Engineering firm helps create adapted Jaguar concept cars to commemorate ‘Aces’ fighter pilots
A Walsall-based engineering firm has helped create an adaptation of the Jaguar XK180 concept vehicle to commemorate four fighter pilots known as the ‘Aces’ for their heroics in the second world war.
A total of four of the specially produced vehicles will be auctioned from December onwards, with all proceeds benefiting military charities.
Each car will be individualised to and named after the four pilots known collectively as the ‘Aces’, Johnny Johnson of Great Britain, Pierre Closterman of France, Alan Dear of New Zealand and George Burling of Canada.
Birchills Automotive is responsible for the design and manufacture of the exhaust system for each of the four vehicles in a project led by former RAF airman David Wilson.
Wilson has taken designs for the never produced Jaguar XK180 concept vehicle and revised with new details, including a dashboard manufactured using the aluminium from a spitfire plane,, gull wing doors, redesigned and hand stitched upholstery, hand stitched roof linings, new wheels and front headlights.
The windshield has also been replaced with a road legal version, a new carbon roof added, and boot space has been fitted out with luggage cases stitched by hand.
The rear section of the exhaust system, tailpipe and jigs for the first vehicle were all reverse engineered, prototyped and manufactured by Birchills Automotive, after initially being invited to view the concept car at the Jaguar Land Rover Heritage Museum in Warwick.
The vehicles will be sent to socially distanced auctions with bidding for each starting at £250,000 and the proceeds going to several military charities.
Andrew Wellings, managing director of Birchills Automotive, said: “We are extremely proud to be involved in this project honouring these brave heroes.
“We have provided our expertise, time and resources free of charge to create what will be a total of eight exhaust tailpipes for the four vehicles, which we believe is totally the right thing to do.
“We look forward to attending the auctions and seeing these beautiful vehicles raise a significant amount of money for the designated military charities.”
