This October marks 25 years since the Jaguar XK8 (project code X100) was launched in 1996. It replaced the ageing XJS that had been in production for 21 years, following various revisions throughout its life. The new model was dramatically revealed from a wooden crate as part of the press […]
Members’ Cars
30 posts
I have been doing more work on my XK8, improving the state of the leather and changing interior bulbs to LEDs. I refurbished the driver’s seat and door armrest, but the centre armrest was probably the worst in terms of wear. I had bought a kit from Furniture Clinic who have […]
My mechanical adventures from boyhood, when I was barely able to lift a spanner, to now when I can just about wield one. Let me start at the beginning of my mechanical adventures. Like most small boys I have always been interested in making and repairing things. I liked taking […]
It’s possible to fit daytime running lights to a XK8 or similar for just a few pence (well, a couple of quid). There is a wonderful series on YouTube called “To the garage” and in one of these there was a link to a light upgrade for XK8 cars. One […]
After changing the rear discs on my XK8 I thought I may as well do the front discs. It couldn’t be any harder, right? Wrong. Again, the first challenge, after getting the discs and painting the rim areas where the pads don’t touch to keep them from going rusty, was […]
We all know Lester, a long standing club member. However, not many may know that his familiar white Jaguar Mk2 is not his only classic. He has a small collection of other marques, mostly in original condition and with a story to tell. Firstly, a bit of background. Lester’s family […]
I hadn’t thought of changing the front seats in my Mk 2, until I did one of my regular searches on e-Bay. Up popped some XJ8 seats, advertised as an upgrade. Having put in a low bid, I won them. I only bid on them as they were local to […]
My first journey into driving was when I was 17, although I did not pass my test for a couple years to come. My experiences were varied. My first car was a 1967 Ford Cortina Mk II 1500cc that my dad bought for me. He took me out for lessons. Many […]
As classic car enthusiasts, we all admire the styles and curves of older vehicles and maybe we have a wish list or a dream. And now, for me, it has happened. My dream fifteen years ago, after selling my RR Shadow 1, was to get a classic car with running […]
Our Jaguar Mk2 NJW 121E was first registered on 31 March 1967 and purchased by Geoff on 16 May 1995. How come Geoff bought a Mk2? He says that he saw one nearby and decided to try to buy one. A friend knew of JD Classics, then at Rettendon, and they sourced […]
As some members may be aware, I added to my collection of one Jaguar XK8 with a XJ8 3.2L V8, both coloured Seafrost. My latest addition, the XJ8, needed a number of items to be carried out which I have done, on the whole, by myself. The car is now […]
I’ve owned various cars since passing my driving test in 1971. They included my first car, a Triumph Herald, then various Rovers, a variety of Fords, a couple of Vauxhalls, a variety of Volkswagen Golfs, A Honda Prelude (Jackie’s car), a fantastic Triumph 2.5PI (when the injectors worked properly!!), […]
Our sponsor, Autoart Detailing UK, has been detailing Peter Davey’s Mk2 and has shot the following video. Thanks Mario! [youtube=http://youtu.be/RNKeadrVqhc]
Our first main show of the year was of course, the Classic Car Show at Battlesbridge in May. The event was well supported by members, although on the day a few members were unable to attend due to various reasons. However, with the support of the organiser, Jim Gallie, these […]
On Sunday 27th May a number of members attended the Breakfast Meet at Museum of Power at Langford, Nr. Hatfield Peveral for our first visit to this site since 2008! Checking back on my photos of the last visit in 2008, I was surprised to see that the event was […]
Sunday 22nd April saw the first event of the year for the JEC Essex Thameside Region. 33 members and partners met up at the services on the A12 junction 28 for the beginning of the visits planned around Suffolk. Our first visit was to Suffolk Sports Cars at Pettistree, Nr […]
Saturday 7th April was the start of the 2018 season at The Hare public house at Roxwell, a few miles west of Chelmsford in Essex. The Breakfast meetings have been arranged by Gary Downham, the owner of the pub, for the past years and is held on the first Saturday […]
Have you ever experienced one of those days when you are doing a job you have successfully done a hundred times and one that you could teach your pet hamster to perform……and then it all goes wrong? May first, 2017 was one such day. It would have been appropriate if […]
Members gathered at Birchanger Services at junction 8 off the M11 at 8am on Sunday 13th August before driving up to the common at Saffron Walden. The weather was really better than expected for a change. The sun shone all day. While awaiting arrival of club members at Birchanger Services, […]
Background During early 2016 the garage that had been servicing my car for over 15 years informed me that as it was starting to go wrong and they were no longer prepared to look after it. I then started to get concerned as to whether or not the car would […]
The 20th anniversary celebrations of the XK8, well recorded last year in many magazines’ pages, somewhat overshadowed that of another, if less glamourous, of Jaguar’s products. It was, of course, the 50th year since the introduction of the Jaguar 420, marked by Paul Skilleter in the March 2016 issue of […]
[youtube=http://youtu.be/qafVryU60cQ] Thursday 18th June and just finished fixing window rubbers and chrome bonnet strips to Bob’s E-type. Time to meet the others at the Holiday Inn in Folkestone. Bob would follow on later when he had installed the interior. The sun was alone in a cloudless sky, so it was […]
The continuing story of a Jaguar Mark 2 3.8 MOD, registration 5949 DD Why a Jaguar Mark 2? Ever since I was a boy I have been car mad. During my later career from 1991, I have been lucky enough to have two XJ6’s, an XJ8, six Jaguar Sovereigns and three Daimler Super V8’s […]
You know how it is. You’re in the depths of winter; cold, wet, freezing and you need to take that cherished classic out for essential work, MOT or, if you are really keen, just for the fun of it. The day is damp, the rain is falling to Earth in […]