Delivering Power

This X350 once used to transfer important people to Government meetings on Gibraltar, and its presence didn’t go unnoticed

- Ivan Ostroff

MANY DIGNITARIES flying into Gibraltar were once picked up in this ministerial car at the airport. Its new owner, Graeme Vaughan, was in the fortunate position of living in an apartment overlooking the airport at the time, and would often see his longed-for Jaguar picking them up.

“This elegant black 3.5-litre Jaguar X350 was new in 2005, the same year I arrived in Gibraltar,” he explains. “I went there to join my brother in a building project on the Rock and expected to be there for around six months. But the project deadline was extended, I met my wife, we had a child and bought a house. I love the place.”

Although Graeme’s passion is for Daimlers (he owns what is probably the finest Daimler XJ40 in existence, a Double-Six Series 3, and is currently restoring a Double-Six Series 1), this special Jaguar was owned by the Governor of Gibraltar. Knowing that any ministerial car would be changed regularly, he would have to wait a while.

He knew that the Governor’s car was exactly the same age as another in service – the Chief Minister’s blue Jaguar X350 – and when he saw this car on a new public registration numberplate (which meant it had been sold), it was logical to presume that the Governor’s car would also become available around that time. “So,” says Graeme, “I contacted the procurement office at the Convent [the Governor’s residence] and sent letters and postcards of me and my Daimlers. The lady in charge of procurement at the Convent – Maureen – was very polite and sympathetic and eventually was able to confirm the car was about to come on the market. I was finally able to take it over in March this year.”