 1957 Jaguar XKSS |
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 Jun 4 2009, 01:03 PM
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#1
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 Posting God  Group: Moderators Posts: 11,366 Joined: 30-January 05 From: Dubai Member No.: 1,451  |
      QUOTE The Jaguar XKSS was a road-going version of the Jaguar D-Type racing car.
After Jaguar withdrew from racing the company offered the remaining, unfinished chassis as the roadgoing Jaguar XKSS, by making changes to the racers: adding an extra seat, another door, a full-width windshield and folding top, as concessions to practicality. However, on the evening of 12 February 1957, a fire broke out at the Browns Lane plant destroying nine of the twenty-five cars that had already been completed or were semi-completed. Production is thought to have included 53 customer D-types, 18 factory team cars, and 16 XKSS versions. Following Jaguar's withdrawal from competition at the end of the 1955 season, a number of completed and partially complete D-types remained unsold at the Browns Lane factory. In an attempt to recoup some of the investment made in building these unused chassis, and to exploit the lucrative American market for high-performance European sports cars, Sir William Lyons decided to convert a number to full road-going specification. Only minor changes were made to the basic D-type structure: the addition of a passenger side door, the removal of the large fin behind the driver's seat, and the removal of the divider between passenger and driver seats. In addition, changes were made for cosmetic, comfort and legal reasons: a full-width, chrome-surrounded windscreen was added; sidescreens were added to both driver and passenger doors; a rudimentary, folding, fabric roof was added for weather protection; chromed bumpers were added front and rear (a styling cue later used on the E-type); XK140 rear light clusters mounted higher on the wings; and thin chrome strips added to the edge of the front light fairings. In total 16 XKSS variants were made, with most being sold in the USA, before the Browns Lane fire destroyed the remaining chassis. The American actor Steve McQueen owned a Jaguar XKSS for personal use. |
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Jun 4 2009, 02:15 PM
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#2
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 ZoomZoom Group: Members Posts: 3,089 Joined: 21-February 06 From: Durham, NC Member No.: 2,281 Car: 2011 Mazdaspeed 3 |
QUOTE The American actor Steve McQueen owned a Jaguar XKSS for personal use. Frozen. |
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Jun 4 2009, 02:18 PM
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#3
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Posting God Group: Moderators Posts: 11,366 Joined: 30-January 05 From: Dubai Member No.: 1,451 |
^ Nevermind the exclusivity, or the racing pedigree, or the fact that it's just straight up gorgeous.
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Jun 4 2009, 09:26 PM
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#4
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 Marginal Contributions Group: Members Posts: 2,329 Joined: 19-March 05 From: Michigan Member No.: 1,555 |
I couldn't think of a cooler jag than the XKE until you posted this.
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Jun 4 2009, 09:58 PM
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#5
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Race Driver Group: Members Posts: 2,510 Joined: 10-September 04 From: Texas Member No.: 1,037 |
...frozen. |
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Jun 5 2009, 11:32 AM
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#6
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Posting God Group: Moderators Posts: 11,366 Joined: 30-January 05 From: Dubai Member No.: 1,451 |
Ugh, a neutral vote, and it was so close to a unanimous frozen too.
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Jun 5 2009, 04:17 PM
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#7
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 Torque, it's what's for winners Group: Members Posts: 1,949 Joined: 5-July 07 Member No.: 3,952 Car: Supercharged 4.7L on an engine stand |
Didn't even need to click on this thread, frozen
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Jun 5 2009, 09:14 PM
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#8
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Race Driver Group: Members Posts: 2,510 Joined: 10-September 04 From: Texas Member No.: 1,037 |
QUOTE(moe @ Jun 5 2009, 11:32 AM)  Ugh, a neutral vote, and it was so close to a unanimous frozen too. $5 on UserDrew being one of those two neutral votes. Don't post if you really voted neutral. I'd just lose respect for you. |
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Jun 6 2009, 07:31 AM
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#9
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 IT SLIDES! Group: Moderators Posts: 6,345 Joined: 5-February 07 From: Maine Member No.: 3,670 Car: Volkswagen R32 Mk V |
Anyone who thinks this is "neutral" has no soul. Period.
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Jun 11 2009, 10:07 AM
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#10
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Living the dream Group: Moderators Posts: 8,859 Joined: 27-August 03 Member No.: 28 |
QUOTE(Razor @ Jun 6 2009, 10:31 AM) Anyone who thinks this is "neutral" has no soul. Period. and really doesn't need to be participating in an automobile forum. |
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Jun 11 2009, 02:44 PM
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#11
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 ... Group: Members Posts: 1,841 Joined: 1-July 04 From: PA Member No.: 872 Car: MKV GTI |
I voted uncool... these old jags or british cars in general do very little for me. The racing pedegree is there and I am sure its fun to drive but I just don't particularly think that it's a cool car. I know I know I am crazy and will probably get banned for saying something like this
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Jun 11 2009, 03:23 PM
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#12
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Marginal Contributions Group: Members Posts: 2,329 Joined: 19-March 05 From: Michigan Member No.: 1,555 |
QUOTE(b0mb3r @ Jun 11 2009, 06:44 PM) I voted uncool... these old jags or british cars I know I know I am crazy and will probably get banned for saying something like this You thought right. |
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Jun 11 2009, 03:29 PM
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#13
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 Talkin' the talk since 2003 Group: Admin Posts: 28,271 Joined: 27-August 03 From: Seattle, WA Member No.: 27 Car: 2004 VW GTI 1.8T |
I can totally relate to being against the ridiculous cult of personality that follow this car and others like it (seriously guys, lay off, it's annoying) but the car itself is still cool.
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Jun 12 2009, 02:57 PM
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#14
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 Latent racecar driver Group: Members Posts: 1,337 Joined: 31-January 05 From: So-Cal Member No.: 1,455 Car: 2006 Slobalt, '65 Karmann Ghia |
QUOTE(midnightdorifto @ Jun 5 2009, 10:14 PM) $5 on UserDrew being one of those two neutral votes. Don't post if you really voted neutral. I'd just lose respect for you. Voted cool. |
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Jun 12 2009, 03:40 PM
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#15
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 Incurable petrolhead Group: Members Posts: 679 Joined: 4-May 06 Member No.: 2,466 Car: Oh yes! |
 Pointless poll! It's a foregone conclusion. How on earth could this be anything but cool?  This one was for sale at a British Car Meet here in Switzerland last year.     I didn't ask the price... though – even though I suspect it's a replica (windscreen doesn't look quite right... ) – I'm sure it will be slightly more than 18 times the cost of the 1:18 scale model I have  
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Jun 12 2009, 07:00 PM
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#16
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IT SLIDES! Group: Moderators Posts: 6,345 Joined: 5-February 07 From: Maine Member No.: 3,670 Car: Volkswagen R32 Mk V |
Someone... voted... uncool?
 EDIT: Nevermind, figures. |
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Jun 13 2009, 03:58 AM
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#17
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Posting God Group: Moderators Posts: 11,366 Joined: 30-January 05 From: Dubai Member No.: 1,451 |
^ Yeah because it had nothing to do with the VAG group. And obviously it has nowhere near to the aftermarket support of a GTi. I mean shit, you can't even get a chip for this thing. So yeah, it couldn't be anything other than uncool.
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Jun 13 2009, 05:29 AM
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#18
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IT SLIDES! Group: Moderators Posts: 6,345 Joined: 5-February 07 From: Maine Member No.: 3,670 Car: Volkswagen R32 Mk V |
QUOTE(moe @ Jun 13 2009, 07:58 AM) ^ Yeah because it had nothing to do with the VAG group. And obviously it has nowhere near to the aftermarket support of a GTi. I mean shit, you can't even get a chip for this thing. So yeah, it couldn't be anything other than uncool. lol |
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Jun 16 2009, 10:18 AM
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#19
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Race Driver Group: Members Posts: 2,510 Joined: 10-September 04 From: Texas Member No.: 1,037 |
QUOTE(UserDrew @ Jun 12 2009, 03:57 PM) Voted cool. Goddamnit, how are you supposed to be my Cool Wall arch enemy if you're voting cool for cool cars? You're not very good at this whole nemesis thing. |
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Jun 17 2009, 02:43 PM
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#20
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Latent racecar driver Group: Members Posts: 1,337 Joined: 31-January 05 From: So-Cal Member No.: 1,455 Car: 2006 Slobalt, '65 Karmann Ghia |
QUOTE(midnightdorifto @ Jun 16 2009, 11:18 AM) Goddamnit, how are you supposed to be my Cool Wall arch enemy if you're voting cool for cool cars? You're not very good at this whole nemesis thing. I only apply ridicules standards for coolness in mid April. |
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 24th May 2025 - 02:58 PM |