What was a V-12 4 speed 0 to 60 time's and quarter mile time's?/ How would they hold today against a Viper or big block corvette?? Also looked at a 1974 Aqua colored car with a tan top what was beautiful. Was this a factory color?? Thanks Larry

Submitted by htech@cwnet.com on Fri, 07/22/2005 - 14:08

Yes, the shiftlight does sound like a good addition if I were on the track very often which, unfortunately, is not the case.

I did keep at least one eye on the tach as I recalled having read somewhere that, if you intended to run in the vicinity of 5K, it was adviseable to change to a different diameter pulley on the ganerator to avoid slinging the windings off the armature.

That, and my concern regarding the amount of metal I was depositing in the bottom of the transmission case, were my main concerns. :-) Tom Hughes

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Thu, 07/21/2005 - 20:19

Thomas you might want to invest in a shift light. They can be removed easily and positioned where you can't miss it. It will ease the tension of not having your hearing. It will also let you keep your eyes on the track which I am betting you have learned is a "good" thing. George Camp

Submitted by dougdwyer@adel… on Thu, 07/21/2005 - 00:57

Good for you, Tom. Fun, huh?

I am hardly an expert on the matter but have made my share of trips down the quarter mile.

A few more runs to hone your technique will yield good improvements, no doubt. The last car I raced was my Mustang GT...very tricky to "launch" due to immense wheelspin...and was able to shave 2 full seconds off my time in just 4 runs.

Not hearing the engine is disconcerting at first but you get used to that and learn to trust your tach. A quick peek at the o/p gauge once or twice is a good idea too, if you can remember.

You'll be in the "15s" in no time :-)

Doug Dwyer
Longview Washington USA
1987 XJ6 Ser III
1988 XJS V12 Coupe

Submitted by htech@cwnet.com on Wed, 07/20/2005 - 12:46

For what it's worth, following are the results of my only venture to the Sacramento Raceway/ Drag Strip with my '63 E-Type Coupe.

First run: 17.379 83.49

Second run: 16.743 85.56

This was with no tuning or tweaking, just went there and drove. First time I'd worn a helmet and the inability to hear the engine well bothered me, other than that it was fun. Tom Hughes

Submitted by NE52-32043 on Tue, 07/19/2005 - 09:50

Anyone who thinks that a 35 or 40 year old Jaguar in stock configuration can hold its own against most modern cars is kidding himself. Cars today have a lot more horsepower and deliver it to the wheels much more efficiently than the old cars do. If you are concerned about stop-light racing, don't drive a 40 y.o. E-type. Get a Subaru WRX or Vette or Nissan Maxima or Lexus or Audi or new Mustang or ... you name it. All of them offer cars that pack the punch that American drivers seem to enjoy these days. And all of them will leave the old Jags in the dust. The XKR and XJR can certainly turn in respectable 0-60 times, but they like the others are new technology as well.

But if your tastes run to enjoying the thrill of driving a vintage car and experiencing what driving was all about back in the "good-ol days", then by all means, drive an E. It just doesn't get better than that.

Steve Weinstein
'70 XKE FHC, '69 XKE OTS

Submitted by dougdwyer@adel… on Mon, 07/18/2005 - 09:51

Bob is right. Technology marches on and we now have some rather ordinary cars which will walk away from the older Jags. And we have performance cars....even many luxury-oriented ones.... that'll far out-pace some of the cars that were considered real fire breathers in "the good old days".

Consider the Jaguar's own XJR. Only a small precentage of "performance cars" of the last 40 years would be able to keep up with it.....most would be watching it from waaaaay behind.

Still, a V12 E-type is a powerful car ....more than enough "ooomph" to enjoy and you certainly won't be accused of holding up traffic.

Doug Dwyer
Longview Washington USA
1987 XJ6 Ser III
1988 XJS V12 Coupe

Submitted by NC19-03320J on Mon, 07/18/2005 - 09:25

Larry, Skilleter's book, The Jaguar E-Type lists the V-12's 1/4 mile times in the mid 14's to 15seconds and 0-60 in the mid 6's to 7 seconds. These road test times made be hard to duplicate in the "real" world! E-Types never had drag race type performance but overall performance was hard was to beat in their era. As far as trying on a Vett or Viper, forget about! That also goes for most or all of todays performance sedans. Just drive the car and enjoy It!!
Bob

Submitted by dougdwyer@adel… on Mon, 07/18/2005 - 09:19

Road and Track tested a 1972 Ser III roadster, manual transmission, and reported 0-60 in 7.4 seconds and the quarter mile in 15.4 seconds at 93 mph.

They also tested a 1973 model (also a stick shift roadster) and found it a slower, 0-60 in 8.0 seconds and the quarter mile in 16.2 seconds at 89 mph.

Although not at my finger tips I have other reviews that reported somewhat
quicker times.....more like 6.8 seconds to 60 and 14.9 seconds in the quarter mile.....for an early high compresion car.

Even the fastest of the E-types wouldn't stand a chance against a modern Corvette or Viper.

Cheers
Doug Dwyer
Longview Washington USA
1987 XJ6 Ser III
1988 XJS V12 Coupe