Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

With Jaguar and Land Rover in the news, got me wondering about which of Browns Lane's finest I'd like to own.

In an ideal world I'd have a D Type, but if it was a car I had to pay for the running of myself, my shortlist would be:

1. Mk2. Yes obvious choice, but I do love 'em. It'd have to be a sorted and presentable one, I don't think I could take on a poorly example, I've enough old crocks in that situation already

2. XJ Series 1. Affordable, so buying a good one shouldn't break the bank. Plus I've had 3 of these before and know what to look for. Favourite would be a short wheelbase XJ12 S1, with a manual box conversion.

3. Going a bit modern, so perhaps a choice for future years, the new shape S Type R (supercharged), they look and sound jolly purposeful. I'm tempted by the XJR but still have doubts about how well the previous-shape XJs are put together..

Rick
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[Uncle Joe]

I always use the very first E type as a norm car, ie the one to judge others against, but I would never buy one...

Even though this is going to sound provocative, the trouble with Jaguars is the fact that really, they are arent as good as they are cracked up to be, not since the XK's anyway...to many faults in one car! Therefore I wouldnt want to buy any of them...

However, they are still better (in my opinion) than BMW's, Mercedes and a lot of French stuff...

UJ, apologising in advance for any upsets!

[Rick]

Hmmmmmm take the early XJ, as thats the one I've had most contact with, the only real faults are that build quality was patchy, but this goes for most contemporary cars anyway, so I don't think Jag were alone here, and the auto box was a bit lazy, again something that was common to other slushpump'd cars. Adjusting the rear handbrake was also a pain, due to the inboard discs, but all cars have foibles like that, and ventilation wasn't much cop (although opening quarterlights on the S1 helped a lot).

IMHO handling was brilliant, it was quiet, looked superb (better than nearly every other big saloon I can think of), great engine and drivetrain (whether XK or V12 powered), comfy, proper looking dashboard, and well priced. The pricing meant they weren't as well built as say a Merc, or Bristol, but there is always a trade-off I suppose.

Nope, beg to differ here UJ, the S1 XJ is a great car, ok with faults, but what doesn't have a few faults? to my eyes the plus points easiiiilly outweigh the niggles.

RJ




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[alfanut]

For me it would be going back even further to a Mark IV Jaguar, although I would prefer the extra power and the P100s of the 3 1/2 litre rather than the 1 1/2 litre that I owned many years ago. The sight along the bonnet from the driver's seat is unbeatable.
However, the mascot has survived, even though it lost its tail on the way :



so perhaps I have the start of the ultimate restoration project

Geoff

[Uncle Joe]

I'd forgotten alfanuts choice.....

Going back to my family experiences with Jags. Remember here I'm talking about 'back in the day' Etypes, MkII's, XJ6's were rust buckets. Sorry guys, my opinion. I've seen 5-6 year old XJ6's rusted out - and more than one. MKII's has everybody forgotten the steering? Anything less than perfect and they are a passable impression of a squirrel on the motorway.... XJ 6/ 12 /S disgusting build quality!!! Not the fault of the car as such, just the b****y accountants. Straight 6 engines? The 4.2 could have been french and all of them are just too complicated for what they are.....

But, to contradict myself a little. A perfectly maintained Jag IS a brilliant car to drive, and as such doesnt have many, if any equals....but it HAS to be perfectly maintained....and to do that CAN be difficult.

Yes Rick, I do agree with you though. There isnt a classic car on the road that doesnt have problems....

One more thing. If the BA's hadnt kept the price down on the XJ12 / V12E and given it the engine the designers wanted, that would have been an absolutely brilliant car, but complicated.



UJ

[Rick]

quad cams in the 12? yes that would have been F.A.B.

RJ
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[Uncle Joe]

Too right they would!

UJ

[gillberry]

What about a nice big mkX

[Rick]

Yeah MkXs are lovely old things - I'd like to have owned the prototype that they fitted the 4.5 V8 into, lifted from the Majestic Major after Jaguar took over Daimler!!

RJ
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[gillberry]

Sweet as the 6 cylinder is a v8 wow awesome and in a car like that .

[Rick]

Rumour has it the Daimler-powered MkX would blow the doors off a standard MkX, so Jaguar dropped the idea (and the Daimler with its V pretty quickly

A guy I know at the place where the Dodge is, likes his V12 XJs and says that he fitted cams to the original Jaguar design (ie pre-production spec, before they tamed them for road use) in his S3 HE, and it put out 520+bhp at the wheels, with no other mods required

RJ
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[Uncle Joe]

How high would the V12 mentioned rev? Wheres the redline?

UJ

[Rick]

Not sure, I'll have to ask the question next time I'm over there. Sounds like fun though

RJ
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[Uncle Joe]

Its the engineer in me that made me ask this question.

I just did a few theoretical calculations, (for fun, I like maths, I'm sad!).

To produce 520 Rear wheel horsepower, a naturally aspirated 5,3 litre V12 would have to rev to 10 200 RPM, +/- 3%!

Later today, I'll work out the theoretical rev limits for the V12....were they that good?

Any comments?

UJ

[2Diesels]

Yes I think it would have to be a MkX for me they just have so much presence. One rather famous one apparently still lives quite locally. It was the one belonging to Angus Sibbet victim of the "One Armed Bandit Murder" in January 1967, he was found shot dead in the back of it NASTY!!