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Stuart's right on the money. This is the road-going XK-SS, rather than the racing D-Type, as it has a glass windshield with metal frame, two doors, legal headlights, bumpers, muffler and no headrest-fin. Actor Steve Mc Queen used it to tear around Mulholland Drive, which was a notorious impromptu racing venue 50 years ago. Legend has it that the police never caught him. Jaguar only built about 16 of these before a fire destroyed the remaining nine cars along with the factory. This model was originally white with a red interior which Mc Queen had changed to his liking.

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John -

 

One of the most gorgeous cars ever built - What a loss that they never got into series production. Lovely shot. Is this at Peterson's?

 

I was hoping I'd get the answer right since I saw somehting yesterday to shoot and wanted to post it. What is it? Extra credit if you provide the VIN (vehicle identification number which is the serial number).

 

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John - One of the most gorgeous cars ever built - What a loss that they never got into series production. Lovely shot. Is this at Peterson's?

 

Stuart, the XK-SS was never intended to go into real series production. The factory had 25 unfinished D-Types that were no longer competitive, since the FIA lowered the maximum displacement to three liters for 1958, so they decided to convert them to road cars in order to recover their costs - a brilliant move, IMHO. I think that 12 made it to the USA. I've only seen two of these, the Mc Queen car (in the Petersen Museum) and another that was raced by a gentleman racer by the name of Sid Colberg who raced his in the San Francisco area during the late fifties and the early sixties.

 

In 1960 Jack Brabham raced an E-Type Jaguar, actually a E2A, which was a prototype "mule," at the fall Laguna Seca Grand Prix and then the XK-E came out in mid-1961, so in a way the XK-SS did make it into production, albeit in a more civilized form. That same E2A, BTW, sold in 2008 for a little under $5,000,000.

Edited by J_Thompson
incorrect price
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Years ago I met Walt Hansgen. He agreed to give me a ride in his D-type. He unbolted the metal tonneau, I struggled to climb in, was very uncomfortable, but boy was it exciting.

 

I went to the NY International Auto show in April of 1961 and was stunned by the E-Type. I would have been even more stunned by the XK-SS.

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Years ago I met Walt Hansgen. He agreed to give me a ride in his D-type. He unbolted the metal tonneau, I struggled to climb in, was very uncomfortable, but boy was it exciting.

 

What an interesting story! How about giving us a few details? Was this at a track or at Alfred Momo's deslership in NYC?

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Post script: the E2A was, sadly, a failure at Le Mans despite a great driver lineup (Gurney and Hansgen). I believe that it was entered by Briggs Cunningham. But it went on to great things as the basis for the E-Type.

John W

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In the 1950's I lived in Benedict Canyon which ran from Sunset to Mullholland Drive. I was a regular participant in the Friday night Grand Prix's on Mullholland Drive and frequently met some of the more interesting celebrity characters of the day. McQueen was later and by then I moved on to more mundane things like the suburbs, family, children and the like.

Great memories including tailgating a less than sober Keenan Wynn driving his Siata at the limit who was, despite the celebrity, a very down to earth guy.:)

 

BTW, your orange coupe with the removable hard top is a Lotus Elise, I believe. I can't help you with the VIN number, however.

Edited by jevidon
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I expected people to guess the Lotus, but it is not that. Here's another view and the fun numbers plate is a clue:

 

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James -
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You got it James. Your turn.

 

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Edited by stuny
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Hey, boys!

 

Why the hell you are starting a new one and dont tell me? Especially in this case, I know this car, have had the pleasure for a test drive to write a magazine article last year - a hell of an experience (not writing, but driving the car)! Acceleration is stunning, faster than a Porsche 911 GT3 4.0, but at a fraction of its costs...and you can always power up your M8/M9 battery ;-)

 

Cheers, Andreas

 

PS: Okay, its an electric car but Stuarts last photo is full of fuel for thoughts. The orange car engineered by people who are thinking about a green future full of rainbows, the poor guy at the left hand side looking for something worth digging in the trashcan for at least an evening full of rainbows and the girl at the right hand side taking a photo of the scenery maybe dreaming of a rainbow colorful career as a blogger...the whole human society in one car photoshot...

Edited by Andreas.Pichler
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Andreas -

 

Please scroll up a bit further - that's when I first showed just a part of the Tesla. James first thought it was a Lotus (a natural error) until I showed the next part of the car. After he got it I showed the enrtire car.

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I remember the Elise quite well. Several years ago, I decided to sell my Alfa and buy a Lotus, especially since they had a pretty black one with gold striping a la John Player colors.

It was a effort to get behind the wheel and if I hadn't had some assistance in getting out, I'd still be in it. The Elise in a very young man's "garment" and not meant for an O.F. like me.

I ended up getting a Jag XJS 6 cylinder and had several years of trouble free enjoyment.:)

 

P.S. Next car coming up in a few days.

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Guest suilvenman
P.S. Next car coming up in a few days.

 

 

Whilst waiting for James' next one, see how many classics you can spot here. Enjoy:

 

 

 

Ken.

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