2006-06-08 00:55:59 | XKE Data writes:

The record was updated:

2010-01-04 16:22:03 | XKE Data writes:

The record was updated:

2021-05-08 10:35:54 | XKE Data writes:

The record was updated:

2024-03-11 20:55:47 | XKE Data writes:

The record was updated:

2025-08-07 09:39:32 | XKE Data writes:

The record was updated:

2004-06-09 17:36:56 | Q writes:

Q Writes, car seen at JEC 20th aniversary.

2005-01-08 09:07:26 | Brian Windle writes:

The car was Newsomes demonstrator & was originally registered 4444RW.When I bought it in 1981the number had been removed & is now 226FAY

2006-03-18 13:21:47 | Brian Windle writes:

The car is now registered 3800 RW

2010-01-03 08:53:49 | Philippe writes:

Car mentionned on E-Type listing, attending XK60 event , Goodwood, August 2008

2011-03-25 07:50:52 | David Amphicars Com writes:

Fabulous looking car, just seen it drive through Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire.

2012-06-30 14:12:43 | John Chapman writes:

I owned this car from 1966 - 1969. During that time I covered about 20000 miles in the car, taking it to Silverstone several times to JDC meetings. It received a new bonnet after an accident in early 1967 and a new clutch in 1968.

2015-08-01 18:21:01 | bill moffat writes:

This car (as 4444 RW) "lived" at the top of my road in Rhiwbina Cardiff in the late 60s/early 70s. Used to gaze longingly at it for hours.

There is a Google image of it at Shelsey Walsh in 1961 so definitely one of the early ones...

2016-01-14 16:12:53 | Keith Marshall writes:

I too remember it in Rhiwbina.
Lived in Lon Isa if I remember correctly

2019-06-10 03:27:44 | Quentin Willson writes:

I used to walk past 4444 RW on the way to school in Stoneygate, Leicester the 1960s and it was exactly the same as it is now, right down to the painted wire wheels. I'd walk the long way round to school just to gaze at it every day. So glad it survives.

2020-05-28 04:18:24 | John James writes:

Sadly, the original Coventry registration 4444RW, an iconic part of the car history in my view, now adorns a diesel Honda CR-V. Sacrilege!!

2021-05-08 12:46:53 | Chris Sherwood writes:

As previously stated, this was the SH Newsome of Coventry demonstrator. Does anyone know who the first owner was when sold by them 3-4 months later?

2025-08-07 05:40:59 | Chris Sherwood writes:

Ownership history on this can can now be confirmed as follows:

Chassis 850036, 36th UK right hand drive Roadster, first registered 12th July 1961 by Coventry Jaguar dealers S.H. Newsome & Co. Ltd as their demonstrator.

Visible in the 14th July 1961 photograph of the first batch of Roadsters outside the Browns Lane factory.

Photographed by the side of the start line at Shelsley Walsh at the 27th August 1961 meeting, where S.H. Newsome J.P. was Steward of the Meeting and President of the Midland Auto Club. Photo taken by 16 year old Robert Grounds, there with his father Frank Grounds who had the Jaguar dealership in Aston, Birmingham and friend of "Sammy" Newsome.

Paul Newsome joined the firm in 1960 and ran the Service Department, later becoming a Director. His father, Alan J. Newsome, was a solicitor in Coventry who was also a Director of Jaguar Cars and a family friend of William "Bill" Lyons. Paul had been evacuated to Wales in 1940 together with Mary Lyons, Bill Lyons youngest daughter. He well remembers 4444 RW and did 4-6000 miles in the car whilst it was their demonstrator, once achieving 145 mph on the motorway. He recalls a sticking valve on no. 1 cylinder and removal of the cylinder head to repair it.

Dealers had to keep demonstrators a minimum of 3 months, in order to get the 2.5% “demonstrator discount” from Jaguar.

In autumn 1961 the car was sold to John Bolwell of Oakdale, South Wales, a successful businessman owning retail sports shops in South Wales. He was aged just 22 when he bought the car, with a white XK140 given in px. For servicing it was taken back to Newsome's, then the Cardiff main dealer and subsequently Gordon Williams of Risca, a local Jaguar specialist.

In September 1966 the car was sold to John Chapman of Rhiwbina, Cardiff for £695 with circa 37,000 miles on the clock. He frequently visited Silverstone, Brands Hatch etc., often supporting his friend Maurice Charles who raced a D Type at Goodwood, an ex Ecurie Ecosse car.

(Maurice also bought a new E Type for racing at Le Mans. This was initially resisted by Jaguar, but when he insisted, Jaguar provided support, sending mechanics to Le Mans. John also went as a support mechanic.

A great race enthusiast, he painted the nose white to mimic the race cars, together with bonnet retaining straps.

The car was often admired by young schoolboy, Bill Moffat (now Dr Moffat) also living in Rhiwbina, during his walk and bus ride to school. Bill also used to see the car at Llandow race circuit, where as a 13 year old he was doing the race reports for Motoring News!

His brother also recalls the car well. On cycling home from school, they were passed by a green E Type "travelling at a good pace" which then "T-boned" a car at the crossroads! John spent some time in hospital but was exonerated of any blame for the accident.

The bonnet suffered, but the rest of the car was undamaged, so he purchased a new one, bringing it home on the roof of his company car!

John kept the car until 1969, selling it to friend Barbara Lloyd for £700, who kept it until emigrating to South Africa.

In 1972 it passed to Richard White of Countesthorpe, Leicester thence to Francis Paling, also of Leicester. Whilst in Mr White's possession the original registration 4444 RW was removed and retained.

Quentin Wilson recalls the car during this time, whilst on his walks to school in Leicester, at one point sporting a "For Sale" postcard reading "Good Runner £400 ono”.

In 1981 the car was purchased by Brian Windle of Coombe Green, Birtsmorton, from well known dealer and restorer Nigel Dawes of Birtsmorton Court, Malvern

Brian, a highly skilled Motor Engineer, kept the car for the next 40 years. In conjunction with Martin Robey Engineering, he fully restored the car in time for the 40th Anniversary tour to Geneva in March 2001.

Many subsequent overseas tours were taken in Europe, South Africa and the 2004 JEC tour of the American Deep South. He acquired the number 3800 RW, which the car wears today.

April 2021 it was purchased by current owner, Chris Sherwood of Droitwich Spa.