---
title: "Jaguar Commemorates 70th Anniversary With Rally-Spec F-Type Tributes"
description: "These two custom F-Type convertibles pay homage to Jag's original rally car, the XK 120"
date: "2018-11-12"
modified: "2018-11-12"
authors:
  - name: "Talon Homer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/talon-homer"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/24850/jaguar-commemorates-70th-anniversary-with-rally-spec-f-type-tributes"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Coupe"
  - "Custom Cars"
  - "england"
  - "F-Type"
  - "Jaguar"
  - "luxury"
  - "rally"
  - "sports car"
---

# Jaguar Commemorates 70th Anniversary With Rally-Spec F-Type Tributes

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/11/jagftype20myrallyspecial12111807.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Jaguar has chosen to celebrate 70 years of production in an unusual and exciting way, by turning two examples of its open-top F-Type sports car into [purpose-built rally machines](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/24682/ken-block-is-building-another-escort-cosworth-and-touring-the-world-with-it-in-2019>). Typically meant to tackle the curves of a countryside road, these two Jags have now been outfitted with everything they need to scream up and down a bumpy gravel surface. The cars were made as a tribute to the XK 120, which began a successful rally career for Jaguar back in 1948.

![message-editor%2F1542040018609-jagftype20myrallyspecial12111821-resize-1024x682.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1542040018609-jagftype20myrallyspecial12111821-resize-1024x682.jpg>)
**Jaguar**

At a glance, some changes to the [F-Type](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/21653/2018-jaguar-f-type-400-sport-coupe-test-drive-review-pushing-the-limits-of-jags-v-6-sports-car>) are obvious. It now has a hood-mounted light pod up front, a few inches of suspension lift, and knobby off-road tires at all corners. Jaguar has gone far beyond cosmetic changes, however, modifying the car to be in line with current FIA rally specifications. The Jag is propelled by a specially tuned version of its [base turbocharged 2.0-liter](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/9226/2018-jaguar-f-type-gets-2-0-liter-turbo-four>) four-cylinder engine, putting out 295 horsepower to the rear wheels. Other modifications include a half roll cage setup, six-point harness seats, adjustable shock absorbers, and a hydraulic handbrake to flick the F-Type sideways on loose surfaces.

![message-editor%2F1542040167187-jagftype20myrallyspecial12111814-resize-1024x682.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1542040167187-jagftype20myrallyspecial12111814-resize-1024x682.jpg>)
**Jaguar**

In Jaguar's release, design director Ian Callum had this to say about the car: "The opportunity to design a rally car doesn’t come along very often so I was fascinated to see how we could take our modern day sports car to a similar character. These models are a fitting tribute to the XK 120 and all the [great Jaguar sports cars](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20909/historic-jaguar-e-type-roadster-raced-by-sir-stirling-moss-going-to-auction>) since its reveal 70 years ago."

![message-editor%2F1542040226600-jagftype20myrallyspecial12111808-resize-1024x682.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1542040226600-jagftype20myrallyspecial12111808-resize-1024x682.jpg>)
**Jaguar**

For those skeptical of the rally F-Types' capabilities, Jaguar has also released a video to its YouTube channel showcasing the car, complete with some footage of it sliding through gravel and catching a respectable amount of air.

https://youtube.com/embed/YsUcDmCmLMg

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