April 8th 2008        Jaguar Factory Visit to Castle Bromwich

 17 Club Members and several guests visited the Jaguar Car Plant at Castle Bromwich where the new Jaguar XF saloon is produced.  This was a most interesting tour to a plant where many years ago it was built to manufacture the Submarine Spitfire for World War Two.

After watching a video of the production lines of the cars manufactured at the plant, a tour lasting about an hour and a half, was started. All the necessary safety equipment was supplied and headphones also to hear a running commentary from the guides. It was incredibly fascinating to see the process from the first structural body parts to the final product driving off at the finish for vigorous testing. Amazing how each piece of the car arrives at the right place for putting in the right car at the right time. All cars here are made to individual preference so the body work, colours and trim could be different at each point of the production line. Photos were not allowed in the production plant.

After the visit was over, it was good to go into the pub and have a welcome beer ( or glass of wine ! ) before we went to a very nice Chinese restaurant where there was a superb " eat as much as you can" buffet organised by Peter Bondi.

A memorable day out and many thanks to President Ian for organising everything.

Photos by Rtn. Alan Spinks