The last XJSes are now worth more than the earliest XK8s - which classic Jag would your money go on?
The Jaguar XJS. The big old brute with buttresses is not exactly everyone’s cuppa, I know. I know because, if I’m honest, I’m in the ‘everyone’ camp. I’ve always had the XJS pegged as rather frumpy. And lumpy, with those blocks of rubber and slabs of chrome that formed the bumpers, plus the fussy, jarring bits of black plastic trim stuck behind the rear side windows. Inside, it wasn’t much better.
Then Ford wired some engineering budget to Coventry and Geoff Lawson had a crack at restyling it. I liked Lawson. He always came across well and it was a terrible shame he passed away so young, aged just 54. I know his back catalogue isn’t a panacea for sore eyes, but much of the time he was doing his best with the tools he was given, like stretching Mk II lines over a Lincoln platform to meet the expectation for the retro-styled S-Type.
I remember carrying out the PDIs on these later models and, instead of sitting in a gloomy storm cloud, they were bright, fresh and attractive, inside and out. The running gear had been upgraded, too. The ‘60s rear subframe, suspension and inboard brakes were revised, the gearboxes had become slicker, four-speed, electronically controlled ZF slushers, the AJ6 had become the more powerful and more efficient AJ16. Oh yes, and the 5.3 V12 had been bored out to a wonderful 6.0-litres.
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Used JAGUAR XK120 / 4.2 cc / Fully re-built / Track car / Fast road spec for salePocket Rocket are to pleased to offer for sale a hand selected 1951 Jaguar XK120 FHC – LT Homage. Delivered new to New York in 1951 where it remained until being repatriated in 2014 Fully rebuilt in 2015 by Tester Engineering in the style of the 1951 'LT' cars New aluminium lightweight body hand-made by Gregson, painted by Normandale and interior by Tester Upholstery 4.2-litre engine with triple Weber Carburettors and four-speed gearbox Campaigned in the 2015 Jaguar Heritage Challenge Series Also piloted by Calum Lockie at the Donnington Historic Festival and Silverstone International Festival gaining 1st in class In storage for 5 years but recently been subject to re-commissioning works and set-up time on the rolling road Presented in outstanding condition, fully detailed throughout and ready for use In 1951, William Lyons, having entered three of Jaguar’s new C-Type at that years Le Mans, became concerned that the cars may not be ready in time. As an insurance policy, he asked the ‘Works’ to prepare three special XK120s that would comply with the Le Mans regs and last for the 24 hours. These cars were the first XK120s since the initial run of 210 cars in 1949 and 1950 to have lightweight aluminium coachwork and featured lightweight alloy bodies and a subtly altered shape, outer sills and cut-down doors, one-piece rear, cut-in bonnet, and Brooklands-type aero screens. Known as LT1, LT2, and LT3, the cars were all set to go, however, their day of glory was denied as the C-Types were completed in time. All dressed up with nowhere to go, the three ‘LT’ cars sat around Browns Lane feeling sorry for themselves for a while until Charles Hornburg, the famous US West Coast Jaguar importer, spotted them during a visit. He promptly purchased the cars and exported them stateside, where Phil Hill masterfully drove one to 3rd overall and a class win in its very first race in August 1951. Supplied and delivered new to Jaguar distributors Hoffman of New York in October 1951, wher
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