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Well back in the day when we had camera's with film in them I found an old picture of my XJS. So I took a picture of the picture with my phone and BT transferred it to my laptop and uploaded to this to this post. Technology continues to evolve and for some of us old timers it still amazes.
How did you feel about the car at that time compared to how you feel about your current Jag, technology aside?
1st it was an early car being a 76. I also went through some transitions with the drive train. The V12 engine was great up to 90K miles. The only thing I didn't like was the rear ratio coupled with the GM 3 speed transmission. It rode and handled very good for a large GT type but still wasn't like a true sports car. I did all of my own service and it was not to bad to work on. At 90K miles I converted the car to a GM drive train using a late 80's Corvette FI engine and a R4 AT ,4 sp with lock up torque converter. World of difference in performance with weight reduction and both lower and higher gear range. No problem burning rubber off the line and also better gas mileage while cruising. With the 3:31 rear and the old 3 sp AT you ran 3000 rpm at 60 mph. With the 4 sp AT it was around 2000 rpm at 60 mph. I would have liked to see how it would work out with the 5.0L SC and 6 sp in it. Net was good car , fun car and another part of my car life I enjoyed.
I remember those cars in high school. They were very classy cars. Jaguar cars always caught my attention up to the F type. In my opinion the XK was the last Jaguar that really stood out as a Jaguar. The newer Jaguar models just look like any other car--nothing really special. I was hoping the F type would have more of a wow factor.
I had a 78 XJS (same color as Jagtoes) as a daily driver for four years. A good friend of mine was a 928 fan and talked me into trading it in on a 928. I regretted it for the 3 years I drove the 928 and went back to Jaguars with a 95 XJ12 Van Den PLas and have not left jaguars ever since. The XJS was a great tourer. Never had any major problems with it.
I don't mean to hijack this thread, but since it's about nostalgic pictures of old British sports cars I thought I'd post mine here, too. It's my first car, a 1955 MGTF1500 bought used in 1957 for $1,500. That was the last year of the classic design; the MGA debuted in 1958. I hope this brings back memories.
We enjoyed our 96 XJS. It was a great cruising car and gave us no problems, but the driving experience was on the boring side. Can't compare it to the XKR.
Here is not that great a picture of the heart transplant of the Corvette TPI motor and trans. It a picture of a Polaroid (remember them) so it did't come out so good but you can get the picture. I also found some of my 350/350 conversion in my early XJ sedan.
Unfortunately the floor mounted stick shift has seen it's days. Most likely I would think that in maybe 5 more years there won't be any manual shift car options. Also with auto gear boxes shift speeds you may see the end coming for dual clutch paddle shifter cars. Most of todays youth won't or can't drive a standard shift car . All they are concerned in is big rims , lowered , fart can mufflers and big sound systems. Next time you go to a classic car show take a look at the age of the car owners. Watch the car auctions and the guys buying the muscle cars are pretty old. I would think it would be fun to stick something like an LS3 with a 6 speed manual in a late model XK body. You could probably stick a 6 speed on a 5.0L Jag engine but the transmission electronics are so integrated I don't know how you could get around it. The end is near.
Unfortunately the floor mounted stick shift has seen it's days. Most likely I would think that in maybe 5 more years there won't be any manual shift car options. Also with auto gear boxes shift speeds you may see the end coming for dual clutch paddle shifter cars. Most of todays youth won't or can't drive a standard shift car . All they are concerned in is big rims , lowered , fart can mufflers and big sound systems. Next time you go to a classic car show take a look at the age of the car owners. Watch the car auctions and the guys buying the muscle cars are pretty old. I would think it would be fun to stick something like an LS3 with a 6 speed manual in a late model XK body. You could probably stick a 6 speed on a 5.0L Jag engine but the transmission electronics are so integrated I don't know how you could get around it. The end is near.
Jaguar has stated with the F-type, they understand there is a market for people wanting manual transmission cars, and they intend to keep the manual alive.
Even if other manufacturers drop the manual, the F-type should be an option.
Jaguar has stated with the F-type, they understand there is a market for people wanting manual transmission cars, and they intend to keep the manual alive.
Even if other manufacturers drop the manual, the F-type should be an option.
Somehow I think the market will determine this. I wouldn't bet that they keep this position. It would be interesting to do the research to see how many 3 peddle floor shift cars are still made/sold.
Somehow I think the market will determine this. I wouldn't bet that they keep this position. It would be interesting to do the research to see how many 3 peddle floor shift cars are still made/sold.
If you look at world wide sales of automobiles, manuals are still quite popular. Most of them are lower end cars in Asia where a manual in traffic is just easier to drive. That clutch does wonders when there's 3 lanes of people, mopeds, dogs, and trucks fighting for one lane...
Found a picture of my old XJS
