Spent the weekend on the Transfagarasan pass (you may know it as the best driving road.... .... .... in the world). As it's 2 weeks from closing down for the winter, there is barely any traffic, so it's the best time do really get a feel for the drive.

After climbing down the mountain, I got on the highway heading toward Sibiu, when I saw a black x350 with a chrome grill closing in. I was in my '68 Charger R/T with a 3.73 rear end, so I was doing only about 65mph (to keep the noise bearable) when it passed me. It was only then that I saw the functional side vents which only meant one thing: the uber rare Portfolio, built only in '06. It had a UK plate beginning with L55..... .
After it passed I tried to keep uo, but as I approached 120mph & 6000rpm, it felt like 200mph in a modern car - almost like a capsule on reentry, including the falling apart bit - so I chickened out.

Judging by the car's rarity, and pretty good condition as I saw it, I think there is a good chance the owner is either on this forum, or known by somebody over here.

So is anybody with an L55... plate visiting Romania currently? For me the '06 portfolio is the ultimate XJ.

 

Hmmm,
Why were you driving a Charger?
How do you know if the Jag which outclassed the Charger, wasn't one already modified by you?
Did it have air suspension or coil-over? Surely you could tell from a distance? (behind)

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Seriously now, which models would you associate functional side vents with? Because I don't know any reason to associate it with "Portfolio". Yet.

 

Well let's begin )

The Romanian branch of FIVA holds the anual Transfagarasan Raid in mid october, classic cars from allover the country gather at the lake at the top of the pass. It was our first year, great atmosphere, and made a few new friends!
AFAIK, the only XJ from the 2003-2009 generation to feature functional side vents is the 2006 X356 Super V8 Portfolio. From 2007 the facelift X358 got faux vents, and prior to 2006, no vents at all. Do you know different?

 

Late October...Black XJ Jag...UK (Whitby) tags..Transylvanian mountains...this was none other than Vlad Dracula

(Be glad you didn't catch Vlad the Impaler)