Latest toy - V12 5.3 TWR XJ-S
Discussion
With the fleet consisting of the VW Golf for dealing with small parking spaces in town, the 200k+ mile Disco3 for shifting the bigger stuff around and all that accompanies living in the countryside and my daily, the dark Sapphire X350 XJR, we thought we needed something special for high days and holidays.
Mission Control has been guiding me towards a convertible for the past few years, but I couldn't think of what to choose. With our daily drivers being the D3 and the XJR, it would have to be something special not to feel like a compromise just to have the top down.
Enter the latest addition to the fleet - a Westminster Blue TWR XJ-S.
Registered late '89 but actually a '90MY, it has that fantastic 5.3 V12 lump that really is something else. It's not as brutal as the XJR, but is certainly capable of making progress at a fabulous rate as and when required. It's also astonishingly quiet, well, with the roof up. Roof down it's wind noise, not exhaust or engine that you can hear.
The previous keeper bought it as a long term car with absolutely no rot, original Westminster blue paint, mechanically very good, Factory replacement engine with less than 60K on it, original hood, interior refurbished with new carpets and all original leather restored, all electrics working, not a concourse 10 but very close.
Circumstances changed which meant the car could no longer be stored in the neighbour's barn so it was either let someone else look after it or sit it outside in the rain.
Lucky me
Fortunately the car came with all original handbooks, service record, and a load of past MOT data and various correspondence and invoices back to the mid 90’s, and of course the DVLA these days are also helpful in supplying copies of their records back to first registration. It appears to have done little more than 4,000 miles in the last 17 years.
Mission Control has been guiding me towards a convertible for the past few years, but I couldn't think of what to choose. With our daily drivers being the D3 and the XJR, it would have to be something special not to feel like a compromise just to have the top down.
Enter the latest addition to the fleet - a Westminster Blue TWR XJ-S.
Registered late '89 but actually a '90MY, it has that fantastic 5.3 V12 lump that really is something else. It's not as brutal as the XJR, but is certainly capable of making progress at a fabulous rate as and when required. It's also astonishingly quiet, well, with the roof up. Roof down it's wind noise, not exhaust or engine that you can hear.
The previous keeper bought it as a long term car with absolutely no rot, original Westminster blue paint, mechanically very good, Factory replacement engine with less than 60K on it, original hood, interior refurbished with new carpets and all original leather restored, all electrics working, not a concourse 10 but very close.
Circumstances changed which meant the car could no longer be stored in the neighbour's barn so it was either let someone else look after it or sit it outside in the rain.
Lucky me
Fortunately the car came with all original handbooks, service record, and a load of past MOT data and various correspondence and invoices back to the mid 90’s, and of course the DVLA these days are also helpful in supplying copies of their records back to first registration. It appears to have done little more than 4,000 miles in the last 17 years.
Edited by bob-lad on Wednesday 30th March 11:41
bomma220 said:
Very, very nice indeed bob-lad. If she drives as well as she looks (I'm sure she does) you've certainly got a very rare beast there!
I look forward to future updates, keep us posted chap.
By the way, I do like the steering wheel - do you know if it was part of the TWR modifications?
As for ride, yes it's from the period when a Jaguar was all about making swift yet comfortable progress. It's considerably more comfortable than the X350 XJR. Both in ride characteristics and seating.I look forward to future updates, keep us posted chap.
By the way, I do like the steering wheel - do you know if it was part of the TWR modifications?
Perhaps I just don't have a Recaro shaped arse
snotrag said:
That really is fabulous, very of-its-time if that makes sense.
I'd agree that its not an XKe - so it while it may be uglier in isolation, a more period steering wheel would be better surely - I cant imagine that wheel came on the car.
It's not an E-Type, no (XK-E is an Americanism) it's far more comfortable than that I'd agree that its not an XKe - so it while it may be uglier in isolation, a more period steering wheel would be better surely - I cant imagine that wheel came on the car.
I like the Moto Lita wheel they're available on many more cars than just an E-Type. It's just that bit lighter than a bulky black wheel and lightens the cabin slightly. The JaguarSport cream wheel is quite a horrible looking thing.
bob-lad said:
As for ride, yes it's from the period when a Jaguar was all about making swift yet comfortable progress. It's considerably more comfortable than the X350 XJR. Both in ride characteristics and seating.
Perhaps I just don't have a Recaro shaped arse
Interesting bob-lad, I know what you mean about the Recaros!Perhaps I just don't have a Recaro shaped arse
Looking at the engine pic, are you certain that's a 5.3 & not a 6.0? Here's a link you might find interesting:
http://www.jaguarsport.webspace.virginmedia.com/Ja...
bomma220 said:
bob-lad said:
As for ride, yes it's from the period when a Jaguar was all about making swift yet comfortable progress. It's considerably more comfortable than the X350 XJR. Both in ride characteristics and seating.
Perhaps I just don't have a Recaro shaped arse
Interesting bob-lad, I know what you mean about the Recaros!Perhaps I just don't have a Recaro shaped arse
Looking at the engine pic, are you certain that's a 5.3 & not a 6.0? Here's a link you might find interesting:
http://www.jaguarsport.webspace.virginmedia.com/Ja...
The engine was replaced in 1994 after a "servicing issue" that lead to a dead engine. (It's all documented in the paperwork
but it'd be unfair to release details into the interwebs) So it's entirely possible that it's really a 6.0. Indeed, it may even be more likely that it's a 6.0.
bob-lad said:
Hmnn. Now I'm less certain. Short of stripping the engine and measuring it, I'm not sure I'll know for sure.
The engine was replaced in 1994 after a "servicing issue" that lead to a dead engine. (It's all documented in the paperwork but it'd be unfair to release details into the interwebs) So it's entirely possible that it's really a 6.0.
Indeed, it may even be more likely that it's a 6.0.
I'm almost certain that's a 6.0 litre Jaguar Sport motor you have there, sir, especially given that it was fitted in 1994. In which case, you have secured an even better deal! The engine was replaced in 1994 after a "servicing issue" that lead to a dead engine. (It's all documented in the paperwork
but it'd be unfair to release details into the interwebs) So it's entirely possible that it's really a 6.0. Indeed, it may even be more likely that it's a 6.0.
Engine number will confirm the size if supplied and fitted by jaguar. Looking at the picture, there doesn't appear to be an IAT sensor on the O/S air duct which says that it's not running Zytec. Which is what proper 6.0 ran.
Also 6.0 cars had extended air ducts meeting a duct in the radiator panel. I don't think Jaguar Sport did convertible.
Very nice car though. They did do a blue sports steering wheel.
Also 6.0 cars had extended air ducts meeting a duct in the radiator panel. I don't think Jaguar Sport did convertible.
Very nice car though. They did do a blue sports steering wheel.
melhookv12 said:
Engine number will confirm the size if supplied and fitted by jaguar. Looking at the picture, there doesn't appear to be an IAT sensor on the O/S air duct which says that it's not running Zytec. Which is what proper 6.0 ran.
Also 6.0 cars had extended air ducts meeting a duct in the radiator panel. I don't think Jaguar Sport did convertible.
Very nice car though. They did do a blue sports steering wheel.
Aye, it's not a JaguarSport car, but the engine was replaced by the factory in 1994. Is there a register somewhere of engine numbers?Also 6.0 cars had extended air ducts meeting a duct in the radiator panel. I don't think Jaguar Sport did convertible.
Very nice car though. They did do a blue sports steering wheel.
Not conclusive, but might indicate if it is a 5.3.
When you say factory do you meal a dealer or at jaguar or at Jaguar Sport/ TWR?
A new engine fitted via a dealer would probably have a part number on it and some little thermometer style stickers on it.
The engine number is on the back of the block, behind the oil sender just near where the gearbox meets the block.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff