# Just saw a beautiful Jaguar XKE... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 10, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037 "2013-05-10T23:42:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/1 "2013-05-10T23:42:35Z")
While I was walking the dog, one drove by. Can’t remember the last time I saw one on the street. They were never popular around here, even among the upper crust with money to spend on exotic vintage automobiles. This one was a gorgeous deep, dark , midnight blue. Not sure if that was a factory color but was quite attractive. [More or less like this except the color.](http://www.wallsave.com/wallpapers/1152x768/jaguar/53822/jaguar-cars-car-53822.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/2 "2013-05-10T23:56:11Z")
Triply redundant. If it’s an XKE, of course it’s a Jag. And major duh that it’s beautiful. I don’t think there are many cars more beautiful than a Series 1 E type. They got a little bulgy in Series 2 and 3, and the +2s are kinda distorted, but a Series 1 coupe… **sigh** ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/3 "2013-05-11T01:08:24Z")
One of my favorite toys. I have a 1961 3.8 in black, and a 1974 V-12 convertible in Signal Red. I’ve had others come and go, but I kept the first and last year they were made. My BIL had the British Leyland dealership when I was growing up, so 10 to 20 year old Jags and Triumphs and the like were cheap and easy to come by. He sold me trade-ins for $50 or $100 apiece! There’s simply nothing better than tooling around the north Georgia mountains with the top down on a sunny summer day, Anne Murray or Herb Alpert blasting from the radio. It’s penciled in for tomorrow. What? I’m old! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/4 "2013-05-11T01:32:41Z")
I saw one a couple months ago…I happened to turn a corner and wound up following it for several blocks. I believe it may be the only time I’ve ever seen one ‘in the wild’. It was dark blue as well; maybe the guy’s \*slowly \*making his way east from California along I-80 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/5 "2013-05-11T01:50:30Z")
It’s been described as “The finest crumpet collector ever designed by the hand of man.” ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/6 "2013-05-11T02:31:47Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > One of my favorite toys. I have a 1961 3.8 in black, and a 1974 V-12 convertible in Signal Red. One of the most beautiful cars ever made. I’d almost give it _the_ most beautiful when you take price into account but I think the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale cost about the same. At 6’1" with size 14 feet, I’ve little chance of driving either comfortably. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/7 "2013-05-11T03:41:40Z")
About 2 weeks ago I did a pre-purchase inspection for a guy that was buying a S2 convertible. British Racing Green. I was in lust. I tried to snake it, but the seller just didn’t need a kidney. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/8 "2013-05-12T00:34:10Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > About 2 weeks ago I did a pre-purchase inspection for a guy that was buying a S2 convertible. “Sorry Bob. That car was nothing but rust. Good thing we inspected it.” \*\*\*Then \*\*\*you snake it! Or [here](http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/jaguar/e_type/1532391.html)’s one that’s affordable! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/9 "2013-05-12T01:38:57Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Or [here](http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/jaguar/e_type/1532391.html)’s one that’s affordable! Looks like the one from _Gumball Rally_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/10 "2013-05-12T03:36:00Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Looks like the one from _Gumball Rally_. 😃 Maybe it’s damp England is a very DAMP COUNTRY! One of my favorite lines from that movie. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/11 "2013-05-12T03:55:35Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > One of the most beautiful cars ever made. I’d almost give it _the_ most beautiful when you take price into account but I think the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale cost about the same. At 6’1" with size 14 feet, I’ve little chance of driving either comfortably. ☹ To me it is the most beautiful of sports cars. There are other sports cars visually outstanding in ways I couldn’t call beautiful. I have the thought there may be other cars of other types that may be as beautiful, but maybe not because I can’t think of an example. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/12 "2013-05-12T16:47:17Z")
There’s one in our area. I see it all the time in the grocery store parking lot. Not really in good condition. Don’t see it as being all that special in any way. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/13 "2013-05-12T16:56:26Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > There’s one in our area. I see it all the time in the grocery store parking lot. Not really in good condition. Don’t see it as being all that special in any way. Heathen. When I was in high school there was one parked at a building next store every day. We worshipped that car. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/14 "2013-05-12T18:19:30Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Heathen. When I was in high school there was one parked at a building next store every day. We worshipped that car. Ignore teh heathen. This is the very definition of having no soul. Today’s cars suffer the same fate. That’s why my collection is mostly 1930’s to 1970’s British and Italian sports cars. Look for an XK-120, 140 or 150, and see if you’re not moved and stirred to go riding with the top down right now. [Here’s my 140](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/ural/Picture4823_zps5417ab48.jpg)… Although not quite as refined as the Jags, I love my [TR-3](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/ural/Picture4720_zpsf3cdb588.jpg) just as much. A sports car needs curves and character that evoke passion and the joy of driving. And on that note, it’s time for a Sunday drive to Dahlonega for ice cream! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/15 "2013-05-12T18:22:46Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > [Here’s my 140](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/ural/Picture4823_zps5417ab48.jpg)… I’ll be in my bunk. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/16 "2013-05-12T18:34:26Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Today’s cars suffer the same fate. That’s why my collection is mostly 1930’s to 1970’s British and Italian sports cars. Look for an XK-120, 140 or 150, and see if you’re not moved and stirred to go riding with the top down right now. [Here’s my 140](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/ural/Picture4823_zps5417ab48.jpg)… > > Although not quite as refined as the Jags, I love my [TR-3](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/ural/Picture4720_zpsf3cdb588.jpg) just as much. > > A sports car needs curves and character that evoke passion and the joy of driving. Nice. Vintage car-wise, I always set my limit at the cars that came after those. I’ve never wanted to deal with side curtains and tops that have to be put together. But the cars from the period are awesome - Healey 100-4, MGA, Porsche Speedster, Alfa Romeo Sprints, some awesome cars. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/17 "2013-05-12T21:04:05Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Ignore teh heathen. This is the very definition of having no soul. > > Today’s cars suffer the same fate. That’s why my collection is mostly 1930’s to 1970’s British and Italian sports cars. Look for an XK-120, 140 or 150, and see if you’re not moved and stirred to go riding with the top down right now. [Here’s my 140](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/ural/Picture4823_zps5417ab48.jpg)… > > Although not quite as refined as the Jags, I love my [TR-3](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/ural/Picture4720_zpsf3cdb588.jpg) just as much. > > A sports car needs curves and character that evoke passion and the joy of driving. > > And on that note, it’s time for a Sunday drive to Dahlonega for ice cream! Wow, beautifully restored cars man! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/18 "2013-05-12T21:44:51Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’ll be in my bunk. I’ll be in the bar. My dad was a British Motors mechanic for some years after the war, and had some great stories, and owned a string of great cars. I’ll say “wow” to a lot of passing cars - doing it right now as all the summer cars are coming out of storage - but almost any Jag from the E back will actually make me slow down to get a better look. This thread has me thinking about trading in for a mint XKE, which would be light years less expensive to maintain than the Countach LP-500 (original style, before DOTting, wings, flares etc.) I’ve been eyeing for a while. My present summer car has the advantage of being faster than most equivalents and easier than an old pickup to maintain. As well as being the eyeball winner in almost any assembly… ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/19 "2013-05-13T13:39:35Z")
The XKE wouldn’t start - dead battery - so we took the 140 tooling around the mountains and stopped in Dahlonega to walk around, like many people do on nice weekends. Came back to the car to find Mr. and Mrs. Stupid taking pictures of little Timmy _ **behind the wheel!** _ Cranking on the wheel, and jamming the gearshift lever around, having a good time. :mad: Since my wife refused to let me shoot them all on the spot for The Greater Good of America, I had to make do with going all R. Lee Ermy on them for letting their little tricycle motor stand on my leather seats, jam the gearshift around, and oh - TOUCHING A CAR THAT DOESN’T BELONG TO YOU. They never apologized. They simply explained that they had never seen such a car and wanted to take LT’s picture in it, and he didn’t hurt it, really. :smack: I never cease to be disappointed in this species. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037/20 "2013-05-13T13:48:32Z")
Good lord, what is the matter with your wife? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-a-beautiful-jaguar-xke/658037.md?page=2)