Nice Jag!

[P5BNij]

I-am-the-reverend said:

WPA said:

Talking of manual XJS's, this guy has a really early one

What a lucky guy.

Jags were a bit crap in a few ways, but it's astonishing what they achieved with so little money and resources. I love the seventies S Class and previous W108 but the XJ6 was just remarkable. The XJ12 was other worldly.

A pityt they were hobbled with those crap 3 speed slushmatics.

Wasn't there a firm somewhere in the Midlands that did manual conversions on V12s...? I'm sure I remember seeing an advert in one of the car mags some years ago.

I've been trawling through old Jags on car&classic again on and off today, this is definitely an itch that won't go away. Riding shotgun in that lovely Mk2 at the NEC show on Sunday has given me a taste for them!

[vixen1700]

Don't start on Mk IIs Nij.

My oldest car memory is being dropped off back in Leyton, East London by my dad's mate in his steel blue 2.5 Daimler, after visiting them in the Midlands.
Must have been around '70/'71, but still remember seeing that shape parked there and how wonderful it was. Must have been 4 or 5 at the time.

Always been a want since learning to drive, but have never really come close to getting one.

Gorgeous things.

Edited by vixen1700 on Monday 13th November 20:39

[TarquinMX5]

P5BNij said:

TarquinMX5 said:

P5BNij said:

MVC 202G was chassis IL 1001, production prototype car, so a good chance that the above one is chassis IL 1002.

The relatively well-known MWK ...G cars were later chassis, ie MWK 22G was 1006.

Interestingly (or not, depending on your point of view), chassis IL 2079, PKV 666G, was a test car for the 3565cc Jaguar V8, as was IL 3777, RRW 513H

Chassis 2R 3757 was used by Harry Mundy and was a 6.4 V12, with a Jaguar (not the Rover one) 5-speed gearbox, HRW 75N.

Definitely interesting stuff, this kind of geekery is most welcome as far as I’m concerned. Presumably the experimental V8s fitted in PKV 666G and RRW 513H were the ones rejected as they weren’t the smooth runners they were hoped to be…?

Presumably, though different sources list the sizes as 3562c and 3565cc. The original intention for the XJ6 was a 3-litre version of the XK and a new V8 and V12, with the V8 being a 'chopped' version of the V12 (so a 60-degree V8 rather than 90-degree). Hassan's view was that the V8 was a disappointment as they'd hoped to counter the secondary vibrations set up by the 60-degree angle by clever engine mounting but they couldn't, so the idea was eventually scrapped. As late as Spring 1968 Jaguar were still talking publicly about forthcoming V8 and V12 engines. In addition, other comments were that a V8 'didn't feel like a Jaguar'.

[P5BNij]

vixen1700 said:

Don't start on Mk IIs Nij.

My oldest car memory is being dropped off back in Leyton, East London by my dad's mate in his steel blue 2.5 Daimler, after visiting them in the Midlands.
Must have been around '70/'71, but still remember seeing that shape parked there and how wonderful it was. Must have been 4 or 5 at the time.

Always been a want since learning to drive, but have never really come close to getting one.

Gorgeous things.

Edited by vixen1700 on Monday 13th November 20:39

Too late, I feel like I'm on a roll! Can't stop thinking about Jags, it's ridiculous really. I'm taking Mrs.P5B to Gaydon museum on Thursday for a shuftie, where there just happens to be a rather nice collection of Coventry's finest...

[Mr Tidy]

P5BNij said:

Wasn't there a firm somewhere in the Midlands that did manual conversions on V12s...? I'm sure I remember seeing an advert in one of the car mags some years ago.

Years ago a mate of mine was racing a manual V12 XJS in a series run by the JEC but the last I heard it needed an engine rebuild. I've no idea if he still has it.

Good luck feeing your addiction!

[mph]

I-am-the-reverend said:

A pity they were hobbled with those crap 3 speed slushmatics.

The 3 speed was all that was generally available at that time and I don't recall thinking they were such an issue back in the day. Applying todays standards to them I'd agree with you. There again almost all classic cars I drive feel like they need an extra gear.

I've owned several series XJ's, including two manuals, and I thought they suited the automatic gearbox more than the manual. Clearly the vast majority of customers at the time felt the same.

It's unfortunate that it's such a costly exercise to fit a four speed (or more) auto or a 5 speed manual box to the cars.

[lowdrag]

My own memories of owning a MK 1 in just one photograph. Probably not as good as a MK 2 (never owned one but may do shortly) but a superb car just the same. Having owned both 3.4 and 3.8 models from a MK VII to several Lynx 3.8's I always found the 3.4 the smoothest. When one of my cars is finally sold, I'll be searching for a 3.4

[tr7v8]

I-am-the-reverend said:

A pity they were hobbled with those crap 3 speed slushmatics.

Everything Auto was 3 speed then, more gears is a recent thing relatively. The first step from 3 speed I remember was lock up in top. Which didn't add an extra gear just locked the torque converter. First car I drove with that was a Volvo 760 Correction AW70 used a 4 speed with lock up in 82 Wiki says that's a Volvo box but I suspect its an Aisin Warner one.

[vixen1700]

Here's a picture of a Mk1 daily driver sent to me by another PHer who lives just up the road from me. Says it's driven off to work most mornings.
Nice commute.

[P5BNij]

vixen1700 said:

Here's a picture of a Mk1 daily driver sent to me by another PHer who lives just up the road from me. Says it's driven off to work most mornings.
Nice commute.

Cliche alert : does the owner work in a bank, or just sit outside one with the engine running...?

Lovely looking Mk1 racer for sale on c&c...

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1645325

One owner MkX manual too...

https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1605864

And a nicer one here, but it's an auto...

https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1620631

And a couple of S2 XJ6 3.4s have just popped up...

https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1659332

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1658942

Edited by P5BNij on Tuesday 14th November 13:36

[lowdrag]

vixen1700 said:

Here's a picture of a Mk1 daily driver sent to me by another PHer who lives just up the road from me. Says it's driven off to work most mornings.
Nice commute.

Sorry, but that is a MK 2. Wider rear window, chrome around windows, etc. As I've said, what I will be looking for soon when the two others are finally sold. But a 3.4; just as good as a 3.8 but much cheaper.

[P5BNij]

lowdrag said:

vixen1700 said:

Here's a picture of a Mk1 daily driver sent to me by another PHer who lives just up the road from me. Says it's driven off to work most mornings.
Nice commute.

Sorry, but that is a MK 2. Wider rear window, chrome around windows, etc. As I've said, what I will be looking for soon when the two others are finally sold. But a 3.4; just as good as a 3.8 but much cheaper.

It's definitely a Mk1 lowdrag, here's a similar angle of a Mk2...

[TarquinMX5]

Eta: Deleted - duplication of NiJ's comments

Edited by TarquinMX5 on Tuesday 14th November 15:34

[vixen1700]

820UYK: Year of manufacture: 1956

2.4 Litre.

According to the DVLA.


Mk 1.

[P5BNij]

Twenty minute film of the S3 XJ production lines...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flJqLMNfN6U

1971 S1 Daimler Sovereign project for sale...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276164150641?hash=item4...

This '63 red on red Mk2 3.4 manual was on c&c earlier this year but is now with Ingleby's in Harrow, looks like good value...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225778318454?hash=item3...

Nice colour combo on this '65 Mk2 3.4 manual...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/166362078724?hash=item2...nUAAOSwJ4hlThSH

This '67 420 manual looks like good value...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355170600508?hash=item5...

[Turbobanana]

vixen1700 said:

Don't start on Mk IIs Nij.

My oldest car memory is being dropped off back in Leyton, East London by my dad's mate in his steel blue 2.5 Daimler, after visiting them in the Midlands.
Must have been around '70/'71, but still remember seeing that shape parked there and how wonderful it was. Must have been 4 or 5 at the time.

Always been a want since learning to drive, but have never really come close to getting one.

Gorgeous things.

Edited by vixen1700 on Monday 13th November 20:39

Probably 10 - 11 years later than that, around 1979 / 80, my best mate and I used to get a lift to Cub Scouts either in my dad's car (Renault 16) or his dad's (Jaguar 240). Clearly I preferred the latter, although the seats in the Jaaag were set too low for us 10 year old kids and were, I later found out, trimmed in the cost-cutting "Ambla" faux-leather. Loved that car though, which sadly died a long, slow death after he pulled the engine for a rebuild and promptly got divorced. I think it was scraped off the drive and weighed-in, eventually.

Fast-forward to 2004 and a dentist from Manchester is interested in a Bentley T I'm selling, with the offer of a 1967 Daimler V8 250 in exchange. I ran that for 3 years, often as my only car and completing 2 weddings (1 of which was mine). Although not a patch on a 3.4 MkI (let alone a 3.8 MkII) Jaguar, these would comfortably see off a 2.4 / 240 and made a great noise to boot, with Edward Turner's little jewel of a V8 and twin tailpipes. I used to get about 25mpg from it, too.

The Daimlers are also usefully cheaper than the Jaguars, although finding a manual can be challenging (but not impossible).

[I-am-the-reverend]

tr7v8 said:

Everything Auto was 3 speed then, more gears is a recent thing relatively. The first step from 3 speed I remember was lock up in top. Which didn't add an extra gear just locked the torque converter. First car I drove with that was a Volvo 760 Correction AW70 used a 4 speed with lock up in 82 Wiki says that's a Volvo box but I suspect its an Aisin Warner one.

Mercedes had four speed automatics in the sixties, as did Minis and 1100's.

Hillman Avengers also had a four speed auto in 1972/3.

The GM THM400 was alrightish in a US V8 but the higher revving V12 Jaguar needed something much better.

[I-am-the-reverend]

vixen1700 said:

Here's a picture of a Mk1 daily driver sent to me by another PHer who lives just up the road from me. Says it's driven off to work most mornings.
Nice commute.

I find the original 2.4 and 3.4 much prettier than the Mark II. They are so closely related to the XK140 in style and the whole era before the E Type.

[ds666]

I wish I'd seen the Mk2 Jag doing charity runs at the NEC . True to form I'm restoring another car I've never driven ( the other one , an Esprit , I've at least been a passenger in ) .

Lowdrag's pic makes me think I should use the mk2 to tow my hill climb car next year ( I normal use a pick-up truck to tow )

The Jag - resto just started

The car it might tow .

[P5BNij]

Turbobanana said:

vixen1700 said:

Don't start on Mk IIs Nij.

My oldest car memory is being dropped off back in Leyton, East London by my dad's mate in his steel blue 2.5 Daimler, after visiting them in the Midlands.
Must have been around '70/'71, but still remember seeing that shape parked there and how wonderful it was. Must have been 4 or 5 at the time.

Always been a want since learning to drive, but have never really come close to getting one.

Gorgeous things.

Edited by vixen1700 on Monday 13th November 20:39

Probably 10 - 11 years later than that, around 1979 / 80, my best mate and I used to get a lift to Cub Scouts either in my dad's car (Renault 16) or his dad's (Jaguar 240). Clearly I preferred the latter, although the seats in the Jaaag were set too low for us 10 year old kids and were, I later found out, trimmed in the cost-cutting "Ambla" faux-leather. Loved that car though, which sadly died a long, slow death after he pulled the engine for a rebuild and promptly got divorced. I think it was scraped off the drive and weighed-in, eventually.

Fast-forward to 2004 and a dentist from Manchester is interested in a Bentley T I'm selling, with the offer of a 1967 Daimler V8 250 in exchange. I ran that for 3 years, often as my only car and completing 2 weddings (1 of which was mine). Although not a patch on a 3.4 MkI (let alone a 3.8 MkII) Jaguar, these would comfortably see off a 2.4 / 240 and made a great noise to boot, with Edward Turner's little jewel of a V8 and twin tailpipes. I used to get about 25mpg from it, too.

The Daimlers are also usefully cheaper than the Jaguars, although finding a manual can be challenging (but not impossible).

I was going to ask if anyone here had experience of the Daimler V8 . That V8 burble is rather nice, subtly different from the Jag's XK growl. Quite a few for sale at the moment on ebay and c&c!

More overindulgence ahoy : a lovely little clip of a Coombs / Coombs style Mk2 accompanied by a tweaked version of John Barry's Bond incidental music, which shows off the Mk2's lines really well...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fKdIeYvdus

Always liked the idea of a white one with red leather interior because James Fox drove on in 'Performance' in '68.