Jaguar XK Club to drive entire coast of Britain to raise money for charity

The owners of more than 100 Jaguar XKs are planning to drive along Britain’s 3,500 miles of coastal roads in support of the Prostate Cancer UK charity.

From the start line at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu on June 12, four cars will travel the entire route with other drivers joining them in convoy during the 18-day event.

The road trip was the brain child of author Philip Porter, who came up with the idea while recovering from prostate cancer.

The Jaguar XK Club, which has helped organise the event, says it has taken 289 stage bookings so far, with owners from the USA and Holland getting involved.

Porter said: “Having done the entire drive in my Italian Job E-type in 2016, I can tell you 90 per cent of the driving is superb, with some utterly breathtaking days.

“This is a fabulous way to see the best of Britain and use your car for a very worthy cause. One man in the UK dies every 45 minutes from prostate cancer.

“It is crucial we raise awareness to save lives.”

The Jaguar XK120 was launched in 1948 at the Earls Court Motor Show. The name came from its 120mph top speed, which made it the fastest car in the world at the time.

Many celebrities bought one including American film star Clark Gable, while it became a motorsport legend in the hands of Stirling Moss in the 50s.