Not Another Jaguar Special
Discussion
Spurred on by Lowdrags exploits with the D-type/XKSS project I dragged out a Jaguar Special that I've had sitting around for several years “The Slack Special”
Before anyone gets too excited it's definately not a thoroughbred or a looker, more a of a pop-rivet special. It does have quite an interesting history though.
It started life as a Mk 7 Jaguar and was converted into a two- seater sometime in the late 50's/early 60's and was used on the road and in the occassional hill climb.
The chassis is massively shortened (by about 30") and it's fitted with a very basic aluminium body. The rear suspension has been converted to coil springs and the steering to rack and pinion.
I doubt it's been on the road for at least fifteen years and certainly not used in anger for many more than that.
The car is being thoroughly recommissioned and hopefully it should be roadworthy in a week or two.
I've had the interior re-trimmed and a bit of paintwork here and there.
My target is to complete the whole thing for less than the cost of an XKSS windscreen (with apologies
)
If you all promise not to laugh I'll post some pictures.
Before anyone gets too excited it's definately not a thoroughbred or a looker, more a of a pop-rivet special. It does have quite an interesting history though.
It started life as a Mk 7 Jaguar and was converted into a two- seater sometime in the late 50's/early 60's and was used on the road and in the occassional hill climb.
The chassis is massively shortened (by about 30") and it's fitted with a very basic aluminium body. The rear suspension has been converted to coil springs and the steering to rack and pinion.
I doubt it's been on the road for at least fifteen years and certainly not used in anger for many more than that.
The car is being thoroughly recommissioned and hopefully it should be roadworthy in a week or two.
I've had the interior re-trimmed and a bit of paintwork here and there.
My target is to complete the whole thing for less than the cost of an XKSS windscreen (with apologies
)If you all promise not to laugh I'll post some pictures.
a8hex said:
Pleasantly surprised!
Your usual friends in Shropshire?
Not at that price ! The car isn't worth a lot so I'm trying to do it all on a reasonable budget without cutting corners. Tyres are the biggest single cost at £200 each.Your usual friends in Shropshire?
The car is with me in the North East and I'm using local trades and paying cash wherever I can. As usual there is more to do than originally planned, but I'm almost there.
The trimmer is local to me and semi-retired. His seats are certainly better than many I've seen in some expensive restorations and he made them from scratch.
The beauty of a one-off is you're not held to originality.
mph said:
a8hex said:
Pleasantly surprised!
Your usual friends in Shropshire?
Not at that price ! The car isn't worth a lot so I'm trying to do it all on a reasonable budget without cutting corners. Tyres are the biggest single cost at £200 each.Your usual friends in Shropshire?
The car is with me in the North East and I'm using local trades and paying cash wherever I can. As usual there is more to do than originally planned, but I'm almost there.
The trimmer is local to me and semi-retired. His seats are certainly better than many I've seen in some expensive restorations and he made them from scratch.
The beauty of a one-off is you're not held to originality.
The internal trimming looks good.
I don't want to change my seats, I like them looking old a worn, I can't cope with new looking seats in old looking cars. I like the car to look lived in. I suspect that my seats will probably have to go back to the magicians at Northampton Uni to be further patched again at some point (don't tell Lady B8 please).
I wouldn't mind tidying some of the rest of the interior up though.
(on the subject of seats, I should stop track daying on them, yes I know. Hopefully I'll get around to sticking some cheap race buckets in before Goodwood play time)
snuffle said:
That looks great,any chance of some more pictures please.
I will get some more pictures out but it might be a few days as the car is being worked on at present and I don't want to get in the way.Some of the fittings still have to go back on such as spot lamps, mirrors, bonnet catches etc. There's also a bit of wiring to finish and then it's off for an MOT.
I'd already written an overview of the car which I may as well attach - apologies if it's a bit long and boring.
The Slack Special
William Turnbull Slack (Bill) was the workshop foreman at Caffyn’s Jaguar Dealerships in East Sussex and by all accounts something of a Jaguar guru.
In the late 1950’s and into the 1960’s he maintained and assisted in the development of the well known Rixon Bucknall Special.
During this period at the dealership Bill set about converting a 1954 Jaguar Mk7 saloon into a 2-seater roadster, involving his apprentices as a training exercise. The Mk7 had been taken in as part exchange from a farmer who had apparently used it for ferrying livestock, the resulting condition making it unsuitable for public sale!
The chassis was substantially shortened. The wheelbase reduced from 120 to 90 inches, or about the same as an MGB.
Mechanically the original running gear was retained and reconditioned. The exceptions were the conversion of the rear suspension to coil springs and the replacement of the steering box with a rack and pinion setup.
A simple body was made in aluminium, riveted over a steel frame, the front bulkhead also being steel.
The car utilised the original Jaguar dashboard, somewhat modified, but retaining the comprehensive instrumentation. It is also fitted with an aircraft 8-day clock with time of trip function. This was a popular period accessory before the advent of Rally timers.
The car was used on the road by Bill and also entered in the occasional hill climb.
Bill retained the car for over thirty years until 1995 at which time he sold it to his friend and neighbour a Mr Connor.
Mr Connor primarily purchased the car to help out Bill who had limited means and was to subsequently enter a motor industry retirement home.
Mr Connor kept the car for several years but it was hardly (if ever) used, although it was regularly started and kept in dry storage.
I purchased the car from Mr Connor mainly because of the Bill Slack/Rixon Bucknall Special connection as I own that car. I worked overseas at the time and so left it in storage for a few years with no particular intention or plan.
In total the car had been off the road for more than fifteen years.
Recently I decided to have a go at putting it back on the road and the car has now been re-commissioned, repainted and trimmed.
It’s very much a rough and ready hand built special but that gives it a charm of it’s own in my opinion.
I think it looks rather good, even allowing for the probable over-length of the bonnet protruding over the front axle line (as they all do, at least all Jag/Bentley saloon-based specials I've seen so far) which the pics don't show... 'Pop rivet special' it may be but that bodywork is far from ugly, that rear end is very elegantly crafted IMO and the workmanship looks absolutely superb!
With the history and all I think you're seriously downplaying this car, more words and pics please!
With the history and all I think you're seriously downplaying this car, more words and pics please!
900T-R said:
With the history and all I think you're seriously downplaying this car, more words and pics please!
+1. With all the history you have you can trace the provenance of this car much more fully than some so called "genuine works cars" which are touted about. 
Can I ask if you have ever considered putting it on wire wheels? IMHO it would look better.
LordBretSinclair said:
+1. With all the history you have you can trace the provenance of this car much more fully than some so called "genuine works cars" which are touted about.
Can I ask if you have ever considered putting it on wire wheels? IMHO it would look better.
I haven't even driven the car yet !Can I ask if you have ever considered putting it on wire wheels? IMHO it would look better.
I agree it would look better on wire wheels, but it would be a costly excercise. Probably the easiest way would be to go for bolt-on splined adaptors and then find a wheel with the correct dimensions.
That's great. I love specials, the quirkier the better. Your Jaguar looks to be really well made with nice proportions and a craftsmans attention to detail - a lovely thing!
Reminds me of some of the strange devices I've built or owned over the years. Here's one I had some years ago.
TR4 chassis, TR front suspension, E type rear subframe and diff, E type 3.8 engine and gearbox, aluminium over ash frame. Was pretty quick - handling was 'interesting' to say the least. Of course it wasn't finished - a special never is.
Reminds me of some of the strange devices I've built or owned over the years. Here's one I had some years ago.
TR4 chassis, TR front suspension, E type rear subframe and diff, E type 3.8 engine and gearbox, aluminium over ash frame. Was pretty quick - handling was 'interesting' to say the least. Of course it wasn't finished - a special never is.
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