The Jaguar name is synonymous with style, power, performance, luxury and an intangible element of Britishness, so you might never guess that the company began in a Blackpool backstreet, making motorbike sidecars. The extraordinary vision of founder William Lyons turned this humble enterprise first into a maker of natty car bodywork, before it took its first tentative steps, in 1932, to become a proper manufacturer. Jaguar Cars was formed in 1945, and the metamorphosis began: superb engines, knock-out design, epic racing victories and thrilling sports saloons followed. Rocky times were endured, rescues mounted and battles fought, but with the XF and new F-type of today Jaguar is once more a world beater. Here, Giles Chapman captures the entire, astounding story. AUTHOR: Giles Chapman is an award-winning writer and commentator on the industry, history and culture of cars. He began his career in 1984 in automotive consultancy, moving into magazine publishing in 1985. By 1991, he was editor of Classic & Sports Car, the world's best-selling classic car magazine. Since 1994, he's worked freelance across a huge variety of media. Today, he contributes to national newspapers and motoring publications, and was voted Jeep Consumer Journalist Of The Year in 2005, BCA Feature Writer Of The Year in 2008, and AA Environment Writer Of The Year 2011. 100 colour images