Cannot disagree with that
Got up close to it at Goodwood, it really is a thing of beauty.
That sounded amazing!
Norman had a bad day when he trashed it but a thing of beauty it is indeed
Me neither. 100%.Originally Posted by P ELLIS
The lines are amazing but I would rather listen to it, fantastic sounding beast.
Lovely.
Was hoping to disagree (assuming it was yet another 911 thread!), but there's no question!
M
Again and again you read of people gushing over the classic models of the past... the looks, the engines, etc....
Why don't the car manufacturers make something like this today? Strip out all the cushy rubbish like trendy touch 17" screens and all that multimedia crap, fancy heating a/c out, electric this and that out and just make a drop dead gorgeous car with a fantastic engine.
I always thought Bill Lyons had the perfect eye when it came to style of his cars....
The beautiful XK120 FHC is a prime example..
It's a combination of factors - Euro NCAP regs covering crash protection for the car occupants and pedestrians, coupled with "expectations" of what makes a "premium" or "luxury" car. Add those to the ever-increasing electronics burdening even fairly basic cars, and there's not much opportunity left for "style" or "elegance". Engines are restricted by emissions regulations, and some alleged performance car engines have synthesised noise from proper engines played through their sound systems.
Just occasionally a manufacturer can wrestle a silk purse from the sow's ear of regulatory requirements, but most take the view that profit lies in giving the masses what they want, so it's gadgetry, a soft, wallowy, insulated ride and five Euro NCAP stars all the way to the bank.
How often do you see a proud owner of a new premium performance car boasting about having "all the toys"? Steering feedback and behaviour during the initial third of the turn-in don't matter if you have a seat which vibrates your buttocks should you be inattentive enough to stray across a white line, or Apple CarPlay.
Beautiful car, fabulous noise.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
The original Mazda MX-5 came close, I suppose, and the market was certainly there.
Top man, XJ13-MX-5 in 18 posts. It's almost as if you started this thread just to troll everyone!
Incidentally I think you're right. The MX-5 was dreamed up by Bob Hall, who at the time was a journalist working in LA. His father had a Big Healey and Hall Jr. was eventually old enough to get insured on it after a few years of being driven round in it. Later on he started wondering why no one made anything like the Healey and the MX-5 was born. The Healey and MX-5 (Mk1) certainly feel similar to drive (although the MX's steering and gearchange feel much closer to those of the MGB) and have very similar character. The MX doesn't have the looks but then it's a product of its time and I can't think of anything designed post-1960s that comes close to looking as good as Maserati 3500GT, Mercedes 300SL (or even better, Uhlenhart SLR coupé), XK120 and so on. Which, actually, were all 1950s designs. Still, the MX-5 has the character but crucially is properly built, something you can't necessarily say about Lotuses.
"A man of little significance"
Near perfection for me along with the XKSS.
The nearest I got (fairly close I think) was a 96 Metallic Forrest Green XK8 with 20" XKR alloys. Great lines and definite DNA of those 60's greats.
No minger, but hardly "one of the most beautiful cars ever made"
Ferrari 246 Dino, 250GT California or 330 P4 and Lamborghini Miura all spring to mind as genuine contenders.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
Almost my selection to a tee.
I'd possibly add a DB4 Zagato to the mix.
I quite like the Stratos as well but I'm aware that's a bit left field.
I have a bit of a Diecast 'problem', but this one was a bargain some years ago
Even in scale model form, it's a stunner!
M
Nice. What model is that?
It's the Autoart 1:18th scale one.
I don't think it's in production any more and used ones are usually quite expensive on eBay.
M
Very nice.
Prefer an early Aston though.
My 21 year-old Daimler Six.
I like to think that some of the classic Jaguar DNA has filtered down to the lines of this car.
Engine is the last of the straight six dohc series.
Last edited by calypso; 6th December 2017 at 08:49.
Some nice cars in this thread but this is the one that pushes my buttons!My 21 year-old Daimler Six.
I like to think that some of the classic Jaguar DNA has filtered down to the lines of this car.
Engine is the last of the straight six dohc series.
"Early Aston " you say..
Their F Type looks lovely...
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Bored on the train, so coding helps me
This thread needs pictures
The Alfa T33 Stradale absolutely is the one for me (but I would say that, wouldn't I).
https://youtu.be/KQIRbV_noi8?t=30s
A spot of Mat Monro,
Last edited by number2; 7th December 2017 at 11:11.
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
I'm certainly in the 'one of the most beautiful cars...' camp, but I'll admit to some bias though as I'm a Jaguar fan, having owned a number of them.
Norman Dewis, the test driver who crashed the XJ13, is a remarkably sprite 97 year-old who I've had the pleasure to meet twice, he's an absolute gentleman and a legend in the motor world. Here's an interview with him from last year (if you want to skip to his recount of the crash jump to 24:00):
(Apologies, the link starts the interview at 11 minutes in and I can't work out why, so you need to adjust it).
My current Jaguar is an XKR, the lines of which I prefer over it's successor, the F-type.
R
Last edited by ralphy; 7th December 2017 at 08:29.
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
Thanks for posting. What a character.
Here's a link with plenty of pictures of the 1952 Jaguar XK120 Record Car, eg:
And this page, link, has one of Norman with the car:
I watched that film as an 11 year old, and realised that there is nothing more stylish than an Italian (Rossano Brazzi), driving an Italian car, in the Alps, to Matt Monro.
If I won the Euromillions, I'd rename myself Carlo, or better BRUNO (!), and take off round europe in a Miura, smoking endless cigarettes and and looking for pretty girls
Every time I go to Italy to see my family there, I am struck by how achingly, effortlessly and frustratingly stylish they are. And just look at the cars above. Last time I was there I had an Alfa Romeo hire car and the armrest in the down position hit the handbrake and knocked it off if you weren't careful. But, by God it was a beautiful car.
My wife, who is way way above my league, still gets leering/complimentary comments from strangers when we are there, to her delight.
Even the way the way the cigarette hangs from his lips as he's driving looks cool.
PS I do wonder if women really like being seen as sex symbols... they won't admit as such but deep down....
Pictures, or she didn't happen! lol (couldn't resist)
I think when Aston and Jag collaborated with their DB7 and XK8 respectively I thought both were stunning modern masterpieces.
As a chronological list: -
1960's - Toyota 2000GT
1970's - DeTomaso Pantera
1980's - Ferrari 308GTS (Magnum PI's car!)
1990's - McLaren F1/Aston DB7/Jaguar XK8
I had no idea they collaborated, I thought Ian Callum simply worked for Aston Martin and then left for Jaguar.
"A man of little significance"
Could be, I thought they shared chassis’ but I may well be wrong.
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Both xjs based, aren't they? From the period when Ford owned both brands?
M
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Last edited by snowman; 8th December 2017 at 10:58.
Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
True and the interior switch gear was there to prove it.
I sold my '96 XK8 Coupe for what I thought was cheap 3 or 4 years ago, a quick look at Autotrader shows good examples going for circa £4-5k.
I'd like someone to find a better modern classic GT available for that sort of money. 4.0 V8, a bit juicy but as a weekend car it's not going to do much mileage, servicing and parts again not much more than your daily driver. It had piston issues but most will have been sorted by now. Great GT driving position, bundles of power and it's a Jag with all of that 50's and 60's DNA. I want another one now.
So hard to believe that xj13 design is >40 years old.
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