3.8s from Plymouth Devon UK.

[cass3958]

This is a 3.8s in Midnight blue that I came across last Sunday at the JEC event in Torquay Devon.
The owner paid it was rumoured £30,000 for the car which had been previously owned by an engineer who had put some trick parts on the car.
Under the bonnet was the original 3.8 but it had the larger SU carbs from a Bentley? This had done away with the AED and the manual choke slider from the MK2 had been fitted to the dash. The air filter housing came from a 240 Jaguar and it had a nice set of aftermarket exhaust manifolds fitted. The gearbox apparently came from an XJ6 so I would assume it is the BW65.
Some of the tricks on the car were that the front grill was fitted with a release catch so it could be removed with the flick of one catch giving you access to the front of the radiator where the Kenlowe fan was situated. Next the previous owner had fitted four hydraulic rams to the bottom of the car so it could be jacked up from inside the cab. No need to use the jack in the boot anymore to change a tyre and it can been used as an anti-theft device. No one can drive a car away if the tyres are not touching the ground apparently. Under the bonnet alongside the PAS reservoir behind a heat shield was a hydraulic pump but I was not aware how it all worked and neither did the new owner.
The car had a factory fitted Webasto sun roof and in the cab a wooden Moto lita steering wheel then the centre consul had been finished with a wooden veneered top where the gear stick would be on a manual car. The rear seats were fitted with picnic trays from the MK2. The fit and finish was superb and the paint work exceptional. A really nicely finished car even if not original.

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[NigelW]

That is an interesting car, I like the chrome dials. Any idea how the grill works? I thought about fitting jack's years ago but never came accross anything suitable, I did find this firm that restores them https://www.fiennes.co.uk/Parts/Catalog ... ulic-Jacks

[cass3958]

That is an interesting car, I like the chrome dials. Any idea how the grill works? I thought about fitting jack's years ago but never came across anything suitable, I did find this firm that restores them https://www.fiennes.co.uk/Parts/Catalog ... ulic-Jacks

He did remove the front grill for me but all the mechanics are hidden behind the grill so you cannot see anything. If you look at the photo with the radiator in view you can see a black catch in the gap between the radiator and the slam panel. You moved this catch and it released the mechanism. Behind the grill badge there was a rod that went into a hole that held the top in place and secured on the catch. The bottom of the grill was just dovetails in to the body work.
This is a photo underneath the front subframe showing the rams. I only noticed these rams when I looked in the boot and there appeared to be coil over suspension turrets but these were the rear ram positions.

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This was the pump under the bonnet behind the heat shield.

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[Orlando St.R]

That's a very interesting car. And, as you say, Rob, the workmanship is superb. Thanks for posting.

[Glyn Ruck]

Thanks Rob ~ I've seen interior pics of that car before somewhere. Was not aware of the other mods.

[Albion]

Please someone explain the need for such modifications!

[cass3958]

There is no explanation it is just down to personal choice. Although I started the thread I have to point out that they are not modifications I would want on my S Type. Useful yes. Original No.
I think I have posted this picture before of a Mk2 Jaguar which the owner modified to put extra lights on the front. Again not my choice but he must have sat back when it was done and said to himself. "Wow that looks good!" whilst everyone else is saying "WTF!!!!!! It's like a man with Six nipples!"

[johngosnell]

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