Report by Michael Brouillette
We just got back from a fantastic long weekend in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where we attended the International Jaguar Festival and the 44th annual Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. The drive up from North Carolina took over seven hours—and yes, I was towing the Jag because the Mrs. refuses to go that far without air conditioning! (The AC fix is still firmly on the to-do list.)
This was our first time visiting this incredible show, which featured over 2,000 cars spanning all eras and marques, including well over 100 Jaguars.
I brought my 1987 Lister Jaguar XJ-SC 5-speed V12 to display, though unfortunately, I missed the deadline to enter the Concours judging. My XJ-SC was a special dealer order that received the full U.S.-specification Lister upgrades when still new. The most significant and enjoyable upgrade is easily the Getrag 5-speed manual mated to the 5.3L V12. It completely transforms the driving experience—honestly, Jaguar really should have offered this from the factory.
Between watching the racing, the incredible turnout, the imported UK rain, the Canadian wildfire smoke, and the overall atmosphere, it was a spectacular event. The absolute highlight, though, was getting to meet and take a photo with fellow Scotsman Ian Callum, Jaguar’s legendary head of design for two decades!
Thanks for the hospitality, Pittsburgh!
We hope to be back again soon.
