The house that Sir William Lyons built may have begun with just a few humble motorcycle sidecars but quickly grew to become a true motoring giant. Jaguar’s history is studded with innovation and perhaps the odd bit of intimidation, as the cars and characters that represented the Big Cat took on the world from Coventry.

During those formative years of the 1950s, when manufacturers and the sport were adapting to ever-changing technology and a new, war-free world, Jaguar came to the fore. Instead of crafting wings for bombers, Jaguar turned its hand to creating works of art for the roads and racetracks, with aerospace technology helping to shape those wonderful C- and D-types. If it hadn’t have been for Jaguar – and a little persuasion from Stirling Moss – braking technology perhaps wouldn’t have advanced as fast as it did. If it wasn’t for Malcolm Sayer, aerodynamics may not have evolved the way they did. And if it wasn’t for Lyons himself, Britain would likely have lagged in those early racing years.

Fast-forward to the new age of power that Group C brought, and Jaguar again roared to the front, with Tom Walkinshaw, Jan Lammers and Martin Brundle at the helm. And we’ve barely touched on the glory of the road cars – the jaw-dropping E-type, secretive XJ220 and mysterious XJ13.

Motor Sport magazine has been trackside and behind the wheel to witness and report on all of this and more. In this special collectors’ issue we delve into our unique archive to bring you the stories that celebrate the men, machines and milestones that helped to etch the Jaguar name into history.

To read more about the history of Jaguar and the drivers that have helped forge a legend, click here