2017 sees Sturgess of Leicester, the fourth generation family operated motor retailer celebrating 70 years of representation with the Jaguar brand, making them the oldest Jaguar retailer in the UK in continuous ownership and one of the oldest in the world.
The Jaguar distributorship for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland was awarded to Sturgess in 1947 by Jaguar founder, William Lyons (knighted in 1956) while the business was under the stewardship of 2nd generation Managing Director Frank Sturgess. At that time, Sturgess was responsible for representing Rootes Group, Chevrolet and Rover, among others.
Commenting on this milestone, current Chairman, Chris Sturgess said, “We are extremely proud of our long association with Jaguar. It is a superb brand to represent and has brought us into contact with many wonderful people both as customers and colleagues within the wider Jaguar world. We continue to deal with many families that buy Jaguars across generations and hope to continue to do so for many years to come.”
Chris’s father Robin was perhaps most responsible for the company’s wider recognition and association with the Jaguar brand with his club racing successes in many of their cars.
In his time Robin campaigned some significant Jaguars, one such was C-Type, POV 114, a car with an incredibly diverse provenance including racing at Le Mans, but perhaps most fondly remembered was one of the very first production E-Types, a Sturgess company demonstrator that was extensively raced, and which went on to feature in the cult 1960’s film The Italian Job. This car is still in existence.
To celebrate their 70 years of Jaguar partnership, Sturgess are offering a limited number of specially built XE, XF and F-Pace vehicles. Finished in Silver with Black or Black/Red leather interior and equipped with a number of useful options and accessories as well special badging to make this small number of cars unique. Each will come with the option of a Jaguar factory tour or Jaguar track day as well as other gifts.
Mr Sturgess added, “The outlook for Jaguar has never been better. The brand has produced some remarkable cars over the last 70 years, but when you see what we have available today, and what is coming in the near future, Jaguar ownership is becoming both more accessible and more exciting than ever before.”