Discussion
I built this car in the 80's while living in Deutschland hense the none standard wheels,German TUV (Tehnischer Uberwachung) were very strick about what they allowed on the roads, only wheels with a Federal certificate of approval and an applied KBA number. My only alternatives were mk1 XJ saloon alloys or these special chromed wires that the Jaguar importers had gone to the trouble and expence to have certified at the request of their most affluent customers,there were so many problems with obtaining TUV approval (like todays SVA Etc)that after wasting loads of effort and money I finally gave up and only drove it on red- plates. 
It may be worth mentioning at this point that Nigel Webb is having an Open Day at his Mike Hawthorn Tribute Museum later in the year....
Sunday August 5th 2012 is a special day for YOU - but ONLY if you own an original Jaguar Mk1!!
The private Mike Hawthorn Tribute Museum owned by Nigel Webb is holding an open day as long as you and any friends can attend in a Jaguar Mk1! If you believe you qualify (by having either a roadworthy or under-restoration Mk1), please contact us initially via our Contact page on the Mike Hawthorn web site and we'll consider your application. You'll be provided with an e-mail address for supply of a photograph(s) along with details of your car including engine size, chassis number, any mods, racing history etc, etc (alternatively you can also provide a link to these on an image hosting site if you want). Please also supply a contact telephone number.
The contact link for enquiries is at:
http://www.mike-hawthorn.org.uk/h419.php
Due to space/safety considerations, not everyone who applies may be able to attend - priority will go to cars with 'interesting' backgrounds such as a documented race history, VDU 881 replicas, Hawthorn/TT Garage connections and so on. There is no museum entrance fee but visitors will be expected to make a generous donation to the museum that will go towards replacing Mike's grave headstone as a granite replica of the existing one that we are advised by the groundsman is starting to deteriorate.
Look forward to hearing from you!
And no, needless to say, 881 VDU is not for sale.
Tony
Sunday August 5th 2012 is a special day for YOU - but ONLY if you own an original Jaguar Mk1!!
The private Mike Hawthorn Tribute Museum owned by Nigel Webb is holding an open day as long as you and any friends can attend in a Jaguar Mk1! If you believe you qualify (by having either a roadworthy or under-restoration Mk1), please contact us initially via our Contact page on the Mike Hawthorn web site and we'll consider your application. You'll be provided with an e-mail address for supply of a photograph(s) along with details of your car including engine size, chassis number, any mods, racing history etc, etc (alternatively you can also provide a link to these on an image hosting site if you want). Please also supply a contact telephone number.
The contact link for enquiries is at:
http://www.mike-hawthorn.org.uk/h419.php
Due to space/safety considerations, not everyone who applies may be able to attend - priority will go to cars with 'interesting' backgrounds such as a documented race history, VDU 881 replicas, Hawthorn/TT Garage connections and so on. There is no museum entrance fee but visitors will be expected to make a generous donation to the museum that will go towards replacing Mike's grave headstone as a granite replica of the existing one that we are advised by the groundsman is starting to deteriorate.
Look forward to hearing from you!
And no, needless to say, 881 VDU is not for sale.
Tony
reply lordbretsinclair :- The chassis was L&R full tube space frame similar to their 427 Cobra model, the motor was a competition tuned "Tester" 4.2XK set up with triple Weber 45DCOE carbs and free-flow exhaust manifold. I had raced that engine previously in a Fiat topolino comp-altered dragster so was familiar with it.The tranny was Jaguar all roller bearing o/drive model and the rearend from the S-type modified and geared to ratio 2.86 to 1 with LSD.Most of the other parts came from XJ or S type with an MGB steering rack and custom made components to suit the style of this car. The car proved to be ultra reliable and great joy to drive. Only scared me to death one time otherwise was a pleasure to own and to turn up at "The Ring" or Hockenhiem for an oldtimers event was a real experience,motoring at its best (Except when it rained)
When I started to build my Jaguar D type several friends gave me the benefit of their very limited experience with snippets of totally unsubstantiated knowledge such as :-”I suppose you know that this model becomes aerodynamically unstable at 167 MPH” (as if I cared !) and ” The fin makes it seriously affected by side winds! “ (makes for spirited driving!) And finally “If you ever roll, there is no way to get out and you could fry because the fuel filler cap is only 3” behind your head (Hmmm! Maybe I should take up a less dangerous hobby). Anyway, after driving on a few race tracks and blasting up and down the autobahn ( I was living in Deutschland at the time) I started to feel quite safe, competent and completely at ease in the car at high speed.
I was late for a meeting early one Sunday morning and was hurrying down the autobahn through a heavily wooded valley when suddenly the road opened out onto an elevated section over a ravine; the car swerved rapidly across several lanes and would not respond to steering input. A strong gust of wind had lifted the front and the car was airborne!
I had often noticed the wind socks at the side of the autobahns and paid them no heed, simply to assume that I was passing an aviation site, but apparently they are sited to warn high sided commercial vehicles of impending danger from high winds, I shall pay attention in future.
After a series of very violent gyrations across all lanes of the autobahn I finally came to a halt on the hard shoulder without colliding with anything, taking time to collect my wits and reflect on the consequences of hitting the Armco and tipping over, it was a long way down and I would have been able to do a couple of roll-overs to take in the fine scenery, while wishing I had fitted a parachute to the safety equipment.
So there is a lesson for would be super-car drivers, @ keep an eye open for old wind-socks they could
I was late for a meeting early one Sunday morning and was hurrying down the autobahn through a heavily wooded valley when suddenly the road opened out onto an elevated section over a ravine; the car swerved rapidly across several lanes and would not respond to steering input. A strong gust of wind had lifted the front and the car was airborne!
I had often noticed the wind socks at the side of the autobahns and paid them no heed, simply to assume that I was passing an aviation site, but apparently they are sited to warn high sided commercial vehicles of impending danger from high winds, I shall pay attention in future.
After a series of very violent gyrations across all lanes of the autobahn I finally came to a halt on the hard shoulder without colliding with anything, taking time to collect my wits and reflect on the consequences of hitting the Armco and tipping over, it was a long way down and I would have been able to do a couple of roll-overs to take in the fine scenery, while wishing I had fitted a parachute to the safety equipment.
So there is a lesson for would be super-car drivers, @ keep an eye open for old wind-socks they could
What a delicate attempt at backstabbing! I have received an email from Nigel on the subject of the history of his car, and here are the words sent to him by persons unknown. Would he care to come out from behind hius yellow streak and identify himself please?
"Hello Nigel,
>
> In a post on the Piston Heads forum by a user called 'lowdrag' who appears to know you. He generally talks rubbish such as possibly here"
Would he care to justify the statement please?
"Hello Nigel,
>
> In a post on the Piston Heads forum by a user called 'lowdrag' who appears to know you. He generally talks rubbish such as possibly here"
Would he care to justify the statement please?
LordBretSinclair said:
As a confirmed Aston man can I post my own idea of "Just Drool" 
Lord Bret , For some unknown reason I always get this visual impression of you driving a " Bellini " of course moustache is optional
as shown here
Actually the Aston in question hasd a very interesting history " quote claassics and sportscars
An Aston Martin DB3S team car gunned by Moss, Collins, Brooks and Salvadori, subsequently driven into the Solent by a suicidal love-sick mechanic and later co-starring with Terry-Thomas in the legendary film School for Scoundrels? That's just one of the fascinating histories discovered by Aston historian Chris Nixon and related in Palawan Press' latest masterwork, DB3S.
The car in question is DB3S/5, which started life as a road car for David Brown with an experimental glassfibre body. After a disastrous '54 Le Mans it was given the aluminium body of 3S/2, to begin an active racing life as a factory team car.
After successful outings with Roy Salvadori, the car eventually came into the hands of privateer Dennis Barthel, in 1957. He had the car prepared by Rob Walker's Pippbrook Garage where it was fettled by Alan Overton. Unfortunately the caddish DB3S owner took up with the young mechanic's fiancée and the "seeds of tragedy were sown".
Barthel allowed Overton to drive the Aston at the Gosport Speed Trials and although the mechanic set fastest time in his class he didn't live to collect his trophy on that fated April bank holiday. Overton never lifted off the throttle beyond the finishing post and ended his life by driving straight into the sea.
The car was rebuilt with a new body; re-registered PAP 625, it was christened the Bellini to co-star with Terry-Thomas and Ian Carmichael in the comedy School for Scoundrels.
The car, with its distinctive front end, was styled by Carrozzeria Touring and passed through the hands of several historic racing enthusiasts before being acquired by the late Bill Lake. Lake had it meticulously restored to its original factory team car style and tracked down its old works registration 9046 H. The present owner, Erich Traber, is a regular Mille Miglia entrant following in the tracks of Peter Collins."
interesting history
lowdrag said:
What a delicate attempt at backstabbing! I have received an email from Nigel on the subject of the history of his car, and here are the words sent to him by persons unknown. Would he care to come out from behind hius yellow streak and identify himself please?
"Hello Nigel,
>
> In a post on the Piston Heads forum by a user called 'lowdrag' who appears to know you. He generally talks rubbish such as possibly here"
Would he care to justify the statement please?
Not good Tony. Did Nigel say how he was contacted? If by email is there any clue in the senders email address?"Hello Nigel,
>
> In a post on the Piston Heads forum by a user called 'lowdrag' who appears to know you. He generally talks rubbish such as possibly here"
Would he care to justify the statement please?
lowdrag said:
What a delicate attempt at backstabbing! I have received an email from Nigel on the subject of the history of his car, and here are the words sent to him by persons unknown. Would he care to come out from behind hius yellow streak and identify himself please?
"Hello Nigel,
>
> In a post on the Piston Heads forum by a user called 'lowdrag' who appears to know you. He generally talks rubbish such as possibly here"
Would he care to justify the statement please?
Unfortunately Tony, there are people out there who think that sort of behaviour is acceptable (you should see some of the nonsense spouted about me by my stalker!) it's just some rather sad and pathetic twerp"Hello Nigel,
>
> In a post on the Piston Heads forum by a user called 'lowdrag' who appears to know you. He generally talks rubbish such as possibly here"
Would he care to justify the statement please?
Best to ignore and not spare it a second thought
lowdrag said:
What a delicate attempt at backstabbing! I have received an email from Nigel on the subject of the history of his car, and here are the words sent to him by persons unknown. Would he care to come out from behind hius yellow streak and identify himself please?
"Hello Nigel,
>
> In a post on the Piston Heads forum by a user called 'lowdrag' who appears to know you. He generally talks rubbish such as possibly here"
Would he care to justify the statement please?
Poor Nigel, fancy having some sycophant trying to kiss him where the sun doesn't shine."Hello Nigel,
>
> In a post on the Piston Heads forum by a user called 'lowdrag' who appears to know you. He generally talks rubbish such as possibly here"
Would he care to justify the statement please?
Finally, I see that it was Tony Bailey of the Mike Hawthorn Tribute Site that wrote to Nigel. Well, contacting me first and being polite about things might perhaps have been slightly more appropriate. However......
I am now posting, as Nigel has requested, his reply to me, so here it is:-
1) The chassis number was found in the correct position as normal as you said after Sutcliffe crashed XKD504 at Snetterton.
2) When is a car not a car? Are we now going to say that all the Xks, plus many other C's and D's I know about and do not shout about because they have had new and not original tubs fitted, as by the way XKD 505 has the centre tub of XKD 529 (ex-Bonneville car) which came from Lynx and which was certified in period when at Lynx by Chris Keith-Lucas. I have the documentary proof of this by the way.
3) XKD 505 has the completely original chassisfull engineering (excluding its original block) plus I have the Le Mans cylinder head also.
4) The registration is genuine, but I cnnot take credit for buying it. The previous owner Mr. Lomas did.
5) So that leaves the bonnet and tail section which have been remanufactured. How many other D-types are not in this position if they have been genuinely raced?
6) The problem for XKD 505 is that the truth about it is already out there, but many others have very successfully covered up the traces of bodywork repairs/changes so the self-appointed anaracks can't comment.
Many don't race their cars and don't race themselves so their cars are just museum pieces and they can bloody well keep them.
I have to laugh when I get other owners who say that their cars are "completely original" so I ask them how fast they have been in this "original car" and they reply with some very high figure. |I immediately reply by saying (Nigel is in the aeroplane trade - Tony) that "well in aviation dear chap we don't fly planes with 40/60 yr old rivets holding it together! How safe is that? As a licenced aircraft engineer I suggest you reconsider!.
so, and I have no wish ever to fall out with Nigel since he has thrown himself into racing heart and soul and has raised the awareness level of Jaguars very greatly by himself and is a most warming and generous person. And if I say so myself, from a beginner, he ain't half turned himself into one very competetive racer!. So we'll let it rest. Sorry Nigel, and hope to see you around this year and buy you a pint.
I am now posting, as Nigel has requested, his reply to me, so here it is:-
1) The chassis number was found in the correct position as normal as you said after Sutcliffe crashed XKD504 at Snetterton.
2) When is a car not a car? Are we now going to say that all the Xks, plus many other C's and D's I know about and do not shout about because they have had new and not original tubs fitted, as by the way XKD 505 has the centre tub of XKD 529 (ex-Bonneville car) which came from Lynx and which was certified in period when at Lynx by Chris Keith-Lucas. I have the documentary proof of this by the way.
3) XKD 505 has the completely original chassisfull engineering (excluding its original block) plus I have the Le Mans cylinder head also.
4) The registration is genuine, but I cnnot take credit for buying it. The previous owner Mr. Lomas did.
5) So that leaves the bonnet and tail section which have been remanufactured. How many other D-types are not in this position if they have been genuinely raced?
6) The problem for XKD 505 is that the truth about it is already out there, but many others have very successfully covered up the traces of bodywork repairs/changes so the self-appointed anaracks can't comment.
Many don't race their cars and don't race themselves so their cars are just museum pieces and they can bloody well keep them.
I have to laugh when I get other owners who say that their cars are "completely original" so I ask them how fast they have been in this "original car" and they reply with some very high figure. |I immediately reply by saying (Nigel is in the aeroplane trade - Tony) that "well in aviation dear chap we don't fly planes with 40/60 yr old rivets holding it together! How safe is that? As a licenced aircraft engineer I suggest you reconsider!.
so, and I have no wish ever to fall out with Nigel since he has thrown himself into racing heart and soul and has raised the awareness level of Jaguars very greatly by himself and is a most warming and generous person. And if I say so myself, from a beginner, he ain't half turned himself into one very competetive racer!. So we'll let it rest. Sorry Nigel, and hope to see you around this year and buy you a pint.
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