In October 2005 a new Jaguar model appeared in showrooms around the world, the result of a new collaboration between design houses in England and Italy. A non-wheeled instrument of expression, it was unlike any vehicle to ever roar out of West Midlands County. The Jaguar Concept Collection marked the successful collaboration between Jaguar’s Advanced Design department and the Aquila Group, Italian specialists in pen design and manufacturing. In order to grasp the significance of this developement, and what it bodes for both parties, one must first secure a good overall picture of how Jaguar Cars Ltd came into being, and developed over the decades. Of course one must also learn of Leopoldo Aquila’s vision, and the seventy year-old family business he founded in Napoli, the "capital of il Mezzogiorno," as Southern Italy is often affectionately called by Italiani themselves.

Few marques on the road today have a heritage as rich and distinguished as Jaguar. To trace the birth of Jaguar, we must go back to the northern seaside town of Blackpool, north of Liverpool, and almost directly east of the Isle of Man. Here a young motorcycle enthusiast by the name of William Lyons, not yet 21 years of age, met William Walmsley, who was building a rather stylish sidecar which he was attaching to reconditioned motor cycles. Young Lyons immediately displayed the two traits that would be his greatest qualities for the next 50 of so years. His business acumen shrewdly espied a good commercial opportunity, and his eye for style appreciated the attractive appearance of these normally mundane creations. He felt there was great potential if the activity could be organised along business lines and production increased to make the operation viable.

As soon as William came of age, in September 1922, the Swallow Sidecar Company was formed with a bank overdraft of £1,000. Humble first and second floor premises were obtained in Blackpool and, with a handful of employees, production commenced. A young Arthur Whittaker was taken on to help with sales but proved better at buying. He remained with the company for around 50 years becoming one of the shrewdest buyers in the business. By 1927, Lyons had progressed to building special bodied automobiles, which in 1931 resulted in the launch of the legendary SS1—a car which set the stage for the first true Jaguar. As the range improved and expanded, it needed a name to reflect its speed, power and sleekness and in 1935 the Jaguar name was born.

During World War II, whilst concentrating primarily on the manufacture of sidecars for military vehicles, the company also branched out into aircraft design and production techniques. When Jaguar subsequently introduced its new XK120 at the 1948 London Motor Show, with an engine output of an unprecedented 160 BHP, it was destined to become one of the greatest sports cars of all time; and thus was birthed the father of all XK models to come. At the 1950 Show, the Mark VII saloon—sedan, for those less than familiar with British English, as it were—was unveiled, and once again Lyons stole the show. Jaguar now had a fine reputation, a superb large saloon, and a very fine sports car, but needed a high-volume smaller car. In 1955, the company invested £1 million on designing and developing the Jaguar 2.4 to fill the gap.

After an exploratory trip to Le Mans in 1950, it was realised that Jaguar had the makings of a successful competition car. Consequently Lyons was persuaded that a car should be produced solely with racing in mind. Hence was born the XK120C or, as the car is more generally known, the C-type. Three C-types were finished just in time for Le Mans in 1951, and though the Jaguars were an unknown quantity, the C-type driven by Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead recorded a remarkable victory on its racing debut.

Meanwhile Jaguar engineers had been working in conjunction with Dunlop on a new development, the disc brake. This was to be Jaguar's secret weapon upon their return to Le Mans in 1953. With their fade-free brakes the C-types could decelerate at the end of the three and a half mile Mulsanne Straight from speeds of around 150 mph with complete confidence, and they could leave their braking far later than their rivals. The result was a complete walkover, the Jaguars finishing first, second and fourth.

Milestones for Jaguar, and for the automotive industry as a whole, in all its expanding categories and technologies, with great regularity over subsequent years and decades, continued to roll out of the design and manufacturing facilities in and around Coventry. To chronicle the journey in its entirety would take a book, truth be told, many; indeed, dozens have been written. William Lyons continued to pilot his ship of design and engineering, proving himself, over and over again, to be one of the greatest captains of 20th century industry and commerce. In 1956 he was knighted for his services to British industry, and for the fine export performance of the company. Faced with a strengthening global industry, in 1966 Sir Lyons merged Jaguar with the British Motor Corporation (BMC) to form British Motor Holdings, itself later absorbed into British Leyland—all legendary names in automotive circles.

In 1967 Lyons retired as managing director but remained as chairman of Jaguar Cars Ltd. In 1972, when 71, he fully retired, relinquishing the helm to Frank Raymond Wilton "Lofty" England, who had joined Jaguar in the ‘50s as manager of the racing team. It was during his tenure in that capacity when Jaguar won the five Le Mans championships. Innovation and development continued under England, and 1975 saw the launch of the XJ-S, a sports coupé and convertible that boasted saloon car refinement and quietness. A new era began in 1980, when John Egan was appointed Chairman and Managing Director.

Over the next two and a half decades an indefeasibly resilient and ever-adaptable Jaguar Cars Ltd never surrendered its hard-won place as overall leader of design and technical innovation. As market demands forced other niche producers to either go out of business, or to abandon basic standards, the Coventry area aristocrat of motorcars continued, supple and powerful, just like its namesake, and by 1989 had allowed itself to be acquired by Ford Motor Company Limited. This was an adroit move, for Jaguar Cars gave up none of its freedom of design, engineering, and marketing, but merely drank from a deeper well. Hence, the new millennium ushered, in succession, the new X-TYPE, true to form, highlighting of the Geneva International Motor Show; the XJ, featuring a revolutionary aluminium body construction, unveiled in Paris; and in March, 2006, the from-the-ground-up-new XK range of sports cars, the most technically advanced Jaguar's ever built .

All the while, if somewhat less known to the general public, and about sixteen years younger, a closely-held family design and craft house, founded by an imaginative and farsighted Leopoldo Aquila in Napoli, Italia, was establishing itself as a future mold-breaking force. In the years before and following the Second World War, Aquila quietly made history by understanding an as yet ignored pen market in Southern Italy, systematically building an organisation, and laying down the principles necessary to fulfilling the needs of the discriminating clientele who in fact constituted that market. With over 60 years experience, producing and exporting fine scrivening pieces worldwide, in 2005 The Aquila Group approached Jaguar Cars Ltd, and a collaborative partnership was achieved.

Jaguar designers, alongside The Aquila Group’s technical experts, were responsible for capturing the essence of car design and translating that into gorgeous writing instruments. The pens communicate Jaguar’s signature design cues—long flowing lines, beautiful proportions, aerodynamic forms and tactility. The subtile meeting of solid, fulgent metal finishes, and sleek lacquer suggests the elegant juxtaposition of materials in Jaguar vehicles. A polished beveled-edge pen clip recalls the same design character of contemporary Jaguars, while a cool line running down its centre echoes the feature line that flows along the side of the all-new Jaguar XK. Extending from classical to extravagant in four swift moves—ebony (classic), British racing green (traditional), ivory (rare), and lime green (extravagant), the colour palette conjures the road of the demanding driver, and writer.

Julian Thomson, Chief Designer at Jaguar cars, and part of the team behind the pen design, enthuses thusly: “This is a fantastic product to be associated with, and one that reflects the core values of Jaguar design. The Aquila Group is incredibly focused and design driven, and it was these qualities that encouraged us to work with them on this product. Ian Callum, our Design Director, is delighted and very proud of the finished pens.” The Jaguar Concept collection was the result.

Collaborating with designers and manufacturers of vehicles of refinement and élan has become a hallmark of the Aquila Group, which has partnered with Ducati, the master of motorcycles, and Smart Car. Jaguar Cars is the latest confrere in the elite fraternity. Such is extremely important to all parties, for as Aquila expands its venture into the world of transportation-related writing instruments, each associazione adds to the richness of the whole spectrum.