https://www.autonews.com/article/201...store-classics
With the price of Jaguar and Land Rover classic vehicles soaring — a rare North American version of the 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 with 180,000 miles sold recently for $93,110 — JLR is opening a factory restoration, sales and service center in Savannah, Ga.

The facility, which will employ 75 old-car specialists, is scheduled to open in about a year, JLR said last week. Owners of classic vehicles, such as the Jaguar XKE sports car and Land Rover Range Rover Classic will be able to have their vehicles serviced or even completely restored by JLR-trained staff.

JLR operates two similar facilities, one in the U.K. and one in Germany. Its restoration specialists can research a vehicle's original build records, then use factory assembly manuals, literature and a growing range of classic parts that JLR has put back into production to return a vehicle to showroom condition.

JLR says the Savannah facility will offer vehicle restorations, processing (light restoration), sales of used classic cars, vehicle servicing and maintenance, customer commissions, branded accessories, driving experiences, customer race car prep and site visits or event hosting.

"Creating a dedicated facility in the U.S. — one of the largest markets for classic car enthusiasts — is an important and exciting step," said Tim Hannig, director of Jaguar Land Rover Classic. "We're delighted to bring the future-proofing classic expertise and support we've nurtured in the UK direct to U.S. clients."

The facility will have 42 bays and handle vehicles out of production 10 years or more. A separate showroom will offer what JLR calls its Classic Works Legends vehicles for sale. Such vehicles would include Land Rover Defender and Series SUVs, Jaguar XKR sports coupes, the classic Jaguar XJ6 sedan and even early versions of the Land Rover Discovery, which are now also becoming collectible.

Private imports of Defenders 25 years or older from Europe have soared in recent years as the value of used models in the U.S. has risen.

 

Queen and Country you might want want to check on that. Much to the ire of the State of Georgia those plans are cancelled. It never made any sense and someone in JLR finally realized it.

 

I was psyched for minute there! What a good idea.

 

https://www-savannahnow-com.cdn.ampp...avannah-center

 

Which Jaguars are manufactured in China? Whatever happened to LR vehicles being manufactured in Saudi Arabia; did that ever move forward?

 

This reminds me of a Red Fox joke about dying in the arms of a pretty lady.
This came and went at the same time.

I hope they reconsider something like this for the 2020 launch of the Defender.
Its precisely the education on heritage that is needed. And what the competition is doing- in the same location.
My friends BMW M6 came with 2 day 'get to know your car' retreat in the same area.

 

It makes sense that JLR folded on the project. They're not very apt or trying to retain repeat buyers (just went through this on our end of lease XE). They could care less whether you own/owned JLR automobiles when going into the showroom. Heritage and loyalty to the marque is of little value in the end.

 

Dead for now, but who knows about the future? Will there be a sufficient market to convert particular JLR models from internal combustion engines to electric motors?

https://www-roadandtrack-com.cdn.amp...-production%2F

 

^^^^^^^^
Ask Prince Harry, or whichever 'Royal' person zapped that E-type.

 

Queen in this case it went before it came!

 

Just read today that JLR was laying off 4,500, supposedly mostly in UK. Besides not having the money, I'm guessing it wouldn't have gone over well to open up a new shop in the US while you are doing that. Here is a link BBC article on JLR layoffs