Which was the finest production Jaguar?
In any discussion about cars, the question often comes up, - What was the finest production Jaguar ever produced. The answer is almost universally "The E type* !
But as someone who literally grew up with the marque, - I actually passed my driving test in a Jaguar 2.4 Mk 2 in March 1962, I would have to disagree.
Because in those days I worked for a Jaguar main distributor, I think I have probably driven every model of Jaguar ever sold. From the early Mk V, through the Big Mk7's 9's and 10.s to the 420G.
In the medium range the Mk 1 Drum braked model, the Mk 1 with disc's, The Mk2 and the "S" types
The sports Models, the XK 120, XK140, XK150 and the XK150S The E type 3.8 and 4.2 and the V12 versions.
But by a big margin my favourite will always be the XK150S. In its final form with the XK3.8 engine fitted with triple SU carbs as latter fitted to the E type the 150S was a superb machine to drive. A big beast of a car but with loads of character. I always got out of those literally beaming!
TF
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The only Jag I've ever owned or driven was the 1973(?) XJ6 4.2. It was quite a beast and a good tug.
I've always liked the look of the old XKs. They don't make em like that any more, sadly.
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The only Jaguar that has ever made me stop & stare is the F-Pace SUV. It is beautiful.
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Husky! Good to meet another Cat lover! The 3.4 XK engine was probably the best of them. They were produced at a time when engines did vary a bit between themselves, and we often found that a really good 3.4 could match a 3.8 and at the same time use a lot less fuel.
TF
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The F Pace does look rather tasty
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Is it just me CY, does it look like a beefy Volvo? I saw it locally parked, it was both beaut inside & outside. I'd loved to have talked to the owner
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My greatest wish ever is to own the Jaguar (same model as Morse) but with the wire wheels with butterfly nuts. I even promised myself that if I won the lottery I would buy one of these (not white, as they seem to end up jumping over a cliff
), even if the engine is completely knackered and asking Jaguar to model an engine to fit it, cost no object. I have been fortunate that I have driven one, years ago. I remember getting in it, and looking for the choke, which was not a pull-out one, but a slide switch. Absolutely brilliant0 -
Never owned a Jag but always admired the marque, I was working in Zimbabwe in the early 90s and had occasion to visit a rural technical college, whilst wandering around a disused workshop I spied a car covered in tarpaulin, a quick tug revealed a fairly immaculate MK 10 Jag,
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Corr I remember my first "cat" 1957 mk1 3.4, it was rotten the timing chain rattled like a banshee, and to top it all the clutch was slipping, I must of used two or three cans of P 38 and I actualy sprayed it outside my house with a vacume cleaner you know the glass jar type which you put your finger on to spray, but it was mine and it had chrome wire wheels oh I managed to put a new clutch in it with the help from my dad had it for about six months I took it down the new m 2 when it opened and give some stick toward the medway bridge when the timing chain finally let go and smashed the casing, ah well it was fun while it lasted, my favorite is deffo XK 150 and I have one of the last "s" types built, first reg 27 dec 2007, lovely car, Ive had it seven years and still love it to bits
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As I said earlier my memories of working for a Jaguar distributor go back a long way. The early drum braked mark I saloons were OK for their day but had a narrow track rear axle and they didn't stop that well. They had fully faired in rear wheel arch coverings, and a narrow front grill. The Mark i was later facelifted with a wider front grill and cut away rear wheel arch coverings, however the real improvement was that now they were fitted with state of the art, new fangled power assisted disc brakes all around!
These wonderful new disc brake things really worked well and improved the cars stopping performance really well. BUT, Jaguar's had not yet worked out how to make the cars handbrake work on the new style rear brake discs. If you parked it on even a slight incline you had to leave it in gear and with the front wheels turned into the kerb, otherwise you would find it gently following you as you walked down the hill.
The Mark 2 saloon was a big improvement. Wider track rear axle which improved the handling, slimmer door and window arches, and a lovely new 3.8 litre 6 cylinder XK engine.
Later on in the days of the E types, I well remember warning my 1st 3 customers that they couldn't see the first 3 feet of the bonnet. which due to the "power Bulge" was out of their sight. Sadly all three later parked their cars with the nose through the end wall of their garage!
The cost of a new E type bonnet then was roughly the same price as another bread & butter car that we sold, The Triumph Herald 1200 £647.14.11p ( Plus heater & front disc brakes).
TF
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This car was at a locol car show earlier this year.The resroration was exceptional.
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The XF is a lovely car......we test drove one and it was a serious contender for our tow car........but common sense prevailed as we needed more load carrying and went for a 4x4 again.
The F type looks fabulous if you can afford it.
We looked at the F Pace in a showroom and it felt a bit cheap and far too low......all the disadvantages of a 4x4 but without the space.
I have no interest in the older models.......good in their time, but replaced by better, more reliable, more efficient and faster models.
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My Grandfather had several Jags. The first one I can remember was an SS, followed by a Mk1 and then a MK2 2.4 ltr. His final one was a MK9 3.8ltr in two tone grey. In between his Jags he usually had Wolseley cars.
The first car I ever "drove" was the Mk1, I was 10 years old.0 -
I was lucky enough to drive an XJ6 Sovereign for about eighteen months. Wasn't very keen on the rusty red colour but it was the loveliest car I've driven, but not very easy to get into busy car parks. The car belonged to one of the Kinks originally, I think it was a certain Mr R Davies...don't know why he chose that colour!
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