There are ordinary Project Car Hell vehicles, and then there are the heavyweights. The projects that, in the words of the prophet John in Revelations 20:10, will have you "thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." In fact, the Book Of Revelations is the only shop manual you'll need with a PCH Heavyweight, and quite a bit of it is devoted to the V12-equipped Malaise Era Jaguar. In '82, you could buy a new XJ-S in the USA for $32,100 (about 72 grand today), but some pollutin' folks decided they wanted the 299-horsepower UK-market engine instead of the emissions-friendly 262-horse unit and imported their own. And, of course, those buyers headed right to the DMV, where Franz Kafka himself was waiting for them behind the counter. Fast-forward 25 years, and we find this '82 (go here if the ad disappears), which has a steering wheel on the left side and a price tag of just $695. Whoa, that's just over $50 per cylinder! Only 37,000 miles on the clock, never titled in the USA… is that the deal of the century or what? In a sentence that pretty much sums up Malaise Jag ownership, the seller states that he or she "Had running once but not run in the past few years." Perhaps the Prince Of Darkness fuel injection (PODFI) system is a contributing factor to the non-runningness, but you'll sort that out. Thanks to Delsysdsoftware for the tip!

We never get tired of V12s here, and we also never get tired of the Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9. It's got a big hairy V8, it's got a Citroënesque hydropneumatic suspension, and it's got Top Mob Boss Grade luxury. In 1977, you'd have spent $39,377 for one. In 2008 dollars, that's about $141,000… but some folks don't understand the real value of these machines, which is why depreciation has gnawed away an astonishing 99.7% of the inflation-adjusted value of this 1977 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 (go here if the ad disappears). That's got to be some sort of record, and you can be the beneficiary of this madness. Fainthearted types might think the seller's statement "this was a parts car i didnt use very many parts off of" is on the disquieting side, but the engine is (allegedly) good! We'll admit the transmission is bad, but the junkyards are full of V8 Benzes, and maybe the transmission out of a non-6.9 will bolt right up and not explode immediately. As for the suspension, how hard could it be? Hey, you can probably get this car for less than 400 bucks; in fact, "whatever you have to get it out of my yard" will take it away.

Thanks to Mark for the tip. [Kijiji]

This all started out when the Sarah Palin punishment at the 24 Hours Of LeMons Toledo race raised the bar for innovative ways to penalize lousy drivers on the race track. I'll be judging at the Houston race this weekend, so a special Texas-themed penalty would be needed. But what? Then I remembered: In 1982, Ozzy Osbourne was arrested for pissing on the Alamo, drunk and wearing a dress, and his albums were burned by enraged mobs throughout the Lone Star State.


And what was Ozzy's day job in Birmingham, before Black Sabbath hit it big? He worked on a British Leyland assembly line, testing horns! Naturally, the Ozzy Osbourne Inertial Penalty Horn would require horns from a BL product. While you might find the occasional MG or Triumph in self-service junkyards, 70s Jaguars are always plentiful. Mount the pair of genuine Lucas Electric horns (high- and low-pitch units) on a crude bracket screwed together from scrap plywood, then add a Bosch-type relay pocketed at the junkyard (you can skip the relay, but the high draw of the horns will fry the switch contacts after a few applications, due to arc-welding-style sparking). Mount the bracket close to the driver, but not so close that he can reach it while strapped in!


The inertia switch- which is two-dimensional version of a pinball-machine tilt switch- can be made from junk just lying around; in this case, a piece of plywood (notched for easy zip-tie attachment to a roll cage bar), some coat hanger wire, plumber's tape, and a plastic windshield-washer tubing tee. Like all serious projects, the whole mess is held together with JB Weld.



The switch contacts are the plumber's tape on one side and a big Honda steering-wheel nut pocketed at the junkyard. Depending on how the switch is oriented, the contacts will close when the car accelerates, or turns, or decelerates… or when it hits a big bump, or gets a big gust of wind inside.


To get power, the alligator connector from a dead timing light clamps onto the car's battery. I added a 20-amp fuse inline and covered it with lots of electrical tape.


How to get the power from battery to relay? Cut a hole in the hood with this step drill and run the cord through the side window opening! Ram a sheetmetal screw into the car's floor near the horns and you've got your ground. Hey, they're $500 cars, right?

We've had V12 hell before, but what happens when you put two $600 V12 machines together in the Hell Garage? They stay there forever, that's what! But you must choose your eternity here, which means you only get chained to one of these fine machines.

You know how much a brand-new BMW 750iL cost new? In 1992, you'd have paid your friendly BMW dealerman a staggering $76,500, which is about 120 grand in 2008 dollars. That means that the $600 price tag on this BMW 750iL (go here if the ad disappears) amounts to 0.5% of the purchase price, for a got-to-be-a-world-record 99.5% depreciation for a 16-year period. Actually, we're not sure it's a '92 model, because the seller doesn't bother to provide that info. The info he or she does provide, however, scares the piss out of us makes the car look like a great deal. Yes, it runs! The list of problems, which we're pretty sure is by no means complete, reads like a good example of the newly-created genre of PCH Poetry:
leaking gasoline
battery is dead
leaks engine oil
radiator is punctured and leaking
transmission slams through gears
Steering box is very lose
Alignment is off.
AC does not work.
Sunroof is permanently open
(broken)
Fuel tank cover is broken
Hood stripped off paint
Front left quarter panel is dented
Loose or missing power seat switches
and light covers
Worn out leather
Busted radio speakers
(work in low to moderate volume range only)
Flat spare tire and missing car tools.
Broken fog lights

OK, there's some work to do here; we can't find a way of putting a completely positive spin on the car's condition. And, yes, we're thinking slam-dunk Index Of Effluency winner at the 24 Hours Of LeMons when we look at this thing… but to get that trophy, the car must complete a respectable number of laps, which means an infinite a fair amount of work beforehand. Hey, how hard could it be to fix that transmission (cue evil laughter)?

It's a sign of our troubled economic times that you can get a V12 BMW for just 600 clams, or bones, or whatever you call them, but it's been possible to get a running Jaguar V12 for under a grand for years now. That means we need to find a fairly new one to make this a fair matchup, so that you might experience the luxurious wood-and-leather interior in somewhat-less-than-tattered condition. In 1994, the XJ12 saloon with 6.0 liter V12 engine sold for an awe-inspiring $79,370, which comes to about $118,000 in 2008 dollars; not quite as much as the 750iL, but that's mostly due to the extra few years of inflation involved here (though the indeterminate age of the BMW and other factors leaves open the door for some argument about which car has leaked away more value since sold). One thing we can't argue with, though, is the price for this 1994 Jaguar XJ12 (go here if the ad disappears): $600! Other than a brief mention of some totally terrifying inconsequential fuel-system issues, the seller doesn't list a single problem with the car in the description, so maybe it's perfect! Just spin a couple wrenches for five minutes, drive it away, and enjoy Jaguar luxury and a smooth, smooth V12! Somehow, unfortunately, we figure it's not quite like that. The seller enjoys Random Capitalization Of Words, in what may be a subconscious attempt to make the description look sorta like it's written In German and persuade BMW buyers to go English instead, so let's put the Important Stuff together into a PCH Poem:

No Body Damage
No Windshield Damage,
No Rips to the Interior
Great Sound
Project Car
V12 Engine
(Which Is Not Blown)
Room and time
4 New tires
Fuel Work
see the Car
even if there was No Engine in it

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Suitability Parameters:
Speed Merchants: No
Fashion Victims: No
Treehuggers: No
Mack Daddies: No
Tuner Crowd: No
Hairdressers: No
Penny Pinchers: No
Euro Snobs: Yes
Working Stiffs: No
Technogeeks: Yes
Poseurs: No
Soccer Moms: No
Nascar Dads: No
Golfing Grandparents: Yes
Very Serious Businessmen: Yes
Sheiklets: No

Also Consider:
• BMW 5-Series
• Mercedes E-Class
• Audi A6
• Lexus GS
• Infiniti G35
• Rover SD1

Vitals:
• Manufacturer: Jaguar
• Model year: 2009
• Base Price: $49,975
• Price as Tested: $55,975
• Engine type: 4.2-liter DOHC V8
• Horsepower: 300 @ 6000 RPM
• Torque: 310 @ 4100 RPM
• Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
• Curb Weight: 4,017 LB
• LxWxH: 195.3" x 80.8" x 57.5
• Wheelbase: 114.5"
• Tires: 245/40 19
• 0-60: 6.2 secs
• Top speed: 121 MPH (limited)
• 1/4 mile: N/A
• EPA Fuel economy city/highway: 16/25 MPG
• NHTSA crash test rating: N/A

Photo Credit: Dean Chandler / Ray Wert

Also See:
• 2009 Jaguar XF, Part One
• 2009 Jaguar XF, Part Two

Another name registered for copyright by Jaguar was "C-XJ," which we can only presume to be a concept version of the upcoming new 2010 Jaguar XJ. Looks like Jaguar really is serious about re-inventing themselves. [autoblog.it, MotorAuthority]

It's always fun with DOTS cars park near each other; that's the '62 Ford Falcon across the street. I see the Falcon driving around town on a regular basis, but the Jaguar doesn't seem to move much… if at all.


The list price on this cat in 1986 was $32,250, about what Adnan Khashoggi might charge for a few cases of hand grenades bound for Nicaraguan "freedom fighters," or what a couple of bent S&L execs might spend on lunch. For about a grand less, you could have bought a new BMW 535i; for $218 less, a new '86 Corvette convertible could have been yours.

Acceleration: ***
The 4.2-liter, 300 HP V8 feels great to use, but isn’t ultimately that fast. 60 comes up in 6.1 seconds, but feels faster due to the stateliness evoked by the sound, weight transfer and smooth, linear feel. For $62,975 you can get 120 HP extra with the aid of a supercharger.

Braking: ****
No complaints here, the 12.83-inch discs on all four corners haul the XF up without issues and the ABS doesn’t intrude unnecessarily early. Solid pedal feel leads to great confidence in the system’s ability.

Ride: ****
Extremely compliant, especially given our tester’s 19-inch wheels. A standard fitment on the $55,975 Premium model seen here, those wheels look great, but we can’t help but feel the ride would benefit from the less-fashionable 18s. The XF feels big, heavy and smooth, without feeling underdamped. The XF’s biggest success.

Handling: ***
Treat the XF like a luxury car and you’ll be surprised by how well it handles. The variable ratio steering is vague on center, but full of feel once you turn into a corner, inspiring confidence. At a medium pace it feels incredibly capable, showing off the XF's use of the same suspension set-up as the XK coupe, but push harder and you'll find the suspension can't handle the added heft, as the mid-sized Jag begins to wallow. For drivers looking for a fast luxury car, this won’t be an issue, but those looking for a luxurious sports car will be disappointed.

Gearbox: ****
Leave the rotary gear selector in Sport mode and you’ll be rewarded with a responsive six-speed automatic transmission that holds gears just the right amount of time. Use the paddles and, for an automatic, you’ll get fast shifts and the ability to hold the gear of your choosing to the redline. Just don’t shift down into first gear manually, it's laggy and with a noticeable lurch that will upset passengers. Regular old Drive mode is less responsive and shifts up way too early, rendering itself purposeless for anything other than increasing fuel economy but seeing as you paid for the car, you really shouldn't puss out on the gas.

Audio: ****
The optional Bowers & Wilkins 13-speaker surround sound system sounds great, but the touch screen interface is unintuitive. The subwoofer is unnecessary and boomy if turned up past the standard setting. An iPod connection via USB and 6-CD in-dash changer round out an impressive package.

Toys: ***
We just don’t want a Jag to be this gimmicky. What its makers intend to be surprise and delight features — the rotary gear knob, the proximity sensor glove box button, the swiveling air vents, and the glows-like-a-heart-beat starter button — abound, but are poorly executed. The gear selector feels cheap and unrewarding to use, with too much slack. Oil damping would really help it. The proximity sensor glove box release only works when it wants to. The swiveling air vents are annoying. The lighting, however, is some of the best we’ve seen.

Value: ***
The $49,975 base price is in line with competitors like the BMW 535i and Audi A6 4.2. If you want a unique mid-size luxury car that’s not made in Germany, and not yet made in India, it’s a good choice, but probably not as solid of a long term option as a Lexus GS, which comes in about $5,000 cheaper.

Overall: ***
The XF ends up almost being an also-ran in one of the most hotly contested classes. It’s not the fastest, the best looking or the best value mid-size luxury sedan, but if you catch the XF on a good day, when it’s looking more Aston than Dodge, it’s a uniquely appealing proposition. It’s not as luxurious, nor as sporty as we’d want a Jaguar to be, hopefully new owner Tata is prepared to invest in some serious R&D for its replacement.

Also See:

• 2009 Jaguar XF, Part One
  

Since network television hasn’t been able to come up with a show that’s equally universal in its blandness or equally inoffensive in its humor since it went off-air in 1998, Seinfeld reruns can be seen at any given time on at least two channels — a kind of comedy bookend to the Law & Order probability theory. So I probably don’t need remind you who the pretty/ugly girl is, but just for posterity’s sake: she’s a girl Jerry dates that, depending on the angle of lighting, is either really pretty or really ugly.

And that’s exactly the case with this mid-size Jag. During my weekly escape to my Fortress of Solitude in the Pennsylvania mountains, I couldn’t have been happier with the XF. Driving there late on a Friday evening, the view over its bulged bonnet evoked a sense of immense power backed up by the 4.2-liter V8’s 310 lb-ft of torque. Inside, the glow of the classy instruments and warm dash evoked old-world luxury.

Both the power and the luxury were backed up on the outside too. People turned to look, but not in the bitter way that I’ve grown used to in flashier cars. From the rear, the XF looked like a four-door Aston Martin, from the front, like a modern take on the original 1968 XJ; the whole thing was classy and understated. I felt like visiting royalty.

All of this was carried over to the drive as well. Swooping along the freshly repaved mountain roads in manual mode, the XF felt like a Bentley: big, heavy, powerful and smooth. The steering, which was vague on the highway, firmed up on turn-in, resulting in surprising agility. Pushed, the V8 sounded like an Aston (it should: Jag and Aston use tweaked versions of the same engine), resulting in a rewarding drive that blended clubhouse luxury with performance in a way that only the English know how to do.

And then the lighting changed.

I don’t think Seinfeld had either the ability or vision to go this deep with its characters, but to me, the pretty/ugly girl represents more than just looks; it also represents the duality of both personality and attraction. Certain settings and certain people act like fun-house mirrors, altering your perception of someone’s appeal in a way that goes beyond looks. Take the sexy girl from last night’s party to breakfast, and all of a sudden her pouting lips and willing personality transform into a leathery face and abject stupidity.

Back in dirty, nasty Brooklyn, the XF’s lithe looks were just a memory, replaced with something Ray describes as “Dodge Intrepid.” Personally, I think it looks more like an Infinity I30, but all of a sudden, any hint of classic Aston or Jag is gone.

So too is the luxurious interior. In the light of day, the occasionally suspect materials, poor control damping and cheap leather seats grab your attention more than the gimmicky transmission and soft blue mood lighting do.

Out too is the imperious driving ability, replaced with something that feels distinctly Ford-like. Driving to Jalopnik’s top-secret test track through Brooklyn traffic, the well-weighted steering is suddenly ponderously slow instead. Once there, with the ability to push the car to its limits, the XF just feels ponderous, only reluctantly transitioning to oversteer, even with all the 300 horses feeding into the rear tires.

All of this just leaves us really confused about the XF. Is it the contemporary upper-class English muscle car it wants to be or the wallowy, cheap imitator it felt like right before we gave it back? Like the pretty/ugly girl, it’s probably both, depending on its environment; able to either flatter or offend. And like Jerry Seinfeld, that’s not what we’re looking for. We’re too picky to settle for occasional beauty; we want a driving experience we know will be there no matter what the lighting.

What’s the thing with this strange Jaguar XK?

The front bumper does not look like the old, and also not like the one we have seen on the face-lift prototypes. So that’s a completely new one. And also the cut out for the exhaust pipes in the rear bumper look different. Bonnet is from the XK-R

One other strange think, this car was very quiet. We can normally hear all the Jag prototypes roar when out on the loose, especially on the Nürburgring track, but not this one. So that makes us wonder if this is a hybrid prototype from Jaguar.

[via Next Autos]

Thought I'd send you these pics even though they didn't turn out so well. Sorry about the terrible camera phone quality. It was raining on/off and the light was terrible. The van was on Prince St. in Soho, it may be there again and I'll try to get better pics. I think it was an 80s Econoline, but I'm not sure what model. All labels were shaved. The rear lights look custom. The stained glass window was beautiful. The pics are mostly blurry, but the airbrush work was top-notch, 80s style.
The E-type is the 2-seater, 1960 something, parked on Orchard St and Stanton in the LES. Beautiful mint condition in and out. Unfortunately it started pouring as I was taking pics and couldn't get any more. It has a Hamptons window sticker, so I probably won't see it again.

D-Type LeMans racers may be the first things that come to mind when you mention a green Jag, but rumor has it that a hybrid drivetrain is being considered for the next supercharged V8 XJR model, allowing it to appeal to a different sort of green-minded buyer. The rest of the range would consist of V6, V8 and turbocharged diesel engines.
[NextAutos]

Its builder, who at this point remains anonymous, apparently feels that a massively underperforming air-cooled Harley v-twin makes the perfect synonym for a smooth V12, while the raked out custom frame hidden underneath the plastic leaper should do a good job of eliminating the good handling more often associated with the brand. Of course, all this will be the last thing on its rider’s minds; they’ll be way too focused on the excruciating riding position created by the rear-axle-mounted foot pegs and way-forward bars. [T3 via Autoblog]

After seeing that beautiful DOTS E-Type, it's hard not to yearn for a genunine, pre-Malaise XKE. The prices for nice ones are pretty brutal, unfortunately, but an enterprising gearhead such as yourself should be able to find a diamond-in-rough Jag and turn it into an envy-generator in no time! When you get a California car, such as this '67 XKE coupe, you don't even need to worry about rust... oh, wait. All right, this one does have rust, but you can breathe a sigh of relief upon learning that the spare tire well is solid. It was wrecked in the early 80s- that's right, nearly 30 years ago- and has been stored ever since; think of the low miles! Some stuff is missing, it goes without saying that every component involving electricity, fluid, or moving parts will need complete rebuilding and/or replacement, but look at the price tag!

Maybe the XKE just doesn't do much for you, or maybe the long-nosed Jags are just too common. You want something German, by Gott, and you don't want any damn snooty Mercedes-Benz or nobody's-ever-heard-of-it Borgward or Glas. How about an old BMW? Everyone's got a 2002, and those Isettas are just too silly... but hold on a second- what about a BMW 502? V8 power, great lines, and luxury fit for a wealthy postwar-recovery-boom industrialist. They're tough to find in North America, but Murph has helped us out by spotting this '56 BMW 502. Priced at just $11,500, this super-steal bargain will leave plenty of money in your Hell Project for trips to Germany to buy parts. And you'll need plenty of parts, because there's no getting around the fact that this thing is extremely rough. The condition is given as "Used," which- though uninformative- is definitely the truth (we think "trashed" would be more apt, but that's just us), but there's a V8 motor that might even be something other than a small-block Chevy, and it looks like more than 5% of the interior is still there!

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There's not much of a chance — or need — to move Jaguar, as a brand, into the stratospheric luxury level, but it wouldn't be hard for the company to follow the model of Mercedes-Maybach, VW-Bentley and BMW-Rolls Royce. In fact, Daimler already enjoys positive name recognition in Europe for their earlier cars. [Times Online]

10.) Honda
9.) BMW
8.) Infiniti
7.) Acura
6.) Mercury
5.) Lincoln
4.) Lexus
3.) Buick
2.) Cadillac
1.) Jaguar

Jalopnik Snap Judgement: In this less-than-profitable auto market, dealerships are working harder to maintain ties with customers by offering a better service department experience. Makes sense to us.

Full press release below:

Overall Satisfaction with Dealer Service Increases

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 17 July 2008 — Overall customer satisfaction with dealer service improves considerably in 2008—with more than two-thirds of the 37 ranked brands demonstrating gains—according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Customer Service Index (CSI) StudySM released today.

The study, now in its 28th year, measures satisfaction among vehicle owners who visit the dealer service department for maintenance or repair work during the first three years of ownership, which typically represent the majority of the vehicle warranty period.

After remaining relatively flat since 2005, overall satisfaction with dealer service increases to 882 on a 1,000-point scale in 2008—an improvement of 6 points from 2007. The improvement is primarily due to a combination of an increase in the proportion of maintenance work performed and improvements in satisfaction with repair work. Customers who visit the dealer for routine maintenance tend to be more satisfied (894), on average, than are repair customers (862). The proportion of customers bringing their vehicles to the dealer for repair work has declined to a historic low in 2008, averaging 35 percent. Customer satisfaction with repair work increases notably—improving by 9 points since 2007—with gains made by both premium and non-premium brands. However, satisfaction with maintenance work increases only slightly in 2008.

"Improved levels of vehicle quality have led to a decline in the need for vehicle repairs during the first three years of ownership," said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. "Despite the fact that the majority of service visits—65 percent—are for maintenance work, dealers are very focused on the need to satisfy their repair customers. Given today's market conditions—where dealers are finding it extremely difficult to achieve profitability—it is vital that they not overlook the importance of ensuring their service customers are satisfied. Not only does meeting and exceeding the expectations of customers through after-sales service result in increased likelihood that those customers will return for service, but it also results in increased likelihood that those customers will stay loyal to the brand when they are next in the market for a vehicle."

For a second consecutive year, Jaguar ranks highest in customer satisfaction with dealer service. Jaguar achieves an overall CSI score of 923 and is closely followed in the rankings by Cadillac (922) and Buick (919).

"Jaguar dealers receive very high satisfaction scores among repair customers, particularly in the service initiation, service advisor and user-friendly service measures," said Sargent. "Cadillac improves by one rank position in 2008. This is also attributable to its particularly high levels of satisfaction among repair customers. Buick has strong performance among non-premium brands, and its continuing efforts to improve quality have resulted in a decreasing incidence of repair visits among the brand's customers."

The study also finds that communicating with customers after service work has been completed has a notably strong impact on satisfaction particularly through increasing customer perceptions of fairness of charges and the value of service received. For customers that receive an explanation of work performed or an explanation of charges, satisfaction is approximately 100 points higher, on average, than if no explanations were provided. Approximately 82 percent of customers report that they received explanations of the work performed on their vehicle, while 58 percent say they received an explanation of charges, when necessary.

"Many times, it is the quality of communication provided by service personnel that makes the difference between a satisfied customer and a true advocate," said Sargent. "When customers are provided with clear explanations as to why the work performed on their vehicle was necessary, as well as the reasoning behind the charges, it improves satisfaction with the value of the work performed, as well as perceptions of the fairness and honesty of the dealer. Consistently following these relatively simple steps helps to foster trust among customers, which is critical to building loyalty for future service work as well as future sales. For example, 78 percent of customers who rate the fairness of charges as 'outstanding' say that they will return to the dealership for routine maintenance after the warranty expires, while only 49 percent of customers who provide 'average' fairness ratings say the same."

The study also finds the following key patterns:

* While 5 percent of customers say that they would prefer to schedule their service visit with the dealer via the Internet, only 1 percent of customers actually do so. The vast majority of customers—74 percent—call the dealership to schedule an appointment, while 25 percent of customers just drop in.
* When vehicles are returned to the customer cleaner than they were when received by the dealer, satisfaction scores average 48 points higher than scores provided by customers whose vehicles showed no difference in cleanliness. However, there is a particularly large decline in satisfaction—202 points, on average—if vehicles are returned less clean than when they were received.
* Among customers who report speaking to a service advisor immediately upon arriving at the dealership, satisfaction scores average 927—224 points higher than among customers who say they waited more than 5 minutes to speak to a service advisor.

The 2008 CSI Study is based on responses from 87,302 owners and lessees of 2005 to 2007 model-year vehicles. The study was fielded between January and April 2008. J.D. Power and Associates measures dealer service in various countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and the UK.

[Source: JD Power]

OK, well, you would be able to listen to it purr if it actually stayed running. But isn't that why we take on projects like this, just to suffer the pain of anticipation? We can't wait 'till he gets it out on the street. Sure it may not be as powerful or reliable as a well-built Ford V8, but who cares? It's a V12!
[Miata.net via VWvortex]

JAGUAR CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF XK AT THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW 2008Jaguar will showcase a new look for XK in celebration of 60 years of the iconic nameplate at this year's British International Motor Show. The new XK60* will take pride of place alongside representatives from the full Jaguar model range, each with a success story for 2008.

XK
In 1948, Jaguar created what would become one of the most famous automotive names in the world, as the all-new and highly advanced XK engine made its debut in the revered XK120 sports car. Now, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of that iconic car, Jaguar is launching a very special series of the current XK for the UK market - the uniquely equipped and aptly named XK60, a car that pays homage to the legendary performance of its predecessors.

Complementing the XK60 on the stand will be the recently introduced XKR-S, a limited edition sports coupe in Ultimate Black designed to give an even more focused, high speed performance driving experience. Capable of 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds and with a maximum speed extended to a limited 174mph (280km/h), this is the fastest Jaguar since the XJ220 supercar. With just 50 available in the UK, every XKR-S is already spoken for.

XJ
Sitting alongside the two XK models will be Jaguar's acclaimed XJ 2.7-litre diesel, which was recently crowned 'Britain's Greenest Luxury Car' for the second year running - voted for by the Environmental Transport Association. The award was given in recognition of Jaguar's commitment to delivering CO2 and fuel consumption advantages** to XJ customers, with the development of an industry-leading diesel engine and the application of an advanced lightweight aluminium body structure.

XF
With over 7,000 orders in the bank in the UK and more than 21,000 worldwide, the introduction of the multi-award winning Jaguar XF has been a resonating success for the brand. Both the 4.2-litre SV8 and the 2.7-litre diesel XF will be on display at the show; the latter wearing 'Car of the Year' stickers to celebrate the What Car? magazine win earlier this year.

Other notable XF Awards include: 'Car of the Year' from What Diesel magazine, 'Design of the Year' from Autocar, 'Limo of the Year' from Top Gear magazine, 'Interior of the Year' from CAR magazine and 'Car of the Year' from The Sun Motoring.

X-TYPE
Completing the Jaguar stand at the show will be the new X-TYPE Estate which now offers the combination of diesel power with automatic transmission - pairing the 2.2 litre diesel with a six-speed automatic, and the one-touch control of Jaguar Sequential Shift - broadening the new model's appeal to buyers who previously could not have this combination in an X-TYPE.

The new X-TYPE automatic diesel - on sale from March - combines high levels of refinement with optimised performance and economy, and promises more choice and even greater luxury, to appeal especially to a younger, more family-orientated audience. With an even better value-for-money proposition for buyers, sales are up 41% versus 2007 since the March on-sale date.

[via PistonHeads, GTSpirit]

I haven't been able to get my greasy mitts on many of these cars, so I can't claim any great depth of E-Type knowledge. However, I'm going to guess this is a '66 model (based on the dash and taillights) and hope that I'm pretty close. Jaguar experts, feel free to weigh in on this burning question.


This car sold new for $5,580, which was about a thousand bucks more than a '66 Corvette Stingray coupe with 427 and 4-speed (that info is for those of you who wish to price out the cars in the Jan & Dean song "Dead Man's Curve"). The 427 Corvette was way faster (at least in a straight line) and orders of magnitude more reliable, but just look at this thing (wolf whistle).


But we're not going to have a Corvette-versus-Jag poll today (since we've already had one in Project Car Hell). No, we're going to pick our favorite British car found parked on the non-mean streets of Alameda. Sure, the E-Type is the prettiest... but what about that super-rare MGC-GT? And the '59 Morris Minor takes its owner on a 15-mile commute every day, Lucas Electrics and all!

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For instance, the gaudy gorgeous S-type grille above runs a mere $750. A gold-plated BMW M3 badge? A steal at $70. How about a four-piece dress-up kit for your Mini Cooper? They're giving 'em away at a mere $300. With prices like that, we're assuming you've all rushed over to outfit your rides with the latest in stylish and conservative auto accessories, 'cause nothin' says distinctive like a gold-plated Honda Civic Type R. [Goldstriker]

First, the company already has a significant infrastructure already in place in the state. Second, it's a much shorter flight to New York from Mumbai and London, reducing executive jet lag. Third, Ratan Tata loves Springsteen. In fact, at a recent concert, Tata was heard to scream "Play Darkness On The Edge Of Town" repeatedly. [Photo: Getty Images, Auto News (Subs. Req.)

The Jaguar XJ-S may well be the quintessential Project Car Hell vehicle. It sold for gigabucks, packs a V12 under the hood, looks gorgeous, you can get one cheap, and... Lucas Electrics! We had one beckoning to you from the fiery gates to Project Car Hell not long ago, but the lure of the XJ-S is just impossible to resist and we have no choice but to return to our V12-powered friend. Feds found this '79 Jaguar XJ-S with a somewhat steep asking price of $3,500 Canadian, but we're pretty sure that price is highly negotiable. As Feds says, "Regardless of how good or bad the car is, you can't ignore the fact that it is dirt(bag) cheap...a British car that very likely smells of du Maurier's and Labatt's 50." We don't learn much about the car from the seller's description, though "Some minor oil leaks and car will need a paint job soon" seems about par for the XJ-S course. Does it run? Is there rust? Electrical gremlins? Wait, no need to even ask that last question!

When you're trying to sell a couple of rusty heaps vintage machines built during an era when craftsmen were busting scab heads on the picket line took pride in their work, what's the best approach to photographing those cars? That's right- use the "sepia" option in your photo-editing software! If not for the newer vehicles visible in the background on one of the shots, you'd think you were looking at 60-year-old photos... of prematurely aged cars. The seller here doesn't find it necessary to provide any description of the cars for sale, and that includes such inconsequential information as year, make, and model. It appears that you can purchase a 1940 Plymouth and a Dodge of the same era for two grand Canadian. Mechanical condition? We can't tell you. Rust? Sure looks that way! But the Dodges and Plymouths of that era share lots of parts- you should be able to make one nice runner out of the pair, powered by a 440 pulled from the first New Yorker you find at the junkyard. As Feds so eloquently puts it: "Based on the excellent copy, I suspect Sophia is trying to sell these cars out from under the nose of her no-good-nik common-law husband."

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Spy Report Our U.K. operative has just snapped our first look at the mid-cycle facelift for the Jag XK—in both XK8 and XKR trim. Visual changes consist of new front bumpers with new outer air-inlets below the headlights. Judging from the surface development that appears to differ on the prototypes, the XK8 and XKR variants will get unique styling touches. New tail-lights are also in the works, with a greater percentage of red-lens and clear signs that LEDs will be be employed. The rear bumpers on both prototypes also show signs of a redesign.

When the XK first bowed, it was saddled with a clunky power-retractable antenna; a quick-fix for 2008 saw the antenna integrated into the rear spoiler. These new prototypes show that Jag is finally bringing the XK up-to-date both visually and technologically, with the addition of a proper shark-fin antenna applied to the deck lid.

No serious engine upgrades are expected, but Jaguar will be applying the XF's Jaguar Drive transmission interface to the XK, thus modernizing and streamlining the Jaguar lineup. We expect that the interior changes necessary for this will inspire some visual and material upgrades to the XK's interior.

We expect to see the facelifted XKs to bow officially later this year, although a Geneva debut in the Spring could also be a possibility.

Those who wanted to buy a new Mercedes-Benz 190SL roadster back in 1958 had to come up with $5,020, about $1,400 more than a new Corvette and about the same as a '58 Lincoln Capri hardtop. We're talking about quite the high-buck machine (though you had to spend twice as much to get its mighty 300SL sibling), and much in demand today. It's got some German notoriety, too, being known as the Nitribitt-Mercedes after the murdered Frankfurt call girl who drove one. If you've got $27,800 to spend on your next project- or even if you don't- why not blow it all invest it wisely in this '58 Mercedes-Benz 190SL (go here if the ad disappears)? Look at it! Sure looks nice... so nice that you shouldn't fear that "light rust on the floor," because the seller says right in the ad that it's an "easy restoration." Right! It's even got a rebuilt engine "that is bolted in the car," yet for some reason it's not running. Maybe a few turns of some carb screws, perhaps some futzing with the distributor, and it'll roar to life! It looks like most of the trim is still there, and maybe the interior is good enough, which leaves you plenty of time to puzzle out the drivetrain problems.

What are you, some kind of cheapskate? Only 28 grand, and for a German car? Where's the fun there? What you need is a super-rare Jag, say one of only 32 1956 XK140 dropheads with automatics and left-hand drive (go here if the ad disappears). Not only that, the seller wants to make it perfectly clear that this car was once ARBOUR GREEN, and that you'll need to get up off of $49,000 if you want to take it home. Whew, almost 50 grand! That's perfectly understandable when you learn that the seller estimates that "the car is 90 to 95% complete as to parts." Skeptical types might try to rain all over your parade by pointing out that 5% or 10% of an automatic-equipped 52-year-old Jaguar is a helluva lot of parts, but we'd counter by saying that maybe the missing stuff is the easiest 5 or 10 percent! Don't try to lowball this savvy seller, though, because it says right in the ad (twice) that "THE PRICE IS FIRM!!!" Thanks to htrodbldr for the tip!

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Saw this parked on the street in front of Chez Panisse yesterday. Chatted with the owner for a bit. He's owned the car for 25 years and restored it twice. In good weather, he drives it three times a week or so. It was his dream car as a kid growing up in England; he's kept everything correct whenever it's needed repair; cool thing about the car and proof of its driver status: a City of Berkeley parking sticker on the rear bumper.
Rök.
DGJ.

"Sources report that the XF-R will get a new supercharged 5.0-liter V8 making a minimum of 500 horsepower, so Jaguar clearly appears to have the likes of the BMW M5 and AMG E63 in its sights."

We caught our best shots yet of the Jaguar XF-R as it rolled through the city streets in the UK. Hood vents, a deeper, more aggressive front air dam, and a new mesh treatment to the grille coverings signify the hottest version of the XF. The XF's side vents are also blacked-out for a more sinister look. Large turnbine-style wheels (likely to be 20-inchers) are taped up a bit, but their aggressive design is clearly visible. Quad exhaust tips round out the visual changes. The XF-R's body mods are subtle, yet very pursposeful to set it apart from lesser XF models.

Sources report that the XF-R will get a new supercharged 5.0-liter V8 making a minimum of 500 horsepower, so Jaguar clearly appears to have the likes of the BMW M5 and AMG E63 in its sights.