The greatest Jaguar ever built?

[CJ Loves Ruf]

dinkel said:

Thanx Ken.







120 for looks, but a nice 140 / 150 ain't bad either. They seem to be the driverscars.

Although the LW E-types:



E at the Ace Caf.

What does the LW mean "LW E-types:"

by the way my fav jag has got to be the XJ13

http://www.photogy.com/albums/Jaguar/Jaguar_XJ13_V...

[williamp]

LW+ lightwegiht. A very special sort of E

Interesting, nobody has mentiuonned any of the "modern" Astons.

The original XJ12 was a truly great car-leagues ahead of what anyone else was offereing at the time.

And if we are including racing ars, then the XJ9LM (?) from Le Msns 1988?

The XJ220? Still in the top 5 of fastest cars ever built, and something of a bragain in that respect

How about the XF. A great modern car, and one to show that Jaguar is a great marque. And in the right guise, an M5 beater

[lowdrag]

Seeing the photo of TUF 4 above prompted me to go through my photos of Silverstone 2008. Martin Stretton here piloting the lowdrag:-



and another. He was magic in the complex.



here though is a mythical Jaguar, up there amongst the best:-



But for me it will always be the XKSS. A practical touring version of the D type with a luggage rack, hood and wipers but still a racer if required. Pure genius.

[a8hex]

That's a pretty special shot there Lowdrag, what a lovely comparative study of the the two noses.

[GavinPearson]

The greatest Jaguar ever built is probably the D-Type. It was good looking, technically sophisticated for it's time and won races. It was technically superior to a 120C.

A lot of people like the XJ13 but to be honest it was nothing more than a pretty mid-engined car that turned up 5 years too late. It never raced because people knew it would be a backmarker.

In terms of the road cars I'd nominate the XJ12 series 2 as the best road car, because at the time it was considered one of the most refined cars in the world. Since then, Jaguars have been merely competitive.

[a8hex]

GavinPearson said:

The greatest Jaguar ever built is probably the D-Type. It was good looking, technically sophisticated for it's time and won races. It was technically superior to a 120C.

On the other hand the 120C won first time out. The D didn't quite manage that trick in 54. Of course the C should also have won in 52, if they just stuck to the original plan. Oh well, the world is full of what ifs.

[lowdrag]

GavinPearson said:

A lot of people like the XJ13 but to be honest it was nothing more than a pretty mid-engined car that turned up 5 years too late. It never raced because people knew it would be a backmarker.

Er, not quite true here! It didn't race because of rule changes. It would have been pretty competetive against the GT40's if it had I reckon.

[dinkel]

lowdrag said:

Seeing the photo of TUF 4 above prompted me to go through my photos of Silverstone 2008. Martin Stretton here piloting the lowdrag:-

That's Roger Wills in the Bizza. Great shot.

[Simpo Two]

lowdrag said:

here though is a mythical Jaguar, up there amongst the best

I think you mean 'legendary'

They're all (well nearly all) lovely, and if I was a newly-retired banker I'd buy quite a lot, but the one that caught my eye most here was:

[GavinPearson]

lowdrag said:

GavinPearson said:

A lot of people like the XJ13 but to be honest it was nothing more than a pretty mid-engined car that turned up 5 years too late. It never raced because people knew it would be a backmarker.

Er, not quite true here! It didn't race because of rule changes. It would have been pretty competetive against the GT40's if it had I reckon.

Having seen the work that was done on the J-car GT40s, as well as the Mirages, I don't think so.

The GT40 was much more sophisticated than many give it credit for, plus the teams that ran them were amongst the best in the business.

[dinkel]

And it was heavy . . .

[a8hex]

a8hex said:

I thought there was a picture of Exkay's 120 FHC on PH but I can't find it, that is really pretty.

OK found the pictures.

[dinkel]

Love those early 50s stuff.

[simonrockman]

Alkthough if you want to drive an XK150 or Etype the London Classic car club has those.

[lowdrag]

That's mid-fifties Dinkel. XK140 FHC. Nice car though but I hate the wires. No one bought them in their day and painted wires look so much better on an XK I reckon.

[a8hex]

dinkel said:

Love those early 50s stuff.

I missed that one Dinkel.
Chrome WWs and red drums is pushing things a bit.


is a little more subtle.

Lowdrag, yes I generally prefer painted wires, not all body colour ones work, but I prefer silver painted ones.

[dinkel]

From 1954 on . . . and a bit pushy it is maybe, but it's not wrong in my eyes.

That GW brekkie V8 Riley was . . .

[cml]

So what you are saying is nobody loves the XJS

XJ12C - the coupe version of the (then) world's best car, according to Car magazine anyway, the competition was a Shadow and that 6.9 Merc and I still have that issue.

LJK Setright said if it had a manual box it would be perfect.

All Jags up to the mid 90s have something really special about them. If you read 70s American car magazines you get an outsiders view that can be illuminating, R&T and C&D loved all of them.

Edited by cml on Thursday 16th April 01:08

[dinkel]

Those who love them, or even own them - brave! - know. Prices are on the up though.

[lowdrag]

Coming more up to date, the X300 V12 was a beast of a car and few made. It wouldn't surprise me to see those becoming collector's pieces, especially the Daimler version.

Edit: Ken, I've just noticed your photo on the previous page of Ben Eastick's D type. You do know that it is a replica, albeit a full copy and FIA papered?

Anyway, I'm biased. The 1952 Le Mans C type is the greatest Jaguar ever made

Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 16th April 08:51