Impromptu BL line up
Discussion
Here are the BL cars in my collection.
1976 Jaguar XJ-S V12 manual car with 42,000 miles from new and full history. The original launch colour scheme too!
1987 Rover Vitesse Twin Plenum, original rot free condition 80,000 miles with history.
1981 Triumph TR8 DHC, genuine factory RHD production car (No 1 of the 18 production DHCs) 35,000 miles with history.
1976 Jaguar XJ-S V12 manual car with 42,000 miles from new and full history. The original launch colour scheme too!
1987 Rover Vitesse Twin Plenum, original rot free condition 80,000 miles with history.
1981 Triumph TR8 DHC, genuine factory RHD production car (No 1 of the 18 production DHCs) 35,000 miles with history.
RobinSherwood said:
Here are the BL cars in my collection.
1976 Jaguar XJ-S V12 manual car with 42,000 miles from new and full history. The original launch colour scheme too!
Aah, MCF460P. I knew this car 20 years ago. It was almost identical to a car I owned at the same time and it was stored in a garage behind what used to be SGT in Taplow.1976 Jaguar XJ-S V12 manual car with 42,000 miles from new and full history. The original launch colour scheme too!
gforceg said:
Very smart, do they get out much? I'll take the Vitesse please.
Is the red white and blue scheme a coincidence?
Yes they do or will do. I did the Euroclassic in the TR8 in 2015 so it did a couple of thousand miles in France last year. The Vitesse and XJ-s are more recent acquisitions so are at the fettling stage but they will also get exercised once they are ready!Is the red white and blue scheme a coincidence?
I like to use my cars, I would never by a zero miles museum piece. As an example I have driven my Maserati Bora to Budapest in the past!
RobinSherwood said:
Yes they do or will do. I did the Euroclassic in the TR8 in 2015 so it did a couple of thousand miles in France last year. The Vitesse and XJ-s are more recent acquisitions so are at the fettling stage but they will also get exercised once they are ready!
I like to use my cars, I would never by a zero miles museum piece. As an example I have driven my Maserati Bora to Budapest in the past!
Great stuff.I like to use my cars, I would never by a zero miles museum piece. As an example I have driven my Maserati Bora to Budapest in the past!
RobinSherwood said:
gforceg said:
Very smart, do they get out much? I'll take the Vitesse please.
Is the red white and blue scheme a coincidence?
Yes they do or will do. I did the Euroclassic in the TR8 in 2015 so it did a couple of thousand miles in France last year. The Vitesse and XJ-s are more recent acquisitions so are at the fettling stage but they will also get exercised once they are ready!Is the red white and blue scheme a coincidence?
I like to use my cars, I would never by a zero miles museum piece. As an example I have driven my Maserati Bora to Budapest in the past!
Those three cars just show what BL was capable of producing when it was allowed to. The manual XJ-S is a stunner of a motor car and was the equal of vehicles costing three times as much when launched. The Rover? Incredible looks and fine handling with that lovely V8. The straight sixes were not far behind in performance either. As for the TR, here was a true sports car with strong performance yet was pulled before launch, what a tragedy. I remember reading in "Fast Car" not long after: "The disaster of the TR7 which was just turning into a very good car when the plug was pulled."
A superb collection there. Enjoy them.
A superb collection there. Enjoy them.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
This might be a nice cheap addition to the fleet if you have a chap to do some work.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C659522
It's the car, not the van!
That's lovely. I've always lusted after this shape XJ. I already have 4 cars (plus MrsC's) and rarely drive two of them, another (or more) would destroy me!http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C659522
It's the car, not the van!
mph said:
I've always liked the Dolomite Sprint, trouble is a friend of mine is a Triumph Specialist, has driven dozens of them, restored a few and doesn't rate them too highly.
He particularly dislikes the steering which he says is heavy at parking speeds and weights up in a peculiar manner when cornering hard.
He says the 2000/2500 range or the Stag are much better to drive.
Anyone have similar views, or otherwise ?
Back in the day I owned 6 (I think) Dolomite variants, including one which was always destined to have an RV8 fitted, although the then-MrsC kyboshed that plan; a trait which became a major factor in her own demise. I also drove quite a few of the 2000/2500 variants, early and late. IMO they were very different cars and not a direct comparison in any way. The Dolly was more sporting, and the 2xxx leant more towards the gentleman's express. He particularly dislikes the steering which he says is heavy at parking speeds and weights up in a peculiar manner when cornering hard.
He says the 2000/2500 range or the Stag are much better to drive.
Anyone have similar views, or otherwise ?
I'd have another Sprint now were it not for the comments I made above. I saw a lovely one for sale on the verge of a prestigious village near here a couple of years back and it was all I could do to stop myself hoving off to the cashpoint there & then.
Edited by CAPP0 on Thursday 28th January 21:43
RobinSherwood said:
Here are the BL cars in my collection.
1976 Jaguar XJ-S V12 manual car with 42,000 miles from new and full history. The original launch colour scheme too!
If it's on carbs then the only way to get it running on all 12 is to replace all the miles of vacuum tubes under the bonnet.1976 Jaguar XJ-S V12 manual car with 42,000 miles from new and full history. The original launch colour scheme too!
Oh, and you may think it's on all 12 but because they are such a smooth engine it is very difficult to tell.
P5BNij said:
RobinSherwood said:
gforceg said:
Very smart, do they get out much? I'll take the Vitesse please.
Is the red white and blue scheme a coincidence?
Yes they do or will do. I did the Euroclassic in the TR8 in 2015 so it did a couple of thousand miles in France last year. The Vitesse and XJ-s are more recent acquisitions so are at the fettling stage but they will also get exercised once they are ready!Is the red white and blue scheme a coincidence?
I like to use my cars, I would never by a zero miles museum piece. As an example I have driven my Maserati Bora to Budapest in the past!
As above, start a thread for us to drool over pleeeaasssseee
skeggysteve said:
If it's on carbs then the only way to get it running on all 12 is to replace all the miles of vacuum tubes under the bonnet.
Oh, and you may think it's on all 12 but because they are such a smooth engine it is very difficult to tell.
XJ-S's were always on injection, a Lucas copy of Bosch D jet complete with Lucas 'Opus' ('opeless) ignition. Reliability was not a strong point due to heat soak - the ignition box was in the middle of the V on the early ones iirc. But at least you can swap all 12 plugs without having to move the AC compressor.Oh, and you may think it's on all 12 but because they are such a smooth engine it is very difficult to tell.
P5BNij said:
You have a Bora...? Good man! One of those cars that has to go on 'the list' if my numbers ever came up. Pics please Robin... perhaps start a thread on it...?
TR4man said:
A Bora?
As above, start a thread for us to drool over pleeeaasssseee
Currently being restored but I promise to put a thread up about it when it is closer to being done. As above, start a thread for us to drool over pleeeaasssseee
But for now here is a picture of the Bora and I lapping Estoril in 2007
No hijack apology needed! I think that discussion should always flow in whatever way it flows, and it is cool to see a Bora. My personal hankering is for a Merak, which I know is daft as it has, AIUI, a weaker engine than the one used in the Bora, but I still have a yen for one.
Great also to see the V12 XJS and the Vitesse and TR 8 above.
My own Britheap line up could perhaps be augmented by something Austiny, but although I have been tempted for reasons of family nostalgia to get either an 1100, a 1300 or a Princess, I probably shan't. I am still dithering over a Series One Daimler Sovereign.
Great also to see the V12 XJS and the Vitesse and TR 8 above.
My own Britheap line up could perhaps be augmented by something Austiny, but although I have been tempted for reasons of family nostalgia to get either an 1100, a 1300 or a Princess, I probably shan't. I am still dithering over a Series One Daimler Sovereign.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 29th January 15:24
CAPP0 said:
...
I'd have another Sprint now were it not for the comments I made above. I saw a lovely one for sale on the verge of a prestigious village near here a couple of years back and it was all I could do to stop myself hoving off to the cashpoint there & then.
Every mechanic that I know rates the Sprint as a good car. It is true that it was built, for budget reasons, as a collection of make dos and factory bodges, but it all works much better than it should, given those limitations. My one was rebuilt to a high standard and is a decent machine. There is no need to be put off by one Eeyore voice, and it may be worth bearing in mind that experience working on the badly built and maybe badly maintained Sprints of yesteryear may not equate to working on the carefully restored and well maintained Sprints that are available today.I'd have another Sprint now were it not for the comments I made above. I saw a lovely one for sale on the verge of a prestigious village near here a couple of years back and it was all I could do to stop myself hoving off to the cashpoint there & then.
Edited by CAPP0 on Thursday 28th January 21:43
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