Howick identity, aviation historian and author and classic car lover Rev Dr Richard Waugh will this weekend launch his new book ‘Classic Jaguars in New Zealand’.
Waugh said the book has been researched and written for Jaguar’s 100 years of origins celebrations in 2022.
“Jaguar cars are iconic – renowned for their style, performance, excellent value and sporting reputation,” he said.
“After World War II with the XK120 and Mark VII models and famed Le Mans wins, they made a global impact. From
Jaguar’s factory in Coventry, England, the farthest export market was New Zealand.”
Jaguars were popular in New Zealand, he said, especially from the 1950s.
“From my involvement with the Brit & Euro Classic Car Show, and research and publishing of books on a range of other Kiwi topics, I always wanted to do a motoring book,” Waugh told the Times.
“Jaguar’s 100th anniversary was a good catalyst and last year I had leave time from usual church duties to read and write.”
Many of the cars profiled in the book are local east Auckland cars, and many were photographed in Lloyd Elsmore Park by professional photographer Cameron Leggett (formerly of Pakuranga).
The book took about 18 months of work and with formal book launches planned around New Zealand early in 2022 – the 100th anniversary year.
“With such an east Auckland focus, it seems so appropriate that Tony Moore and his Poppies bookshop in Howick is taking the lead with a special event and display of three of the classic cars in the book.
The Jag book is substantial; hard cover with embossed dust jacket, 316 pages and 485 photos.
There are 40 classic Jaguars profiled in the book, including seven that are Howick cars and more than 20 of the cars were photographed at Lloyd Elsmore Park.
“So we are arranging for three of those cars to be parked outside Poppies on the Saturday morning for the public to enjoy,” said Waugh, who will be available for book signing.
