XKE vs Singray

[Larry S.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

I have my flame suit on because my post may seem like heresy. I have seen many C1s and C2s get put away by a 6-cyl. XKE, some in drag races, mostly on the track. The driving experience between the two cars is radical. The Corvette is all noise and blow-and-go, spinning its tires, and trying to manhandle a rock crusher transmission. The XKE quietly raises its nose on acceleration as it pushes you back against the seat. Shifts are effortless and quick. If the XKE is trailing at 100 mph, it will not trail as it goes faster. The mid-range and high-end torque is amazing. It is very stable and nimble at nearly 150 mph, with no fear of front end lift.

The speed competition between Jag and Vette today yields some surprising results, too. Take a look at these videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLr2iz9Hbp4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF1fwl9TTfg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6YM4R797Dk

The 2010 and up Jag XKRs have 515 hp, the XKs have 385. (Yes, my DD is an XK, but my first loves are my two 67 Vettes.)

[Richard F.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

A tale of youthful idiocy. Early 60's, early XKE convert, three of us 15 year olds (me on the console with my head sticking up in the airstream), back road, speedo showed an indicated 160. Obviously I dont know how enthusiastic the speedo was, but I also dont remember if the car was at its limit. Couple years later in a Vette with the same driver, 365 HP or maybe a Fuelie with a replacement Holley, the car pulled like crazy, but got nowhere the same topend. I'm not saying which was the better car/experience, just that they are some of my favorite memories, and I'm glad to have lived thru them. I know of a couple of other kids who didn't make it back from that road. That section of road is now full of shopping malls!

[Bill O.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

I should be writing this anonymously, should the grandkids be “watching.”

In 1962, Coast Highway, Alt 101 , NW of Huntington Beach, CA was an open road all the way past Trash Can Beach (Bolsa Chica Beach State Park) and at night that stretch was lonely and dark as a cave. I can tell you that one such night that summer, a 1962 Corvette with an SHP engine tore the backsides off a new XKE that tried and failed twice to pass…a serious and sustained effort but unsuccessful…then he blinked his lights and dropped back. I waited for him by the road in Sunset Beach. He never showed.

I shouldn’t worry. You can’t access this board with your thumbs.

[Richard S.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

we use to call it Tin Can Beach

[Bill O.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

Yes, prior to 1960, when the state finally rounded-up the remaining beach-front property owners, purchased the land, evected all the hobos, free spirits, and campers...and cleaned-up the place, it was know as Tin Can Beach. Curfues were then enforced and fifty gallon drums were anchored in the parking lots where visitors could now place their trash...thus Trash Can Beach.
Interesting story dating back to the 1920s.

[Edward B.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

Mine was a '63 Coupe purchased at Momo Motors in Queens, New York, to replace my '59 Corvette. Mechanically the car was a huge problem as it wouldn't maintain decent oil pressure and was very difficult to keep tune on the three carburetors. However, when it was running it would routinely top 140 on the old Route 22 in New Jersey as I was going back and forth to college. Lack of reliability did it in and I had it for less than one year, getting rid of it for an older but more reliable vehicle that I still have, a '55 300SL.

[Stuart F.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

Having owned my 63 L-76 since August 63, I can't recall mixing wheels with any XKE back in the day, even during two high speed trips to Las Vegas from White Sands. There were a number of other challengers along the way, but my 340hp w/3.36 quickly dispatched them up to 130 mph or until they ran out of guts. I always liked the looks of the XKE, I guess because it got it's styling from the "D" Jag which was a great racer.

Two years or so ago I did have a chance to play with one of the newer (ugly) XKE's that had the V12. We both went through transducer triggered toll booths side by side, then punched it from about 30 mph on up to see who could get into the one and only merge lane to the interstate. 30 mph is my car's wheelhouse so it was no contest. I admit he had a handicap as he had a rider with him and I was solo. I recall he pushed a lot of smoke too so perhaps he was overcarbureting.

Stu Fox

[Richard S.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

googled Trash can beach- no hits. Tin can beach has pages of them. surfed and played there for years from the 60's . never heard the name

[James G.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

GREAT STORIES HERE. And I am very happy to add a little.

First off my wife Dee, of 37 years now, owned a 65 XKE 4.2 Roadster when I first met her. It was a beautiful silver / black convert with 23400 miles that she had bought from the original owner. She told me immediately however, "If you own a XKE, you really need two of them. One is always in the shop''

I had at the time a 57 driver with a 327/350hp cam and a early 4360 fuel injection unit. It was a pretty solid black / red car that I had owned for three years and lightly restored. We drove that car all over California that summer and she loved it and our adventures.

I loved her XKE, but my experience with them was here in Southern California they ''all'' overheated, and major engine damage occurred. Within a few months she reluctantly sold her car and ordered a new 77 Corvette that she still owns today. In 1988 we bought a beautiful 14,000 mile one owner 84 HE XJS that was used only on highway vacation type trips. We used the car in like manner up until 2000. It also was a lot of upkeep, but that was my business so I did not care. We both miss that car.

Jaguars of all vintage are respected. They are a part of great Automotive history. Over the years, I have had the luxury of meeting and knowing drivers like BILLY KRAUSE, STERLING MOSS, and JIM JEFFORDS. They all will tell you that without Jaguars, there would be no Corvette. KRAUSE and JEFFORDS raced Corvettes also with great success. And they agree, maintenance is the key to a Jag running well. All these cars needed expert service. America just had very few good British mechanics. Good luck finding a 57 fuel injection 283hp mechanic in Europe back then or today.

[John H.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

Back in the early 70's when I was heavily into 12-cylinder Ferraris, a neighbor down the street had an XKE, and seemed to spend most of his time with the dash out of it chasing electrical issues, while I drove and enjoyed my Ferraris regularly. I helped him with some electrical problems one weekend, and let him drive my Ferrari (a '67 275GTB/4) one afternoon. He was amazed, and a couple of weeks later he showed up one evening with a couple of cold beers and a green T-shirt with yellow lettering for me that said, "THE BRITISH DRINK WARM BEER BECAUSE THEY HAVE LUCAS REFRIGERATORS".

[Bill O.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

So true,

Until they got rid of Lucas electronics, where you needed a mechanic as co-pilot, in favor of Bosch, these guys were totally unreliable.

And by the way, if you lived near Seal and Huntington Beach as I did in 1961-1963, knew the Jargon, and drove by almost every day..it was Trash Can Beach...even though the municipalities who wanted the image changed didn't want to recognize the vernacular. Maybe some of our So. CA members remember.

[James G.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

AH......''THE PRICE OF DARKNESS'' Yes, we remembder well.

[Stuart F.]

Re: XKE vs Singray

I recall it as: "The Prince Of Darkness", sort of a spin on the Royals perhaps.

Stu Fox