Jaguar purchases 543 classic cars from dentist James Hull

The collection naturally contains a large number of Jaguar models, including an XKSS, eight E-Types, numerous C- and D-Types, seven XK 120s, pre-war SS models, 19 XJS models and 20 XJ sedans. One of the XK 120s is a rare alloy-body version, while there's also a Mark X that was owned by Jaguar's founder, Sir William Lyons.

All up Jaguars account for 130 cars in the menagerie. Other cars in the collection reportedly include an assortment of early Land Rover and Range Rover models, an Austin used by Winston Churchill during World War II, one of Elton John's Bentleys, a Mini Traveller once owned by Lord Mountbatten, and a single-seat battery-powered Sinclair C5.

Jaguar's new Special Vehicles Operation has tasked with maintaining the company's new acquisition, in addition to its other duties, such as producing the new Jaguar F-Type Project 7.

According to the company, Hull's array of classic Jaguars will be used to "support experiential marketing with customers and for global brand events". This will include the launch of the company's new XE sedan, which will take on the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

It's not clear what will happen to the non-Jaguar and non-Land Rover models in the collection. Speaking to Autoblog, Dan Connell, Global Brand PR and Communications Manager for Jaguar, said that "the collection will stay together for the foreseeable future". The cars are currently housed in a series of specially built warehouses in Herefordshire.

Prior to its sale to Jaguar Land Rover, Western Daily Press reported that Hull's collection was being offered for around 100 million pounds ($181 million). One particular D-Type is reportedly worth around 4 million pounds ($7.2 million).

Jaguar has declined to elaborate on how much it ultimately paid, but Hull has stated that "my primary motivation was not to get the maximum price but rather to secure the future of the collection in this country with the right custodian".

A report in the The Guardian names Hull as the UK's richest dentist. He opened his first practice in 1987 and when his company was sold in 2012 it was operating in 74 locations. According to the Financial Times, Hull sold his collection due to health problems.