Lutz’s love for Jaguars ‘trending’

  • Published
  • By Raquel March
  • AEDC/PA
Arnold Air Force Base, TENN. --  Ron Lutz, an engineer in the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) Test Technology Branch and Manchester resident, has a love for Jaguars but not of the animal kind. His interest in Jaguar automobiles was recognized by Motor Trend magazine in the special summer issue titled "Motor Trend Classic."

Lutz became a Jaguar enthusiast in 1997 while he was employed by a company in England that manufactured wind tunnel parts.

"I had joined a small English firm that makes wind tunnel test equipment and decided that I needed an English car for my sales calls in the U.S.," Lutz said. "The only real choice was Jaguar."

Lutz eventually purchased a used 1992 Jaguar Vanden Plas saloon (sedan) from a friend.

"I have a friend whose wife had one , so I asked if I could test drive it to get familiar with the car," Lutz said. "He let me drive it and they explained that they planned to trade it in within the year and asked if I would like to buy it instead. Six months later I purchased the car, it had 50,000 miles on it, in October of 1997."

After purchasing a new 1996 Jaguar, Lutz decided to sell the 1992 Jaguar Vanden Plas through the Nashville Jaguar Club. At the same time, Motor Trend was looking for a Jaguar to compare to a 1992 Nissan Infinity Q45t for an article on 1990 luxury cars.

The Nissan U.S. headquarters has a 1992 Infinity Q45t museum car that was used for the article.

"They [Nissan] wanted Motor Trend to do an article on their car and compare it to one of its early 1990s competitors," Lutz said. "Motor Trend wanted to find a car in the Nashville area to make it an easy trip to make the photos and do the test drives. They got in touch with me and we set a date for the test drive and photo-shoot in Nashville in late June."

Lutz rebuilt his Jaguar with original Daimler trim and insignia after a severe collision in 2005 because the top trim of Jaguar cars were distributed with the Daimler name in the European market. The cars showcased the Jaguar branding only when it was marketed in the U.S.

Lutz said, "Daimler Cars were purchased by Jaguar Cars in 1960 for the double decker busses and military vehicles Daimler made, as an effort to expand the Business of Jaguar. They did not intend to continue the hand-built Daimler Car production. However, due to dealer pressure, they agreed to offer the most luxurious Jaguar models as Daimlers in all markets except the U.S.

"My car was manufactured as a British Daimler with Connelly leather, Wilton wool carpets and a seven-coat hand-rubbed paint job, but rebadged as a Jaguar Vanden Plas prior to shipping to the U.S."

The Motor Trend writer Rory Jurnecka wrote that, "If the Q45 was cutting-edge, the Jaguar that inspired its basic proportions and driving dynamics seems distinctly Old World."

The article compared the differences in the old world luxury of the Jaguar to the modern luxury of the Q45t and provided specifications of each car. Even the owners, Lutz and Barry Winfield, who owns an Infiniti Q45t, provided insights for the article regarding why they liked their cars and why they are collectable.

"Although the handling isn't quite as good as my son's Series III XJ6, the combination of the negative front and rear camber, level of power assist, and the large diameter steering wheel make it a fun car to drive." Lutz said. "The XJ40 series brought Jaguar into the modern age with major styling and mechanical changes. It also took a step toward reducing the brand's reputation for poor reliability."

Lutz's son, Josh, drove the Nissan Infiniti Q45t museum car in the photo shoot.

To read the entire article where Lutz's Jaguar is featured in the Motor Trend Classic publication, see this link - www.motortrend.com/classic_cars/mtcflipbook/.