Suffolk Jaguar
Discussion
Indeed! you have on the one hand, the SS100, a very useable and utterly gorgeous sports car, and the D Type/XKSS, and from the point of view of someoune who has had the privilege of working on and driving both derivatives, a pure racer designed to do two and a half times the motorway speed limit! The XKSS is a little more forgiving to its passenger with the full width screen but it is still more fighter plane than pretty weekend tourer! For me the C type sits happily in the middle somewhere, as it is pure racer. but passes nicely as a sports car.
For me the whole concept of having a D type replica means having a monocoque body with tubular engine frame, not a body sitting on a space frame as so called replicas are. This makes the C type more affordable as you can have a nice space frame resonably close to the original, and the live axle on links too, just with a glass fibre body, which is just fine as it doesn't dent every time you flick up a pebble.
For me the whole concept of having a D type replica means having a monocoque body with tubular engine frame, not a body sitting on a space frame as so called replicas are. This makes the C type more affordable as you can have a nice space frame resonably close to the original, and the live axle on links too, just with a glass fibre body, which is just fine as it doesn't dent every time you flick up a pebble.
Flatinfourth said:
...This makes the C type more affordable as you can have a nice space frame resonably close to the original, and the live axle on links too, just with a glass fibre body, which is just fine as it doesn't dent every time you flick up a pebble.
I know what you mean. I have looked at both the Realm and the Suffolk Jaguar C types. Both have space frames and the Suffolk beastie even retains the live axle, allegedly making it drive much like the original. But while both would be more cost effective than either of my original choices, the C just doesn't light my fire. It must be my aging eyesight or early onset senility....AstonZagato said:
I had an email conversation with an owner over the last few days.
He was positive.
Unless the conversation was one where he was interested in selling and you were interested in buying, it seems that there is only positive feedback on Roger Williams and the cars he is producing. He was positive.
Having seen and sat in one, the attention to detail and the craftsmanship seems to be there in spades. But is there anyone here with first hand experience of owning a Suffolk Jaguar SS 100?
nikman said:
AstonZagato said:
I had an email conversation with an owner over the last few days.
He was positive.
Unless the conversation was one where he was interested in selling and you were interested in buying, it seems that there is only positive feedback on Roger Williams and the cars he is producing. He was positive.
Having seen and sat in one, the attention to detail and the craftsmanship seems to be there in spades. But is there anyone here with first hand experience of owning a Suffolk Jaguar SS 100?
I went down to Suffolk last week and met Roger and his wee beasties. Exceedingly impressed! Roger was very pleasant; he gave myself, my wife and son a test drive and didn't scream even when I overshot a turn on the return leg. The car was sweet - a surprisingly good drive, taken straight from the XJ6 donor. It was cosy with two up but my 6'2", 17 stone frame fitted fine, although I found the pedals very tight in my inappropriate shoes. The quality of both steel and fibreglass components looks top notch. Most importantly, it seems to have got the thumbs up from she-who-holds-the-purse-strings. My son hasn't stopped grinning yet.
SS100 said:
Short Answer: Yes I've had one for over 2 years. Happy to answer questions.
I was thinking of a Morgan and wondered if an SS100 is a viable alternative. most people seem to be pretty positive. I have actually driven one and it was great fun. I have two concerns, and any comments would be welcome.1. What do they actually cost? New or second hand. The information is nowhere to be found.
2. Is it a problem getting them insured, MOT'd and generally 100% road legal? I read somewhere about certificates that had to be produced which were the purchasers responsibility, not that of SS.
SS100 said:
Short Answer: Yes I've had one for over 2 years. Happy to answer questions.
hi SS 100,i have friends who own Suffolk SS 100s and i am considering a purchase. most people i have spoken to have a good impression of
the williams and their cars. is there anything that i should be concerned about? are there any particular issues with these cars,
i.e. how waterproof are they on the motorway? are they Austin Healey Mk III water proof, only MGA water resistant, or 289 Cobra water harvesting?
the components of the car seem superb and a replica is only as good as the person who screws it together, but i'm aware that there is a jaguar under there, for better (mostly better) or worse.
i have owned an excellent Proteus C-Type for almost 5 years. my wife is a good sport and likes to drive the car, but she thinks it is time to get something sporting with a hood and heater. we drove an original SS 100 for 10 days on the targa floria tour in Sicily. it was fun, despite shedding its water every time we slowed to a crawl.
greenrat said:
but my 6'2", 17 stone frame fitted fine,
Have you tried an XKSS. I will suggest you might struggle at that size.I'm 6ft and a lot less than 17 stone and the XKSS fits like a fairly tight glove.
For instance any reversing or changing gear requires use of the horn to make room for my knees.
Let alone how you'd fit three people in.
I can tell you from having driven both that they are chalk and cheese in terms of driving. A sopwith pup and a submarine would be a closer comparison
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