Maybe should be posting over on the E-section but I am not sure the car I saw was "original". It was yesterday on Ventura Boulevard in Encino (you listening Ted?) and this guy is cruising along in a spectacular looking XK-E convertible with the top down. I think the color was a darkish grey and the wire wheels were glistening chrome. I swear the car looked like it just came out of a showroom but these was something different about the front. From my recollection an authentic XK-E has a blunt front at the oval but this one seemed to have a strong forward cant (almost like an overbite) and it may have also lacked the chrome bumpers but I forget.

Anybody out there ever seen this car or one like it?

Doug

 

If not some kit-car, maybe an Eagle speedster? I really lust after one of their cars.

The Jaguar Speedster

 

Don't believe it was a Speedster since the overall look was much more like stock except for the very front. The guy driving it was looking around and smiling just knowing that anyone in the general vicinity was gawking at it.

Doug

 

Could it have been a Series 111? This is a UK spec front end which has the 'overbite'. I don't know whether US versions had more impact absorbing clutter on the front.

 

Hey Doug,
I'm not sure if I've seen that particular one or not, but I'm sure it was beautiful. As a young teen, our neighbor two doors down (in Encino), a v.p. at Continental Airlines, had a gorgeous charcoal coupe that I drooled over more than a few times. I had always preferred the coupe's graceful lines over the convertible although I find both wonderful, much like the XK8/R argument over which is more handsome. And, by the way, the fact that we still debate over convertible vs. coupe about our cars tells you a lot about which car was the real successor to the XKE.

 

They had this horrendous setup on US spec at one stage:



Graham

 

Could have been a D type replica. I've seen several kit cars for sale in Cali.

 

Definitely was an E-type and I wish I had concentrated more on the front other to notice the cant. I don't even recall if there were the chrome bumpers and/or grill since the overall look of the car was just gorgeous. The drive-by was right around lunch time near the office where I work so I will have to keep my eyes peeled for the next sighting.

Doug