XKSS

[aeropilot]

So, its about 375k overpriced then

[julian64]

RichB said:

Thanks for the answer Peter. I didn't want to open up pandora's box, and not owning such a car, but being interested in all cars, I wanted to better understand the arguments here. I was seriously close to getting a Suffolk SS100 prior to buying my Aston but decided I preferred to own a genuine model of something I could afford rather than a copy of something I could not. The same reason my Lagonda is not an LG45 But, I like all cars, so take an interest in this issue.

I apologise for singling you out but to be honest I think your comments regarding affordability are very sad. It characterises those with kit cars as all aspiring to something they should not be entitled to.

I think there are vanishingly few people who own kit cars who try to portray them as original. For me as the owner of an XKSS, a RAM Cobra and a suffolk SS100, I picked the cars because they are all rewarding and educational drives in a way that modern motoring has just forgotten.

I could replace them all with something genuine, but to be honest I can't think of any one car which could hold my interest in the same way.

[RichB]

julian64 said:

RichB said:

Thanks for the answer Peter. I didn't want to open up pandora's box, and not owning such a car, but being interested in all cars, I wanted to better understand the arguments here. I was seriously close to getting a Suffolk SS100 prior to buying my Aston but decided I preferred to own a genuine model of something I could afford rather than a copy of something I could not. The same reason my Lagonda is not an LG45 But, I like all cars, so take an interest in this issue.

I apologise for singling you out but to be honest I think your comments regarding affordability are very sad. It characterises those with kit cars as all aspiring to something they should not be entitled to.

I think there are vanishingly few people who own kit cars who try to portray them as original. For me as the owner of an XKSS, a RAM Cobra and a suffolk SS100, I picked the cars because they are all rewarding and educational drives in a way that modern motoring has just forgotten.

I could replace them all with something genuine, but to be honest I can't think of any one car which could hold my interest in the same way.

Perhaps I didn't explain myself clearly. Also, don’t conflagrate several things; aspiration, entitlement and passing off as original. I would never dream of debating entitlement, and I was discussing my choice, not if someone wants to pass of their Lynx as a Jaguar, but that would be sad. I do however suggest that anyone with, say, a Suffolk does aspire to an SS100 Jaguar. That is surely their raison d'être?

My point was that personally, I don't feel that the modern interpretations of such cars provide the same driving experience as the originals. A Suffolk with its XK series Jaguar engine and more modern mechanicals does not resemble driving a pre-war car, if you've driven a pre-war then surely you'll agree.

I was simply saying that with, an amount to spend on something interesting I chose to buy a car built in 1958 as opposed to one built recently. I like the fact that when I removed the door panels I found the name of the chap who trimmed it, I like the fact that under the carpets I found the chassis number of the car showing that they were cut and tailored to fit that car. I like all the history that comes with a 60 year old car and I like the old smell of petrol, oil & & horsehair! Like 99% of people I have financial boundaries within which to make my choices.

Perhaps I misunderstood your post but I certainly did not state, nor suggest that someone isn’t entitled to a particular car?

[julian64]

RichB said:

julian64 said:

RichB said:

Thanks for the answer Peter. I didn't want to open up pandora's box, and not owning such a car, but being interested in all cars, I wanted to better understand the arguments here. I was seriously close to getting a Suffolk SS100 prior to buying my Aston but decided I preferred to own a genuine model of something I could afford rather than a copy of something I could not. The same reason my Lagonda is not an LG45 But, I like all cars, so take an interest in this issue.

I apologise for singling you out but to be honest I think your comments regarding affordability are very sad. It characterises those with kit cars as all aspiring to something they should not be entitled to.

I think there are vanishingly few people who own kit cars who try to portray them as original. For me as the owner of an XKSS, a RAM Cobra and a suffolk SS100, I picked the cars because they are all rewarding and educational drives in a way that modern motoring has just forgotten.

I could replace them all with something genuine, but to be honest I can't think of any one car which could hold my interest in the same way.

Perhaps I didn't explain myself clearly. Also, don’t conflagrate several things; aspiration, entitlement and passing off as original. I would never dream of debating entitlement, and I was discussing my choice, not if someone wants to pass of their Lynx as a Jaguar, but that would be sad. I do however suggest that anyone with, say, a Suffolk does aspire to an SS100 Jaguar. That is surely their raison d'être?

My point was that personally, I don't feel that the modern interpretations of such cars provide the same driving experience as the originals. A Suffolk with its XK series Jaguar engine and more modern mechanicals does not resemble driving a pre-war car, if you've driven a pre-war then surely you'll agree.

I was simply saying that with, an amount to spend on something interesting I chose to buy a car built in 1958 as opposed to one built recently. I like the fact that when I removed the door panels I found the name of the chap who trimmed it, I like the fact that under the carpets I found the chassis number of the car showing that they were cut and tailored to fit that car. I like all the history that comes with a 60 year old car and I like the old smell of petrol, oil & & horsehair! Like 99% of people I have financial boundaries within which to make my choices.

Perhaps I misunderstood your post but I certainly did not state, nor suggest that someone isn’t entitled to a particular car?

Apologies, I obviously misinterpreted your post.

[RichB]

No worries...

[No ideas for a name]

RichB said:

aeropilot said:

Just spotted this Lynx XKSS for sale......

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1108267

Interestingly the advertisement is for a "1965 Lynx XKSS". The narrative then goes on to say, "Originally built in 1986 this car was assigned number LO286 and is No.15 or 16 ever produced by the company". So is an example of the issues discussed in this thread? Surely it's either a 1965 MkII Jag (or similar) or a 1986 Lynx, can't be both.

Advert seems to have been pulled... following the above link we get;

"This advert has now been removed through sale or otherwise, please see the list below for similar live adverts"

[lowdrag]

No ideas for a name said:

Advert seems to have been pulled... following the above link we get;

"This advert has now been removed through sale or otherwise, please see the list below for similar live adverts"

Yes, it has been removed. I spoke to Hoffmans and it seems that the advert was received from the seller by a staff member who was not a specialist
in old Jaguars, and he posted it, naturally assuming to be correct. I phoned them (I know them because I tested the Proteus C-type and wrote an article on it) and pointed out that there were problems. The director rang me back, thanked me for my input and said a new advert will be place in due course. The car is, of course, a brand new XKSS made by Lynx in Czechoslovakia, not one of the originals. I did query the price of £418,000, since they were £275,000 last year, but was told that this is toughly the price at which they are now selling. As an original Lynx owner, I shall sleep well tonight!

[julian64]

Do/did the lynx have the tub with the frame attached or do they have a simple ladder frame chassis?

[Astacus]

Doofus said:

My kit car is correctly defined on the V5. However, when my MOT man puts the chassis number into the VOSA system , it comes back as a TVR. The DVA system doesn't. He isn't concerned at all, and neither am I, because the V5 is correct.

Sorry for the late query, but which kit car is that? Why does it come back as a TVR? did you use a TVR chassis etc?

[lowdrag]

julian64 said:

Do/did the lynx have the tub with the frame attached or do they have a simple ladder frame chassis?

In effect, it was the same as the E-type in its conception; the front A-frames were bolted to the bulkhead and the rear IRS bolted on, so yes, is the answer. the first of your assumptions is correct

[Doofus]

Astacus said:

Sorry for the late query, but which kit car is that? Why does it come back as a TVR? did you use a TVR chassis etc?

It appears that on VOSA, the engine number has been logged as the chassis number. The engine is from a fire-damaged Chimaera.

[Astacus]

Ah!
Thanks

I've spent the last 8 yeas rebuilding a Vixen and I often wonder whether it would be possible to create my own bodywork for a vixen rolling chassis. At present rate of progress its not going to happen, but it gives me something to contemplate when I should be doing other stuff!

Edited by Astacus on Friday 10th May 13:03

[julian64]

lowdrag said:

In effect, it was the same as the E-type in its conception; the front A-frames were bolted to the bulkhead and the rear IRS bolted on, so yes, is the answer. the first of your assumptions is correct

Probably a lot closer to the original to drive than my ladder frame version then. Would be interesting to compare and contrast.

[a8hex]

julian64 said:

lowdrag said:

In effect, it was the same as the E-type in its conception; the front A-frames were bolted to the bulkhead and the rear IRS bolted on, so yes, is the answer. the first of your assumptions is correct

Probably a lot closer to the original to drive than my ladder frame version then. Would be interesting to compare and contrast.

From being driven around Goodwood in an original D and then a Lynx I'd say they don't feel that similar from the passenger seat, the Lynx feels more compliant, I guess that was the E-Type's IRS doing it's stuff. I would have said the Lynx was quite a bit quicker. The lady driving it certainly wasn't hanging around.

[RichB]

a8hex said:

From being driven around Goodwood in an original D and then a Lynx <clip>

That must have been a great experience Ken...

[a8hex]

RichB said:

a8hex said:

From being driven around Goodwood in an original D and then a Lynx <clip>

That must have been a great experience Ken...

It was rather.
My first trackday. I had my XK150 down at Goodwood for the XK Club day and got talking to the owner of the D-Type, he'd not long bought it and I'd happened to have met the previous owner at an air show the summer before. He got CKL to take me for a spin in the D then over lunch the owner of the Lynx offered to take me for a spin in her car too. I was amazed at how friendly everyone there was.
Never been quite that lucky there again, mined. Beginners luck.

[RichB]

I guess a lap or two in a real D-Type for you would be like me getting a few laps in a DBR1

[DickyC]

One of Jack Fairman's stories was about the stability of the D type. He was driving one at Le Mans when a large bug splattered itself on one lens of his goggles. He had a handkerchief in the pocket of his overalls but couldn't extract it one handed. So he waited until he was in top gear on the Mulsanne, jammed his left knee over his right to lock the steering and used both hands to find the handkerchief and wipe his goggles. The D type was timed at 185mph on the Mulsanne that year.

[lowdrag]

We're slightly off piste but CKL track days are the stuff of legend. Here we have Ludovic Lindsay driving the Lumsden/Sargent low drag being somewhat surprised by the unusual obstacles caused by Chris's wife Claire.







I have driven both live and IRS D-types and it is horses for courses. Jaguar tried de Dion rear axles and one is shown here:-



Lynx built a few live axle cars on special order but the rest were IRS like mine. Overall I'd prefer the IRS for every day use. The rear digs in while the live axle patters and skips.

Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 11th May 03:21

[rene7]

Lowdrag
Didn't see yours at Stoneleigh Kit car show last weekend?
Surprisingly there wern't any other XKSS or 'D' types either?
However whenever I go to a 'normal' classic car show there's always more than one Kit car Jag with the owners pretending they're the real thing??