V12 thirst aside, the last of the traditional XJs can be a surprisingly practical classic but don’t expect an easy ride. WORDS PAUL WAGER LIVING WITH THE SERIES 3 JAGUAR XJAn up-together Series 3 XJ can be a delightful prospect, but a down-at-heel example can quickly drain you of funds and enthusiasm. Here’s how to stay on the right side.
We sample a lockdown project which got out of hand to produce a better-than-new XJS WORDS PAUL WAGER PHOTOGRAPHY PAUL WALTON Detail ManBetter than new – nut and bolt XJS restoration Unbelievable attention to detail has produced a 1994 Jaguar XJS Coupe 6.0-litre V12 which is quite possibly better than new. You could perhaps forgive the confusion.
If the final incarnation of any design is seen as its pinnacle, Nigel Sandell’s late-model Silver Spur – which features a range of unique upgrades – is arguably the ultimate Rolls-Royce SZ, as Paul Guinness explains.
The XK8 spearheaded Jaguar’s revival but the aluminium XK was a high-tech way to leapfrog the Germans. WORDS PAUL WAGER BUYING THE X150 ALL YOU NEED TO KNOWAll the info you need if you’re in the market for the advanced all-aluminium coupe. As the first all-new model to be released under Ford ownership, the original X100-generation XK8 was an impressive statement of intent fired across the bows of all the industry pundits who had forecast an immediate downturn in product in the pursuit of volume.
It’s been a busy few weeks for Paul’s 2000 Jaguar XK8 4.0 X100 having been compared to not one or two but three rivals. Although the 18th century French philosopher and mathematician, the Marquis de Condorcet, once advised to, “Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another,” I still find pitching my XK8 against rivals from the same era to be a fascinating experience.
The last of the traditional-looking XJs was surprisingly high-tech under the skin and makes a very practical modern classic. WORDS: PAUL WAGER JAGUAR XJ X350 The last of the traditional-looking XJs makes a very practical modern classic. It may have been the last of the traditional-looking Jaguars, but the significance of the ‘X350’ generation of XJ saloon both to the automotive industry in general and Jaguar in particular is hard to overstate.
You can send the hate mail to the usual address, but I’ll come right out with it and admit that despite being an XJ-S fan I’ve often found the V12 cars rather underwhelming in standard form. The late 6.0-litre is a formidable beast but given its complexity and additional capacity I’ve frequently found myself wondering if the 5.3-litre offers a great leap over the late six-cylinder cars. Until now, that is.
It’s now 20 years since a new Ford made its debut in UK showrooms, but Sam Skelton isn’t about to break out the party hats. Iwant to start this column by apologising to everyone who has ever seen or experienced a Ford Fusion. It wasn’t my fault; I just think you are owed one, and nobody else is offering. It’s 20 years since this meretricious motor first crept into showrooms, and alarmingly only half that since its overdue demise.
Established as a true British icon, the Jaguar Mk2 unlocked the potential of its Mk1 predecessor and turned it from a modest success into a major one. Here’s what you need to know when buying one. Words: Paul Guinness Photography: Jeff Ruggles ABSOLUTE CLASSICThe iconic Jaguar Mk2 is an archetypal classic that still carries plenty of cachet. Here’s what you need to know when buying one.
After months, even years of having the “next thrilling chapter in the Subaru WRX STI story” dangled before us, to have a modern motoring icon cut down so abruptly is a shock. And the WRX STI is – was – an icon, no question. DRIVEN TO EXTINCTIONSUBARU WRX STI FOREST FLYER FELLED TO SAVE… THE FORESTS?In 1998, Australia got its first proper look at the WRX STi (lower case i back then). Compared to the WRX, the STi copped forged pistons for its turbocharged 2.
Adam and his father Gordon are huge supporters of the E21. Adam bought his 1980 US-specification 320i in early 2019 – before he passed his driving test – and it proved the incentive he needed to grab his licence. Now 26 and 62 respectively, the father and son team are enjoying everything the classic BMW scene has to offer. Reader’s Rides“Scotland does have a classic car scene, it’s not easy to find what you’re looking for but this E21 turned up on eBay in storage 15- minutes from where we live.
Without the worry of Hydragas parts supply, the steel-sprung TF has gained a new following. Here’s what you need to know about the last proper MG. Words Paul Wager SECOND CHANCE BUYING GUIDE: MG TF So similar and yet so very different from the original F, the TF is an intriguing prospect. The MG TF. It’s just an MGF without the Hydragas, right? Wrong. Very wrong in fact.
The Ferrari-inspired executive hatchback which fired the imagination and took Rover from the BL era to the Honda generation. Words: Paul Wager. DATABASE: ROVER SD1Facts, figures and history on the car which brought Ferrari style to the executive class. The SD1 is something of an enigma.
The dual-clutch was the technology that killed the flabby old torque converter auto, right? Not so fast, hoss. Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, or ZF to most of us, had other ideas. The company that was originally formed to produce gear wheels for Zeppelins developed a compact eight-speed transmission with four planetary gearsets, three clutches and two brakes that could shift gears in as little as 200 milliseconds with a beautifully oiled slickness that suddenly made DCTs seem clunky.
The life and times of the West Bromwich answer to Aston Martin. Words: Paul Wager. 1966-1976 FACTS, FIGURES AND HISTORY ON THE GLAMOROUS ’70s GTJENSEN INTERCEPTOR DATABASE: Facts, figures and history on the stylish grand tourer which was built in West Bromwich using American muscle and Italian style. The story of Jensen Motors is a fascinating one, even without any mention of the Interceptor.