A Cool Thumbs-Up from the Jaguar mechanics!

[herbsteiner]

Going Christmas shopping today, I stopped at a place on the highway near my home that specializes in Texas stuff to get some last minute presents. The store happens to be next door to Classic Jaguar Automotive, which as you might tell from the name of the business, handles only vintage and classic Jags. Most often seen there are impeccable XK-E types of the total-drool variety. Big dollar cars, serious restorations.

Anyway, I pull into the parking space that separates the two businesses as two mechanics were doing the final tweaking on a totally gorgeous red convertible Jag just outside their garage door. They wave me over and I come by to compliment them on the two beauties they have outside. They said "hey, we were admiring YOUR ride, dude. You don't see too many old 240's like that running around. If you ever decide to part with it..."

I smiled to myself, knowing that guys working every day on mega-bucks cars still realize what vehicles have maintained their cool and their hipness over the years, regardless.

[Zs-ondabrain]

That's Awesome!. Hard to wipe the smile off your face after that one, huh?

Dave

[geezer]

I always thought that our Zs fit into the "timeless beauty" category quite well. Its reassuring that guys accustomed to XKEs feel this way also. I bet that smile is still on your face!

[pwd]

I think I know the shop you're referring to and it is an impressive place. http://www.classicjaguar.com/index.htm

When my brother and I were in high school/college we both had old cars. He had a '64 Jag XKE 4.2L coupe (you could get them cheap back then). Beautiful car with a great sounding motor. Nothing could touch it... we thought. Late one night in '72 he came home from a date in a state of shock. He recounted a story of a car that began following him and wouldn't stay off his bumper. As he sped up, the other car would speed up too. He punched it harder. The other car kept up . He tried some high speed cornering. The other car was even more agile. Eventually, the two cars ended up side by side racing through the darkened city streets doing what boys like to do... race. That other car was more than a match for his racing legend, XKE. Listening in disbelief as he finished the story, he said, "I've never seen one of these cars before. I think it's Japanese... something called a Datsun 240Z."

[Bruce Palmer]

Those mechanics, I'm sure, appreciated the fact that there was a neat ckassic that could be had that wasn't so valuable they'd be afraid to take it out amongst the great unwashed.

[Healey Z]

xke, 65 mustang fastback, cobra, 63 vette, older ferarris and certainly the original Z, certainly timeless classics....fun story.

[FastWoman]

I was out driving one day, feeling good about finally getting my Z back on the road, when a gorgeous lime 60's jag E-type hardtop came down the road the other way. With a big smile on my face, I waved, because the E-types are so seldom seen and do make me happy. The other driver lifted his nose a bit and drove on past. Geesh...

I agree with Bruce. A car is no fun if you're terrified about getting it scratched. The Z is about right for my comfort level. I'd have been terrified to drive the lime Jag.

Edited December 23, 2010 by FastWoman

[olzed]

Wow, such cool times.

Reminds me of the time my wife and I were coming home down the motorway

or as you guys say, freeway, We were heading home after a classic and hotrod show in our pride and joy 72 240.There was an E Type Jag and a hot rod and they made a gap so our little Jappa could slot in between. That felt so nice that those guys recognised our 240 as being worthy of being in their company.:classic:

And the time I was stopped at a petrol station by police. These two young cops wanted to have a look at our car.

We were sitting in our 240 at a local busy scenic spot and two guys were wandering around looking at the car. I had no badging on it at that time and they were trying to figure out what it was. When they saw the registration sticker on the windscreen, I heard one say. "I told you it wasn't Italian"

That made my day.

Timeless classics thats for sure.