XKSS

[lowdrag]

Ah - that's better! The paint is drying and will be polished up later.

[lowdrag]

greenrat said:

Venus di Milo - Mona Lisa - Sistine Chapel - XKSS. Am I overstretching a point? Perhaps, but it is stunning. Congrats Lowdrag.

Nerd question of the day - does the transformation from raw racer to road-friendly beasty include the provision of a heater? I notice that one of the switches on the original XKSS dash is labelled "fan" - was this a simple demister? Was there any heating element involved? I've never noticed any controls for such. Or are heaters for wimps? Does it never get cold enough in California to warrant one?

I think the "fan" switch was for my admirers, but simply it was an override for the Kenlowe

[lowdrag]

Chunkychucky said:

Looks superb Tony, will you be bringing it over to England at all for the Silverstone Classic/Goodwood Revival? I look forward to seeing it!

Nope, no Silverstone for me this year sadly. I fell out big time with the editor of the Jaguar Driver's Club and resigned in principle after 30 years membership, and after writing my own articles for about 10 years and three years for the replica scene. I no longer have the inclination to ask for press passes since somehow the new circuit and layout compared to the old Coy's days don't really float my boat.

No heater. Hot water bottle required for Memsahib it seems. However, the exhaust does provide a certain je ne sai quoi in those terms

Edited by lowdrag on Friday 1st June 14:34

[lowdrag]

Thinking of it this year, since the last time I went was over 10 years back, but it depends on accomodation and friends. The trimmer hasn't even started due to the bank holidays so no chance for Le Mans, but it will be here for the classic. Connolly have apparently started up again so we will have the correctly grained leather trim now, and I was asked if I wanted the hood bag piped, but that is out of the question - too american for me and the originals had plain black hood bags anyway. I saw a heather (read mauve) V12 E-type not too long back and the interior had been retrimmed in cream with mauve piping. I nearly changed the colour to peas and carrots on the spot! Anyway, I'll be going over at the end of the month and bringing her back on the trailer for the Classic.

[lowdrag]

The finishing line is in sight, and contrarily I am glad the car wasn't reasdy for Le Mans since it is cold, windy and rainy, not the weather for an open top classic at all. So here are a couple of photos which don't do the car justice, being taken with a point and press and bleached by the flash. Having had my brainwave for the year I asked them if, since they are coming mob-handed to the Classic, if they could hitch up my trailer and bring it over saving me the cost of a special trip, and they are happy to do so.

[lowdrag]

It is where we take out the alloy rings to attach the roll bar, that's all.

[lowdrag]

This should give you an idea of how it works:-



I have now received photos of the finished article. I'll take more when she is here next week and I can get her out in the sunlight.

[lowdrag]

A good trimmer should be able to figure it out for you. I mean, it's not as if the hood, hoodbag and the rest were from an off-the-shelf kit for mine either! You're "oop north" I see, but peiople like Suffolk and Turley in Nuneaton might be worth a call, or get some advice locally.

[lowdrag]

They are lift-dot, not Dzus, but I can't see any way you are going to be able to fit a tonneau without such clip-on fastenings really. I mean, velcro won't do the trick, and it needs to be properly fixed so you can retain the passenger side in place while driving if it is damp or raining. Note mine has a zip down the middle.

[lowdrag]

Been there, done that with the C-type Jagman, but what's a bit of water between friends huh? The D-type cover was as you describe, fixing in frong of the perspex screen.

Here are photos of the car outside, and it looks a lot better:-





The two gentlemen behind are the tin-bashers (they won't like that) and are the ones who built the C-type, so there is no doubt that the resulting car, when I see it next week, will be quality.

[lowdrag]

Wow TDS, that is sure one great photo. I've thought of taking mine to the Phoenix (where the VSCC was founded at Hartley Wintney) because what was a garage is now a photographic studio and they often used by the likes of Octane for their photograhic shoots. We are members of a small club, you and I, because AFAIK there are only 11 Lynx XKSS's (mine included) around. Drop me a pm please - would sure like to discuss.

[lowdrag]

Finally arrived!¬ Here are a few snaps:-





And, at the risk of waking Terrible Tarquin (remember him?) here is a lovingly crafted photo:-

[lowdrag]

julian64 said:

You need a proper sad numberplate for that car

Huh?

[lowdrag]

The Steve McQueen car wore a JNH plate, and in all my Jaguar years I have never heard this story.

[lowdrag]

She was invited to do the parade, which is why she was at Le Mans, but the hassle over tickets put them off in the end. She was kept in Houx with the team and they found out at the last minute that they had to go out of the circuit to the Exhibition Centre to get their tickets to do the parade.

It's strange really; I spent seven years researching and building that car but I don't really miss it at all although at the time it took over my life. I just love driving the XKSS though!

[lowdrag]

Well, the first time we took it out was to the Hotel de France at La Chartre sur le Loir, and it rained heavily. Oh, the luxury of a screen and wipers! The rain went mostly over the top and we have a tonneau when parked up if necessary. The engine, as mentioned here before, is modified with over 300bhp and 400lb/ft of torque, so wet driving is, well, "interesting", especially on crossplies! The suspension, which was on track settings, has been softened up for more road use and now I don't need a trip to the physio after each outing. All in all, I was in full tepidation when I finally got it, but am now completely in love with the transformation. They returned all the parts and the fin and head rest part are now going to be hung in the dining room over the table; it's quite high because we have a mezzanine, so it should look quite good. Incidentally, would you drop me a pm please? I think I can reassure you on the way to get around the IVA problems.

[lowdrag]

We are not wasting the left-overs. Not sure what to do with the perspex screen and the old doors yet, but the head rest and fin has found a temporary home.

[lowdrag]

Be damned, you're right! I always thought it was green from the outset, but as you say, it was white with red interior. McQueen had it repainted in BRG it seems. I wonder if any photos exist of it with the Van Dutch interior he had done though?

[lowdrag]

That looks to me Andrew as if it was later in the car's career, but then I don't really know. I've never seen the Von Dutch interior. May well remain a mystery I guess. Incidentally, someone asked what the little 2CV motor looked like under the bonnet. Here it is:-

[lowdrag]

Roy, do not feed, do not feed. I saw it earlier and refused to bite.