’s grand touring vision into a reality — and how those lessons carried forward into his own engineering journey. As we celebrate 50 years of the Jaguar XJ-S, it’s a pleasure to welcome Ed Abbott to share his memories, insights, and stories from an extraordinary career in engineering.

Jaguar Enthusiast Magazine has teamed up with our heritage partners, The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, to track the human stories behind one of Jaguar's best-selling model ranges that was in production for nearly a quarter of a century! Launched in 1975 as the successor to the legendary E-type, the XJS celebrates 50 years this year. So, buckle up — we’re going to explore the highs, lows, and lasting impact of Jaguar’s misunderstood masterpiece: the XJS. Nick’s career has seen him working for Honda, Peugeot, Jaguar and TWR, going on to lecture on automotive design at Coventry University and around the world. Nick was involved in the XJ41 project aimed at replacing the XJ-S. Early clay models were labelled F-TYPE, and there was great hope for a world-class vehicle to serve as the E-type's spiritual successor. That led to the XJS facelift project for Nick, and we hope to hear more from him about that in the future. Nick also worked at TWR, where he was involved in bringing the fabulous XJ220 design to production. Alongside his design career, Nick became an educator and writer, documenting the history of automotive design with clarity and passion. His acclaimed book Jaguar Design: A Story of Style is considered a definitive account of how Jaguar has blended engineering and artistry across decades, from the earliest saloons to the most modern sports cars. Nick brings not only professional expertise but also an insider’s understanding of the challenges and triumphs that shaped Jaguar’s design DNA. His insights into the XJ-S help us understand how design decisions of the past continue to influence the cars we celebrate today. As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar XJ-S, it’s a privilege to welcome Nick Hull to explore how design shaped Jaguar’s identity and what the XJ-S truly means in the wider story of the marque.

Jaguar Enthusiast Magazine has teamed up with our heritage partners, The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, to track the human stories behind one of Jaguar's best-selling model ranges that was in production for nearly a quarter of a century! Launched in 1975 as the successor to the legendary E-type, the XJS celebrates 50 years this year. So, buckle up — we’re going to explore the highs, lows, and lasting impact of Jaguar’s misunderstood masterpiece: the XJS. Allan Scott is best known as the Manager of the Engine Division at Tom Walkinshaw Racing — TWR — during the golden era of the 1980s and early 1990s. Originally hailing from New Zealand, Allan trained as an engineer before moving to the UK, where he became deeply involved in engine development for racing and road-going performance programs. At TWR, Allan led the team responsible for turning Jaguar’s V12 into a world-beating powerplant. Under his guidance, the XJ-S’s engine evolved into a championship-winning force in European touring car racing, and later, into the endurance-dominating heart of the legendary Group C Jaguars — machines that conquered Daytona, Le Mans, and tracks across the globe. As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar XJ-S, it’s an honour to have Allan with us to reflect on his experiences — from the workshop floor to the winner’s podium — and to hear first-hand what it took to transform Jaguar’s engines into icons.

Jaguar Enthusiast Magazine has teamed up with our heritage partners, The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, to track the human stories behind one of Jaguar's best-selling model ranges that was in production for nearly a quarter of a century! Launched in 1975 as the successor to the legendary E-type, the XJS celebrates 50 years this year. So, buckle up — we’re going to explore the highs, lows, and lasting impact of Jaguar’s misunderstood masterpiece: the XJS. On this episode, we speak to Barrie Thrussell. He arrived at Jaguar from Morris, where he reached the Global Aftersales Director position before leaving to take on other responsibilities. He then returned to the UK Operations Director role under Nick Scheele. From proving-ground tests to fine-tuning the car’s refinement and handling, Barrie was at the heart of the engineering effort that turned Jaguar’s bold grand tourer into a production reality and ensured its ongoing quality development when in production, as well as educating the dealerships on what the model offered at that time. As we mark 50 years of the XJ-S, Barrie joins us to share his stories from inside Jaguar during one of its most fascinating eras.