JAGUAR F-TYPE PROJECT 7 IS A ROCK STAR'S CHOICE

Rock legend and AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson explains why he's added a new Jaguar F‑TYPE Project 7 ‑ Jaguar's limited production all‑aluminum, fully road‑legal two‑seater roadster with bespoke aerodynamic aids ‑ to his collection.

How are you enjoying your F‑TYPE Project 7 so far?

I love it. It's a proper supercar and boy oh boy does it have some grunt to it. While it's blisteringly fast, I feel so safe in it. I love the steering, the handling, and those carbon ceramic brakes are amazing. The discs are as big as the wheels on my racing Mini. Just listen to that noise from the exhaust, who needs a stereo when you have a soundtrack like this?

Have you taken it out on the track yet?

Not this car. Last year I did an episode of my TV show Cars That Rock sitting in the passenger seat of a Project 7 while it was being hammered around Jaguar's Gaydon test track in the UK by chief engineer, Mike Cross. It was un‑believable. He was throwing it sideways to show the control, hammering down the straights at 125mph*. It just felt like a rocket.

What was it about the F‑TYPE Project 7 that appealed to you?

I think it's because it pays homage to one of my favorite Jaguar cars of all time, the Le Mans‑winning D‑type. You see the D in that lovely fairing behind the driver's seat. It's also a pretty rare car; they've only built 250, with just 50 of those coming to the States. I literally had to beg them to buy one. Of course they asked me what color I wanted. I told them: Is there any other color than British Racing Green?

Is this the first Jaguar car you've owned?

Not at all. My first was an old Mk II saloon I bought in 1971. It was silver‑blue with a red interior and wire wheels. I was 24 at the time and paid 200 Lira for it ‑ that's about $350. It was fantastic. The band I was in at the time wasn't cutting the custard, so I had to sell it. It broke my heart. Then, I had an old XJ, which was the car I drove in down to London for my audition with AC/DC in 1980. That was a lovely motor. When we moved to Florida, I got myself a 1973 E‑type V12 convertible. It was silver with red interior and wide wheels. For years, my brother‑in‑law, who's a doctor in Norway, kept pestering me to sell it to him. Ten years ago I finally let him have it. He still owns it and loves it.

Will the F‑TYPE Project 7 stay in the garage as an investment, or will you drive it?

The Project 7 is too much fun not to drive. In fact, when I'm at home in Florida, I drive all my cars at least twice a week. These are living things that need to be exercised. My favorite drive with the Project 7 is my local State Road 64 from Bradenton over towards Sebring. It's full of bends, elevation changes and lovely long straights. You can really open it up.

Brian and AC/DC have just kicked off the U.S. leg of their 2016 'Rock or Bust' tour that ends April 4 at New York's Madison Square Garden.

*Always follow local speed limits.