Jaguar XJ Greatest Hits: Special Model For Iron Maiden’s Drummer Starts Celebrating XJ’s 50th Anniversary

16 March 2018 Redazione Lifestyle, News

JAGUAR XJ GREATEST HITS

WILDEST DREAMS

By Marco Mancino

The combination of rockstar and sports cars has always represented the apex of two exclusive worlds that meet and as a matter of facts it is not rare to find that our heroes hide enviable collections of supercars and vintage cars of all sorts, often customized according to particular tastes and maybe made unique thanks to the addition of some details that makes them immediately traceable to the rightful owner. On the occasion of the XJ 50^th anniversary, Jaguar starts celebrating with the unveil of a very special model named Greatest Hits, committed for Nicko McBrain, the legendary Iron Maiden drummer. Presented at the Geneva show, McBrain’s  XJ6 is a 1984 specimen, but presents a series of customizations that draw through the famous and successful story of the Coventry brand and the British metal band.

In this case the makeover is not limited to some partial modification or stylistic details, but the work done by the Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works department and the Jaguar Design Studio directed by Wayne Burgess, required over 3,500 hours of work and about 4,000 redesigned components . Needless to emphasize that the inspiration of a multifaceted musician like Nicko played a fundamental role for the characterization of Johnny 3 (affectionately called like that since it is Nicko’s third XJ), which provides different front and rear bumpers, new wheel arches that host a set of 18-inch wheels, updated suspension with adjustable rear shock absorbers and the so-called “growler” featuring  the stylized head of Eddie, Iron Maiden’s mascot instead of the jaguar head. Then we find the classic jaguar ready to leap forward on the bonnet, while for the interior there is a touchscreen with satellite navigator, phone and rear camera, obviously supported by a new 1.100W audio system with aluminum controls like those of Marshall amplifiers. Contrasting the choice of a particular Mauve color of the body, we have a Pimento Red leather interior.

Knowing that Nicko is one who loves to beat strong on the drum snare as much as on the throttle (he also owns an XKR-S), he can count on a 4.2 in-line six cylinder engine, equipped with three SU carburetors of an E-Type, which gives free rein to its power through a new exhaust system with four tailpipes. Despite the very first XJ6 owned by Nicko has not been used for several years, some components have been re-proposed on the Greatest Hits, like the jaguar on the bonnet and the original key, and I am sure that after giving it new life, he will not miss an opportunity to unleash Johnny 3 to the rhythm of some good song like the ones that made the history of rock and made Iron Maiden one of the most influential and famous bands in the history of music.

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If you do not know Iron Maiden (too bad!) we try to solve your lack of musical knowledge, advising those that we consider the 3 best albums produced to date with Nicko McBrain behind the drums, thus leaving out the first 3 records, which despite are marvelous have Clive Burr on drums.

1983 – Piece Of Mind

1984 – Powerslave

1992 – Fear Of The Dark

And always in the name of good music, here you are 5 of the best songs played by Nicko:

The Trooper

Aces High

Where Eagles Dare

Alexander The Great

Be Quick Or Be Dead