Summer Wine Classics broke the bank last summer to acquire three fabulous new cars from a significant south London Jaguar collection.

When lifelong Jaguar and Daimler enthusiast George Hammond decided to break up his magnificent private collection of vintage and classic vehicles we were fortunate to be among the first people invited to view the cars. As a result we have negotiated the purchase of two superb saloons and a fiery red Jaguar E-Type, swelling our classic wedding fleet to 11 vehicles.

A glorious 1950 Jaguar Mark 5 and a remarkably original 1969 Daimler V8 250 were delivered first to our Yorkshire base and the 1969 Series II E-Type made the journey up the M1 a few weeks later. Buying these cars was a sizeable extra investment but we felt they all added something new and different to the range of classics we have available for wedding day hire.

The 2.5 litre Jaguar Mark 5 saloon is a rare and incredibly beautiful car. Totally restored in the 1990s, it is one of only a few hundred surviving examples in the world. Splendidly elegant in Jaguar Royal Ivory with cream leather upholstery, it is a dream wedding car. The Daimler is also a rare and collectable machine and one of just 300 of these cars supplied with a manual gearbox. Its deep Midnight Blue paintwork is immaculate and although its original red leather interior has faded a little over the years, this only adds to its charm and character. The 4.2 litre E-Type, is a practical 2+2 model, with occasional rear seats and a full factory sun roof.

These cars were stored for several years and required a degree of recommissioning. The Jaguar Mark 5 was given a new clutch and its gearbox was reconditioned before it joined the fleet in August and the Daimler V8 250 made its wedding debut in mid October. The Jaguar E-Type will be ready for wedding hire in Spring 2009.