XJ13- GT40 - Ohh... does that explain?
Discussion
As a young boy of 13yr old, my late Dad, bless him, took me into the reception of Browns Lane, whereupon I was greeted by the beautiful XJ13.
The concierge, couldn't believe that I actually knew what it was, let alone my Dad's disbelief. The internet hadn't emerged but thankfully CAR magazine et al provided the info hunger boy in me with all I needed to know.
Some say that that the EType is the most beautiful car ever made by Jaguar, but to me it's the XJ13. The Autoart model atop my bookshelf that I look at daily is a testament to that belief and over the years my knowledgebank regarding the XJ13, has, by osmosis, increased.
I remember an article in Supercar Classics when Bryan Wingfield built a replica for Walter Hill and the article mentioned the dimensions being so close/similar to the GT40.
Imagine my surprise when I this clip popped up last night and I had never made the connection with Abbey Panels- not that Sir Williams would ever consider copying anything like that..cough cough... Healey or 328
E chi lo sa?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2HZJO0pXZE&pp...
I await Neville's comments..
The concierge, couldn't believe that I actually knew what it was, let alone my Dad's disbelief. The internet hadn't emerged but thankfully CAR magazine et al provided the info hunger boy in me with all I needed to know.
Some say that that the EType is the most beautiful car ever made by Jaguar, but to me it's the XJ13. The Autoart model atop my bookshelf that I look at daily is a testament to that belief and over the years my knowledgebank regarding the XJ13, has, by osmosis, increased.
I remember an article in Supercar Classics when Bryan Wingfield built a replica for Walter Hill and the article mentioned the dimensions being so close/similar to the GT40.
Imagine my surprise when I this clip popped up last night and I had never made the connection with Abbey Panels- not that Sir Williams would ever consider copying anything like that..cough cough... Healey or 328
E chi lo sa?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2HZJO0pXZE&pp...
I await Neville's comments..
Here it is sitting in the back of the Walter Hill collection. What a man he was! Two XKSS two C-types, The record-breaking D-type. a commemorative and outside lock Etype, an SS90, an XJ220, Several XK120's etc, And this written over the collection on the crossbeam. i was privileged to know him, and have several letters he wrote to me in my collection.
I wonder what might have been...
The XJ13, to my eyes, was always quite a looker but I always thought of it as looking a bit dated. Not ugly, just dated, as if from an earlier period in time than when it actually existed. Recently, I think I've worked out why.
I think the answer lies in the tail. Malcolm Sayer's expertise as an aerodynamicist are beyond question, but consider the contemporary competition:
Ford GT40
Ferrari 330 P3
Porsche 910
(To a lesser extent) Matra MS630
By the mid 1960s all of the above were using cut-off, Kamm tails, whereas Sayer stuck with a long, pointy tail along the lines of the D- and E-Type. In testing the XJ13 was proven to be in need of work to make it competitive: I wonder whether more up to date aerodynamic thinking may have helped.
The XJ13, to my eyes, was always quite a looker but I always thought of it as looking a bit dated. Not ugly, just dated, as if from an earlier period in time than when it actually existed. Recently, I think I've worked out why.
I think the answer lies in the tail. Malcolm Sayer's expertise as an aerodynamicist are beyond question, but consider the contemporary competition:
Ford GT40
Ferrari 330 P3
Porsche 910
(To a lesser extent) Matra MS630
By the mid 1960s all of the above were using cut-off, Kamm tails, whereas Sayer stuck with a long, pointy tail along the lines of the D- and E-Type. In testing the XJ13 was proven to be in need of work to make it competitive: I wonder whether more up to date aerodynamic thinking may have helped.
Mr Peel said:
Apologies if I'm betraying great ignorance, but who's quoted there?
The man who had the best collection of Jaguars in the world. Far greater in the day than the JDHT,, and a man who few people knew about.Walter Hill was a test pilot for United Airlines, but as such was banned by his employers to race his cars. Rather stupid isn't it? But Walter and I met at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1992 and became firm friends. He had not only a wonderful collection of Jaguars but also of crop-duster planes and other cars such as a GT40 for one.
The photograph of the ceiling at Sewall's Point in Florida expresses his sentiments of the Jaguar marque, and I have often thought about him. I mean, a man who invites you to do the circuit parade before the start of the race - in his XJ220 - was one hell of a man to me. This was him in his younger years.
Dead many years ago now, but someone to be revered.
Turbobanana said:
I wonder what might have been...
The XJ13, to my eyes, was always quite a looker but I always thought of it as looking a bit dated. Not ugly, just dated, as if from an earlier period in time than when it actually existed. Recently, I think I've worked out why.
I think the answer lies in the tail. Malcolm Sayer's expertise as an aerodynamicist are beyond question, but consider the contemporary competition:
Ford GT40
Ferrari 330 P3
Porsche 910
(To a lesser extent) Matra MS630
By the mid 1960s all of the above were using cut-off, Kamm tails, whereas Sayer stuck with a long, pointy tail along the lines of the D- and E-Type. In testing the XJ13 was proven to be in need of work to make it competitive: I wonder whether more up to date aerodynamic thinking may have helped.
Voila, v.1967.The XJ13, to my eyes, was always quite a looker but I always thought of it as looking a bit dated. Not ugly, just dated, as if from an earlier period in time than when it actually existed. Recently, I think I've worked out why.
I think the answer lies in the tail. Malcolm Sayer's expertise as an aerodynamicist are beyond question, but consider the contemporary competition:
Ford GT40
Ferrari 330 P3
Porsche 910
(To a lesser extent) Matra MS630
By the mid 1960s all of the above were using cut-off, Kamm tails, whereas Sayer stuck with a long, pointy tail along the lines of the D- and E-Type. In testing the XJ13 was proven to be in need of work to make it competitive: I wonder whether more up to date aerodynamic thinking may have helped.
The kamm back isn't the only thing; it's a very voluptuous design with full arches and a low waist just ahead of the rear wheels, whereas the GT40, T70, etc. are tighter, transitional between that and the archless designs from early 70s.
CanAm said:
Turbobanana said:
Despite coming from the Ford GT Wikipedia page, I do not believe that is a FORD GT40.Originally Linden Green, it spent some time painted in Gulf colours.
Currently mocked up as a replica of the 1966 Le Mans winner with Mk2 bodywork in black and silver.
It has also run the FMC1 number plate.
Edited by gt40steve on Tuesday 6th August 11:56
gt40steve said:
CanAm said:
Turbobanana said:
Despite coming from the Ford GT Wikipedia page, I do not believe that is a FORD GT40.Originally Linden Green, it spent some time painted in Gulf colours.
Currently mocked up as a replica of the 1966 Le Mans winner with Mk2 bodywork in black and silver.
It has also run the FMC1 number plate.
Edited by gt40steve on Tuesday 6th August 11:56
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