Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) TWR Supercat

In the wake of Jaguars controversial new image an antidote comes in the form of this re-imagined XJS, complete with Tom Walkinshaws in house take on the Jag V12. With supercharger and 5.6 litre capacity it adds 375 bhp to the original



Just 88 to be made and for little more than the price of a Midsummer.

We were driving across Dartmoor during the press day which was covering the launch of the XJS convertible. We didn't know that. First sign was an XJS convertible coming the other way at journalist speed. Noted the bulged bonnet then it was gone. Thought nothing much of it. Then another came past at ultra high speed. That got me wondering. Then over the next few miles, about a dozen came past, all ragging it.

Never drove an XJS, but did drive a V12 saloon and it was truly amazing. I don't think the flying buttress is easy on the eye, and for me, the Eventer estate looks so much better.

Interesting Dave. I did own an XJ12 for a short while around 1980 but only because a work colleague offered it at a bargain price. Sadly it was a carbed version and could never get to grips with the Strombergs.

Around the same time I recall attending a round of the touring car championship at Silverstone. The main contenders were big BMW's and a pair of Tom Walkinshaw prepared XJ12's. The Jags were consistently a little faster but thirsty. The end of the race was particularly gripping with the Jags desperately trying to claw back the lead after yet another refuelling stop late in the race. Despite gaining two seconds a lap though they simply ran out of time.

I had a 1989 JaguarSport XJRS V12 6 litre some years ago. It had a magnificent engine built into a British Leyland quality body. It rusted, the electrics (apparently 3 generations overlaid on each other) were appalling, and the interior trim wasn't so much built down to a price as cobbled together from random bits. The coil, a Magnetti Marelli item, was situated in the vee of the engine, where it failed regularly. I replaced it 3 times. I gave up eventually and sold it to a Jag racer who wanted the engine. It could have been such a great car - Clarkson was a fan in period, and I vividly remember the time when I finally got it fixed enough to drive it in anger. The acceleration was unbelievable for someone who had previously been driving a P6 3500 as a daily. I also had a 1977 XJC 4.2, unfortunately that was a very poor car as well. I don't think I'd ever buy another Jag.

I used to chauffeur a 1970 XJ6 4.2 my favourite car ever, fast comfortable excellent road holding. I went to work one day and my boss had swapped it for a RR Shadow 1, I was devastated. Later my accountant had a Daimler Double Six he worked in the city so rarely used it and asked me to run it for him, happy days. The engine blew up one day happily not while I was driving it. The only other Jag I drove was my XK120 which I foolishly sold to fund a tax bill.

Had an F type 6 cylinder supercharged for a couple of years. Excellent car, much more attractive than the equivalent Porker, but it had one issue I couldnt get round - the drivers seat squab. Very hard bolsters with a narrow squab which was painful for me following a bike accident. Bought a much more comfortable Ferrari which was wildly more thirsty, more expensive to buy and I suspect not a lot faster.

And as if on cue, Harry's Garage topic for this week is:

I am sure it drives well -though it is hardly understated and that front dam wont last.

Quality aside, I think the original looked a lot nicer - this thing looks like it has been driven through the parts isle of a local discount Halfords and then the 'youthful' owner went wild buying even more parts out of a MaxPower magazine.

Funny that Richard mentions the Midsummer in relation to the SuperCat because both, to my eyes, are less successful modifications of a more aesthetically pleasing original design.

I too think it is a bit overdone. But then, I do like my cars unadorned. It did get me scouring the classifieds though. There seem to be a few XJS around that, on screen at least, look very good for sensible money.