- Terribly British Day imminent
- On your (electric) motorbike
- 2013 Act Holden Day
- The cars of Wheels, March 2013
- Classic 48-215 survives in Belconnen
- Chris Goddard 1961 Borgward Isabella Coupe
- How Mercedes created Lexus
Jaguar’s XK models It’s hard to believe Jaguar’s gorgeous XK120 was launched in the same year as the Holden 48/215, the first Holden. Sleekly styled with a raked windscreen and a powerful (and brand new) 3.4 litre DOHC six cylinder motor that would remain in production until the early 1990s, the XK120’s design had been finalised in a matter of months in 1948. Due to a postwar British steel shortage about 240 low rate initial production models were built with alloy bodies over ash frames. Jaguar switched to steel in 1949 and, by the time the XK140 was introduced in 1954, 12,055 cars had been produced. Clark Gable, an early American owner, loved his XK120 with a passion and clocked 124 miles per hour (198.5km/h) on a dry lake bed near Los Angeles. This was well above the factory’s claimed 120mph (which gave the model its name). The XK 140 (of which Paul Sutton’s is a remarkable 1956 example) gained more power and performance while retaining what was essentially the XK120 body styled by Jaguar founder, Sir William Lyons. The Sutton car (pictured here) is one of a handful of ``special equipment’’ XK140s in Australia. Desirable ``delete extras’’ include a more spartan dashboard surround and side screens instead of wind-up windows. The centrepiece is a C-Type style engine that produced 210 gross horsepower compared to 190 horsepower for the standard motor. (That works out at 154.5kw and 140kw respectively). The final car in the 1950s XK series, the XK150, gained more power and had mechanical refinements such as disc brakes. On the down side it lost the styling purity that had marked the XK120 and XK140. And, because Mercedes, Aston Martin and others had caught up technologically , the XK150 could never claim to be ``the fastest production car in the world’’. Terribly British Day What: The ACT’s annual celebration of British motoring. Jaguar, MG, Aston Martin, Morris, Dagenham Fords, Triumphs and Lagondas are just some of the famous brands expected to be represented. When: Sunday, December 1, 10am to 3pm. Where: Patrick White Lawns, National Library (Treasury Gardens in the event of rain). Cost: Admission is free. Famous cars and fabulous fun By David Ellery Paul Madden, the British High Commissioner in Canberra, has been picked for a dream job this Sunday (December 1). The senior diplomat, who is in the third year of a four year posting downunder, is the special guest at the latest ``Terribly British Day’’ to be held this Sunday. His jobs will include selecting the best club display and picking out the car he would most like to take home. One of the ACT’s longest running car events, ``British Day’’ showcases vehicles owned by the members of the many local car clubs that concentrate on brands from the United Kingdom. Paul Sutton, the chairman of the event’s organising committee, is a mad keen Jaguar owner who completed his first restoration, an E-Type, way back when while still in his twenties. Like many aficionados, his cars have got older as he has grown in the marque and his latest project, a 1956 XK140, was acquired about six years ago. Now painted a vivid red and the subject of a bare metal rebuild that took four years to complete, the XK will be one of the many Jaguars that are going to be on show to celebrate the development of the XK double overhead camshaft engine. Launched in the XK120 in 1948, the engine helped revolutionise post-war motoring with unprecedented levels of power and torque from a relatively small capacity. It was to me more than 50 years before a DOHC six cylinder engine made an appearance in an Australian-built car. At this point in the game Mr Sutton’s lightweight roadster, which has an engine very similar to that fitted to the all-conquering racing C-type models, has to be the favourite to be picked by Mr Madden on Sunday. When the XK120 arrived at the British High Commission for a preview this week it was love at first sight. The real challenge turned out to be extricating Mr Madden’s assistant, Miss Moneypenny (oops, that should be Ms Carly Hartas) from the passenger seat. Three highly skilled blokes, including the High Commissioner’s driver who seemed to prefer the XK120 to the Commission’s late model Jaguar diesel, finally realised the door was locked. ``I’ve never had it locked before,’’ Mr Sutton said. After the conclusion of our photoshoot Mr Madden, who dressed as James Bond for the cameras to mark the release of ``Skyfall’’ a few years back, and Mr Sutton slipped out the back gate for a quick spin around Barton and Forrest. The diplomat and his lady, Mrs Sarah Madden, will be making their entrances at the Terribly British day in splendid style. They are to be ferried to the Patrick White Lawn adjacent to The National Library in two classic Aston Martin convertibles. (- this article originally appeared in The Canberra Times, photos David Ellery) |