And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Bring ypur spanners and your British electrical theory book......... A beautiful machine to be sure. I remeber learning auto repair on American cars as a kid and then seeing an English engine for the first time. I'm like - they did WHAT??
Sure, it has it's idiosyncrasies, but it is gorgeous and a dream to drive! Once in your lifetime try to drive a properly maintained Mk II or 340, you will never forget it!
I had a '63 one of those. I finally got rid of it because it had apparently been out under an oak tree with the windows down and I couldn't do or pay for a new interior. The carpets and upholstery were bad but it was rust free. I refinished the wood and put in a new headliner. Someone had put an engine in it which wasn't a 3.8 because it had three SU's and the battery moved to the trunk. The guy I sold it to bought a 3.8 intake manifold and it didn't fit. I rebuilt the carbs, power brake unit and wheel cylinders, put four Avon's on it and drove it forty miles to work for several months. It handled great but used a quart of oil about every 500 miles. It had an automatic which according to my old Motor's Manual, seemed to be the same transmission as a 50's Hudson. It had no kickdown and shifted with a slam. It was back in the 90's so my memory is dim, but I think it had some Jaeger instruments and some Smiths. It had a "Chronometric Tachometer", which means there was a little clock in it. All the instruments worked, including the clock. The radio didn't work. I would love to have a good one of these. From my short experience, I don't understand why they had such a bad reputation. It seemed to be sturdy and well built. I did see a photo of the instrument panel of a British fighter plane with the caption, "Smiths Instruments That Really work."
Sounds like a previous owner had modified the engine with a wide angle head that Jaguar put on its competition cars. I want one with a 4 speed manual and overdrive. Al_in_Ottawa
At least within the last few years, Jaguar ranked at the very bottom of the J.D. Powers reliability ratings. (Mercedes and BMW were far behind.) I suppose that part of the attraction is to be able to signal the world that you can not only afford the vehicle, but that you can afford the repairs. I suppose that this is often the case with many "status symbols."
While serving in the USAF in Japan during the last 1950's, my father ordered a Jag sedan that was shipped from GB to Tokyo. He then shipped it to the U.S. and it was our primary mode of transportation for several years later. What a nice car!!!
I have the modern version of this in a '05 S-Type, big block V-8 (4.2 litre). If you can wrangle a drive in one you would be surprised at the speed, room and tranquility. There is a reason why the company tag line was Space, Pace and Grace. To bad the company listened to the MBA idiots and changed the cars to look like accords and camrys. Now they are going electric, idiots. If they make it to 2030 it will be because they burned a lot of Indian cash.
Bring ypur spanners and your British electrical theory book......... A beautiful machine to be sure. I remeber learning auto repair on American cars as a kid and then seeing an English engine for the first time. I'm like - they did WHAT??
ReplyDeleteThe rust fairy will take your mind off any mechanical idiosyncrasies.
ReplyDeleteSo you have no skill, eh?
ReplyDeleteSure, it has it's idiosyncrasies, but it is gorgeous and a dream to drive! Once in your lifetime try to drive a properly maintained Mk II or 340, you will never forget it!
ReplyDeleteThe reason the English drink warm beer is because Lucas makes their refrigerators.
ReplyDeleteLucas, prince of darkness.
Deletehttps://beacham.co.nz/
ReplyDeleteSince money is no object, I'll take the 5 liter supercharged V8 with 550 horsepower.
DeleteIf possible, I'd like to trade in my '97 Subaru Outback in lieu of a down payment and stretch payments over 1200 months. Is that doable?
I had a '63 one of those. I finally got rid of it because it had apparently been out under an oak tree with the windows down and I couldn't do or pay for a new interior. The carpets and upholstery were bad but it was rust free. I refinished the wood and put in a new headliner. Someone had put an engine in it which wasn't a 3.8 because it had three SU's and the battery moved to the trunk. The guy I sold it to bought a 3.8 intake manifold and it didn't fit. I rebuilt the carbs, power brake unit and wheel cylinders, put four Avon's on it and drove it forty miles to work for several months. It handled great but used a quart of oil about every 500 miles. It had an automatic which according to my old Motor's Manual, seemed to be the same transmission as a 50's Hudson. It had no kickdown and shifted with a slam. It was back in the 90's so my memory is dim, but I think it had some Jaeger instruments and some Smiths. It had a "Chronometric Tachometer", which means there was a little clock in it. All the instruments worked, including the clock. The radio didn't work. I would love to have a good one of these. From my short experience, I don't understand why they had such a bad reputation. It seemed to be sturdy and well built. I did see a photo of the instrument panel of a British fighter plane with the caption, "Smiths Instruments That Really work."
ReplyDeleteSounds like a previous owner had modified the engine with a wide angle head that Jaguar put on its competition cars. I want one with a 4 speed manual and overdrive.
DeleteAl_in_Ottawa
At least within the last few years, Jaguar ranked at the very bottom of the J.D. Powers reliability ratings. (Mercedes and BMW were far behind.) I suppose that part of the attraction is to be able to signal the world that you can not only afford the vehicle, but that you can afford the repairs. I suppose that this is often the case with many "status symbols."
ReplyDeleteWhile serving in the USAF in Japan during the last 1950's, my father ordered a Jag sedan that was shipped from GB to Tokyo. He then shipped it to the U.S. and it was our primary mode of transportation for several years later. What a nice car!!!
ReplyDeleteIf you look at that photo too long your device will overheat and blow a fuse.
ReplyDeleteIf only it were possible to do something about the Lucas electrics. We all know why the British drink warm beer. Lucas made the refrigerators.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Chief Inspector Morse’s car (seen on Brit Box)…great detective series!
ReplyDeleteI have the modern version of this in a '05 S-Type, big block V-8 (4.2 litre). If you can wrangle a drive in one you would be surprised at the speed, room and tranquility. There is a reason why the company tag line was Space, Pace and Grace. To bad the company listened to the MBA idiots and changed the cars to look like accords and camrys. Now they are going electric, idiots. If they make it to 2030 it will be because they burned a lot of Indian cash.
ReplyDeleteSpin