When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
1. What is the worlds fasted XJS with a Jaguar V12 engine?
2. Has Gary ever been a member here at the forums?
3. The YouTube description says that a twin turbo V12 is in the works. Anyone know how to contact Gary to get an update on the build?
I will keep looking for Gary and post an update if I have any success.
Anyone ever heard of this type of build, or have an opinion on it?
This car is currently for sale, about a 3 hour drive away from me.
"I am selling a very special Jaguar that has a motor that is one of the 3 best in the world, from Oliver rods to special cast plenums. Of the 3 plenum assemblies, the other two are owned by British Racing. The car has a multi-pack clutch because it would just eat anything less radical. This car produces over 650 HP naturally aspirated and is for an experienced clutch-man only ! Must be seen to be appreciated and I am selling purely because of a left-foot injury that has negated my ability to drive a standard. Please call for an appointment and only serious buyers should call. Howie"
Claim of "650 HP naturally aspirated" seems a little optimistic?
Getting a car to reach 200mph having started with a stock car, brings up challenges that not many know about. I haven't yet read this project's article, but I'm sure that it includes the support of some knowledgeable engineering people to address the design adjustments that need to be incorporated to an otherwise stock car in order for it to go into the over-160mph-frontier without falling apart and leaving scattered pieces along the road. I have read horror stories of people who naively thought that everything was about putting more and more and, yet more power under the hood without considering -must- suspension changes, the absolute correct wheels/tires, aerodynamics/road holding, etc. So, even a "modified V12" would need quite a few additional touches to go safe into the 200mph frontier. Not that easy, really.
On MY fun side, though... when I first saw the thread's title I didn't realize that it was about top speed, so I was thinking "fast acceleration" and how my own kitty could hold its own in 1/4 mile, or even the popular 0 to 60 vs. whatever example the thread was about. So, as far as I know, on the 0 to 60 field that yellow monster would need to do it under 5 seconds to challenge my nitrous injected '94 AJ6 kitty's 350HP (with 130HP jets) and if that is not enough 370HP (with 150HP jets) for a very possible under 5 seconds 0 to 60. So I wonder how quick the yellow beast accelerates because on that video I saw it to start building up speed way slower than a VW bus, but of course, I do understand that the run was not about acceleration. I just wonder how quick that yellow car is to 60? 1/4 mile? But, again, the article was NOT about that... too bad ... LOL
But, then, we'd be talking apples and oranges because there's an immense, but I mean immeeeense cost and complexity difference between getting that yellow beast to go over 200mph and getting my kitty to go under 5 seconds 0 to 60mph. Mine you can do with no more than $1,500.00 and follow instructions, but the yellow guy must've cost a fortune to get it where it is.
difference in building a drag car and a top speed Bonneville type is completely chalk and cheese surely. The car chassis etc set up is there on that wonderful car, just like to see it with a modded V12 instead of the blown BB ford mill.
I'm sorry, but when we're seeing 260 mph (at the flats) out of a 2.5L five cylinder turbo Audi, these builds do little to impress, really much so when their lumpiness is at the forefront.
I think you'll likely find little data on big historic V12 power as the guys did little to pat themselves as to builds or outcomes, silence is golden as they say. Recent stuff, IMO, the current group of interest needs to step up and start experimenting / blowing some stuff up.
I can't understand why you guys hate anything but the V12.
I don't have hate for other engines. The Jaguar V12 is far from a perfect engine. Many others can do the job better. But in the era that the XJS was built the V12 was synonymous with Jaguar. And that, for me, is one of the attractions to Jaguar.
The point I was trying to make is that if someone specifies a specific brand/model (Jaguar, Corvette, Mustang, Ferrari or any other brand) and says its the worlds fastest then its should have that brands engine.
This is a bit of a stretch to illustrate my point but...this is claimed to be the worlds fastest motorcycle;
While technically it might meet the rules of a motorcycle, how many of us would look at that and see a motorcycle?
As for salt cars, if you put a rocket motor on a Jaguar I don't consider it a Jaguar any longer. Its a rocket car regardless of the body it is strapped to.
As for the V12, my interest is in how to make power from them. Very few people develop parts and race these engines anymore and only a very few aftermarket parts are available.
I'm interested in any knowledge that is gleaned when people experiment with ways to get more out of the V12.
I imagine if you throw $100000 in to a V12 it might get close to "lumped" power.
I can't understand why you guys hate anything but the V12.
Give me $100K and a V12 and I could make twice "lumped power"..
As I've said many a time before, it's day old bread, it's been done, tried, proven, yack, yack.. If I wanted a lumped ride, I'd buy a Corvette or some other "merican powered whats it that as designed to take that motor.
It has nothing to do with snobbiness, or double standards, it's the simple fact that most Jaguar guys like the cars for the entire package, be it a ratty rolling restoration or a show car.
On the flip side, lumping saves cars from the crusher, but I'll gladly argue 'til I'm blue, that it's a better solution, it's not, it's a different solution.
Agree wholeheartedly with these last comments.
I love V8's., Growing in up in Australia I love Ford/Holden V8 power and for street cars these cast iron (old school) lumps were the biz. But, and its a big but, street cars were about bored and stroked small and Big block ford mills in Falcons and Cortinas and chevy mills in Toranas, Commodores and Kingswoods. You put a Ford 351 or 427 in a commodore you'd get kudo's for any engineering you did but snickered at for cross pollinating the ford/holden lines.
Jaguars are about the whole package, the refinement and finesse of the V12 with the rest of the car. I agree that lumping one to save it is fine, your saving one of these great cars. But lumping for any other reason - your making a street car the same as any other commodore or falcon your just a better form of caprice or LTD, your no longer a classical jaguar though. It seems to me that some people get touchy about their v8 XJS and look to find fault in the V12. Its a 1960's design that is not aftermarket supported like USA v8's of similar vintage, of course its harder work.
Hi all,
Part of the reason I don't post a lot on forums is because basically I am a pretty private bloke. I search for information that may be useful but quite honestly there is very little for Jaguars in land speed racing. That is one of the reasons it took me eight years to build the car. The other reason is that I am not cashed up like people think so I had to do all the work myself. I built the engine, designed and welded up the cage, built the extractors, designed the EFI system, did all the body work, cut out the rear of the sheet metal and installed the four link, fully floating nine inch and painted it myself in the shed. The wheel alignment, weight distribution, manual steering rack, manual pedal box was all designed in my head.
I am happy with what I have achieved and never for one moment was I ever discouraged by the numerous naysayers. Quite honestly the 351 Ford Cleveland engine was used because I already had it built for my XA hardtop and always had the intention of building a blown V12 at some stage anyway. I have started the build and have three blocks and a 7.3 ltr TWR crank ready to go.
Doing better than 240mph will not be easy but it wasn't easy the first time around either.
Happy to chat about V12's anytime.
GAZ
I forgot to post the link to the DLRA forum where the build diary is for the Shaguar http://www.dlra.org.au/forum/Build diary/Shaguar
Or something like the above for anyone that is interested.
Thanks
GAZ