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Aug
30
Jaguar F-Type Group 44 | GT4-spec
Ask any of my friends and they will tell you that I don’t like green cars. At all. However, to every rule there is an exception and in my case, the exceptions are the (predominantly white) Group 44 cars with their two-tone green liveries sponsored by Quaker State.
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Aug
24
Jaguar E-Type Zero
Yes, there is something missing in this picture. No, I didn’t photoshop it out. This Jaguar E-Type doesn’t have exhaust pipes because it has an electric drivetrain. Jaguar unveiled a modern revival of the E-Type roadster with an all-electric, zero-emission powertrain in 2017. The vehicle is called the E-Type Zero and has a 40 kWh battery-powered electric motor. It can accelerate to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and has a range of 168 miles (270km) on a full charge. The battery pack is designed to fit in the space occupied by the original six-cylinder motor without any modifications, and will fit in any model Jaguar using the same motor. The single-speed transmission replaces the original gearbox. In August 2018, Jaguar confirmed it will offer all-electric E-Types for sale starting in summer 2020. You can order yours now. To wet your appetite, I lowered the E-Type for an improved stance and fitted a more contemporary wheel and tire combination.
Apr
19
Jaguar XJ-S Notchback Hot Rod
Building the Hasegawa Jaguar XJ-S kit in 1:24 scale, I noticed that it is virtually impossible to lower the car properly without modifying the wheel arches. Bolt-on overfender are always an option, but it didn’t feel right with the lines of this classy coupé. Instead of cutting up the body of the plastic model, I put it back into the box and switched to Adobe Photoshop. After many failed attempts to relocate the wheel arches, I decided to hotrod the sled just for fun. This is entirely fictional for now, but could be done in reality. XJ-S prices are low and it isn’t exactly a rare car nobody dares to cut apart and weld back together in a different way.
The frame was extended to get the proportions right and to make it less butt-heavy than the stock design, I reshaped the C-pillars. Inspiration for this mod came, believe it or not, from the foxbody Mustang notchback. I think it improves the proportions of the car, but at the same time takes away one of the design quirks that make the XJ-S so unique and instantly recognizable. In order to keep with the classic hot rod theme, I didn’t use the Jaguar V12, but added four cylinders to a Ford V8 just for the heck of it. Open headers should provide an adequate soundtrack to match the visual impact.
Jul
21
The Jaguar E-Type is one of the automotive icons of the 20th century, along with the Citroën DS. Most people, including most of my friends from Passau Classics, think that these iconic cars should not be messed with and any modification deviating from 100% originality is deemed evil. If you are a regular reader you already know that I created a DS Shooting Break and hence you will not be surprised about the latest creation. Unlike the DS, which is completely my idea and design, the Jaguar E-Type Mk3 V12 you see below is inspired by the current trend of bolting fender flares to cars.
As per my opinion that parts should not only be cosmetic but also serve a purpose, I choose the Jaguar as a base for this conversion. The original body of the E-Type is not designed to accomodate wide wheels due to the shape of the fenders. An update to state-of-the art coilovers along with a healthy drop in ride height and a set of larger and wider wheels necessitates the above mentioned bolt-on fenders. Oh… and of course cutting off substantial parts of the original bodywork in the process. The purists out there might not like it a tiny bit or even hate it, but like-minded enthusiasts might love it even more. 😉
