RE: Open Season: Jaguar XK120
Discussion
Without doubt one of the most beautiful cars ever designed.
Is there a single wonky line on it anywhere? Or any angle from which it doesn't look stunning? It even looks good underneath - the chassis is an elegant piece of design too. Same goes for the engine with the canted-back aluminium radiator.
Jaguar have never forgotten the importance of proportion, which is why they look better than any of their German opposition. You can always tell a Jaguar by its proportions, which is why they've got away with such a diverse design portfolio over the years at times when other manufacturers have insisted on forcing a corporate 'look' on every single generation of models in their ranges.
Is there a single wonky line on it anywhere? Or any angle from which it doesn't look stunning? It even looks good underneath - the chassis is an elegant piece of design too. Same goes for the engine with the canted-back aluminium radiator.
Jaguar have never forgotten the importance of proportion, which is why they look better than any of their German opposition. You can always tell a Jaguar by its proportions, which is why they've got away with such a diverse design portfolio over the years at times when other manufacturers have insisted on forcing a corporate 'look' on every single generation of models in their ranges.
What an utterly amazing piece of design it is - I loved it when TG used one for their race to Edinburgh.
Why don't more modern cars have spats? For the rear wheels they're much more aerodynamic and don't tell me they slow down tyre-changing, no-one does that themselves these days (well, people do, but only people who would be able to demount and refit a spat).
Why don't more modern cars have spats? For the rear wheels they're much more aerodynamic and don't tell me they slow down tyre-changing, no-one does that themselves these days (well, people do, but only people who would be able to demount and refit a spat).
Gizmo! said:
Why don't more modern cars have spats? For the rear wheels they're much more aerodynamic and don't tell me they slow down tyre-changing, no-one does that themselves these days (well, people do, but only people who would be able to demount and refit a spat).
Stunning, aren't they - and the crazy thing is that people remove them to fit wire-spokes on. Madness...Trevora said:
I have an XK120 fixed head which has just gone back on the road after a year long restoration. I too can echo the remarks that driving one of these is definitely an occasion that modern cars do not match. My car has standard drum brakes a steering box and a Moss four speed box. The ride quality is excellent the engine is powerful and the looks are stunning. Roll on the summer and holidays in France.
Top lurking! You should get a thread going on the restoration, I would definitely be interested to hear about it.That Jag is truly stunning!
Trevora said:
I have an XK120 fixed head which has just gone back on the road after a year long restoration. I too can echo the remarks that driving one of these is definitely an occasion that modern cars do not match. My car has standard drum brakes a steering box and a Moss four speed box. The ride quality is excellent the engine is powerful and the looks are stunning. Roll on the summer and holidays in France.
1 post47 months
Now that's minimalist!
I've had my 55 XK 140MC for some 22 years now and you'd have to remove my limbs to get it away from me. I looked at the 120 but the 140 has some 3 inches more room from when they moved the bulkheads and engine forward also making the weight distribution better . The XK140MC also has 30 more bhp over the standard 180bhp XK140 through the use of C type heads and dual exhaust. The close ratio gearbox makes it a very fun car to drive. She's in the shop gettin proper treatment and once she's done I'll be taking her on a nice long drive this summer, Ontario to British Columbia and slippin down to Cali for the Monterey HMSA Motorsports reunion featuring what else....the Jag and then slippin over to the Concorso Italiano and finishing off visiting the Pebble Beach Concours which is featuring the Mercedes this year. I got goose bumps just thinkin about it. 
SEE YA AT THE RACES!!!
SEE YA AT THE RACES!!!Rusty-C said:
I'm loving the look of that old school Jag, why do so few cars have semi enclosed rear wheels these days? Surely it would helps with aerodynamics and subsequently fuel economy - as seen in the Honda Insight.
+1 love the rear enclosed wheel spaces. Love the lines of these cars.[quote=jith]
I have probably met you at one time or another.
JAG 120 belonged to Bob Kerr from Luss and was British Racing Green. Bob raced it at Doune regularly and did quite well. It was equipped with 3 twin choke SUs; the only ones I have ever come across.
Both Jamie and Bob were close rivals at the time.
Regards,
J
Aye, Bob had the galleries up Glen Luss, my father had a garage in Bonhill, R.Paul (Bobby) Coachbuilders, we moved away from the area in 1973 to Wick in the far north and now I've moved even further away and live in Belgium 90% of the time.
When I was in Jamie's car it had 3 SU carbs on it too, he had a diffrent rear axel for track or hill climb and yes they were quite competetive Just when we moved north Bob's wife was talking about getting a MGA fitted with a Rover V8 for racing.
I have probably met you at one time or another.
JAG 120 belonged to Bob Kerr from Luss and was British Racing Green. Bob raced it at Doune regularly and did quite well. It was equipped with 3 twin choke SUs; the only ones I have ever come across.
Both Jamie and Bob were close rivals at the time.
Regards,
J
Aye, Bob had the galleries up Glen Luss, my father had a garage in Bonhill, R.Paul (Bobby) Coachbuilders, we moved away from the area in 1973 to Wick in the far north and now I've moved even further away and live in Belgium 90% of the time.
When I was in Jamie's car it had 3 SU carbs on it too, he had a diffrent rear axel for track or hill climb and yes they were quite competetive
Just when we moved north Bob's wife was talking about getting a MGA fitted with a Rover V8 for racing.I think I'd want it a work of art rather than a means of transport. Things have moved on, starting, stopping, steering, reliability etc, a modern "box" does it all so much more efficiently.
Now, before you all shout me down, I will admit a love of mechanical things - seeing and feeling a piece of craftsmanship work as intended - and I would have any of the XK's in heartbeat, but I know that I would spend as much time fettling and fixing as actually driving. In my ideal garage, XK120, Citroen DS, Porsche 964RS and a Ducati 916 plus something modern for everyday.
Anybody got a spare quarter of a mill they can give me ...
Now, before you all shout me down, I will admit a love of mechanical things - seeing and feeling a piece of craftsmanship work as intended - and I would have any of the XK's in heartbeat, but I know that I would spend as much time fettling and fixing as actually driving. In my ideal garage, XK120, Citroen DS, Porsche 964RS and a Ducati 916 plus something modern for everyday.
Anybody got a spare quarter of a mill they can give me ...
Edited by Bruniep on Friday 28th January 08:16
My Grandfather had three simulataneously when they were launched (wanted to make sure he had the first one in Kent!). One got sold to John Cooper, my twenty-one year old father had the other to run around in for a few months until it was sold! Shame they weren't kept for me to inherit :-(
Here's mine. Have to say it's the most fun of my cars and is the slowest by far... Teaches you how to drive again as you can get badly caught out if you have got too used to stability control, low profile tyres and so on. Kids love me collecting them places in flying helmet and goggles too - instant embarrassing father syndrome which has been my life ambition.....
Also getting back to playing with Lucas electrics, 6V batteries and balancing SU's is wonderful
By the way in the last pic the Lexus and Alfa are NOT mine, but they asked to borrow my car to photo shoot with them.
Also getting back to playing with Lucas electrics, 6V batteries and balancing SU's is wonderful
By the way in the last pic the Lexus and Alfa are NOT mine, but they asked to borrow my car to photo shoot with them.
Edited by mrobin33 on Friday 28th January 23:18
Takes me right back to when I was a young teenager working on the pumps at a specialist sports car garage near Blackburn in the mid 60s.
The owner had a gorgeous dark blue XK120 drophead with red leather and extra wide wires with Goodyear racing rubber on.
If it was quiet I would just go in there and stand and look and salivate.
The owner had a gorgeous dark blue XK120 drophead with red leather and extra wide wires with Goodyear racing rubber on.
If it was quiet I would just go in there and stand and look and salivate.
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