Cars Expert Wanted -- Post WW2 (1945-48)

JohnnyGottaKeyboard · 06-20-2012, 01:43 PM

Anyone here in Historicals an expert on sportscars from the immediate postwar era? Specifically I am wondering about the 48 Jaguar. Could an American get that car with the steering on the left or was that not done back then?

Chances are I am leaning toward swapping it out of my ms with an Alfa Romeo, but I want to be sure.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

pdr · 06-20-2012, 02:54 PM

nearly sure that Jaguar would have made a dashboard switch for an American order.

I know Jaguar did special things to order, my father's cars were never the standard model.

Izhitsa · 06-20-2012, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyGottaKeyboard

Anyone here in Historicals an expert on sportscars from the immediate postwar era? Specifically I am wondering about the 48 Jaguar. Could an American get that car with the steering on the left or was that not done back then?

...

An American certainly could:

The XK120 was first launched as a 'Roadster' (or OTS for 'open two-seater' in America) and then the Fixed-Head Coupé (FHC) followed in 1951 and lastly the Drop-Head Coupé (DHC) was introduced in 1953. The DHC was a deluxe open model with wind-up windows + opening quarter lights, Wood-veneered Dashboard and Door cappings. It is the rarest variant amongst the XK120 models with only 1,767 produced and of these 1,472 were LHD and mostly destined for the USA + 295 RHD models.

From http://www.collectioncar.com/detaile...&category_id=1

JohnnyGottaKeyboard · 06-21-2012, 12:50 AM

Yeah the XK120 was the model I mention in the ms, and I placed the steering column on the left. But all the pictures I can find show the steering on the right. I also have it appearing several months prior to its actual release--explaining it away as the owner is filthy rich--so critics are probably just as apt to complain about that.

Eddyz Aquila · 06-27-2012, 08:12 PM

I'd probably turn over to the Alfa Romeo just for the style

Apologue · 07-05-2012, 07:35 PM

I own an XK120 if you have any questions about them. Mine is a FHC, though, not an OTS. It is definitely worth nothing that the first 120s weren't built until late in 1948, so if you have it appearing before then it simply wouldn't have been possible to get one. It was definitely possible to get a LHD car, though - the second one built was LHD. Do keep in mind that the London Motor Show at which the XK120 was premiered and caused such a sensation was October 27- November 6. No one had seen the 120 before then. So...to make this convincing, your MC would have to have a close relationship with Lyons in order to have seen the car in advance of that, much less purchased one.

Let me know if you have any questions - I know a lot about the early Jags!

Apologue · 07-05-2012, 07:40 PM

Oh, also - Clark Gable was one of the first Americans to buy an XK120, and he got his in 1949.

JohnnyGottaKeyboard · 07-06-2012, 01:11 AM

Thanks Apologue! I have rewritten the two references--there were only two but I didn't want them to be wrong--and used an Alfa Romeo instead. Maybe I can include the jag (which was so cute) in a sequel!

Apologue · 07-06-2012, 06:16 PM

You should! And use the coupe! Unless of course the character you have driving one is very tall...I always joke that my car is a woman's car because I don't know how anyone more than a few inches taller than me could drive it. I certainly don't know how my Dad did it all those years - he always looked crunched up in there. The steering wheel isn't adjustable either.

Just for fun:

06-20-2012, 02:54 PM	#2
pdr Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Home - but for how long? Posts: 4,260	I am... nearly sure that Jaguar would have made a dashboard switch for an American order. I know Jaguar did special things to order, my father's cars were never the standard model.

06-27-2012, 08:12 PM	#5
Eddyz Aquila Noob Writers United Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 1,853	I'd probably turn over to the Alfa Romeo just for the style __________________ Check out my blog! http://www.randomwander.com/ *The more you can dream, the more you can do.* - Michael Korda

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

07-05-2012, 07:35 PM	#6
Apologue Pure heart, filthy mind Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 79	I own an XK120 if you have any questions about them. Mine is a FHC, though, not an OTS. It is definitely worth nothing that the first 120s weren't built until late in 1948, so if you have it appearing before then it simply wouldn't have been possible to get one. It was definitely possible to get a LHD car, though - the second one built was LHD. Do keep in mind that the London Motor Show at which the XK120 was premiered and caused such a sensation was October 27- November 6. No one had seen the 120 before then. So...to make this convincing, your MC would have to have a close relationship with Lyons in order to have seen the car in advance of that, much less purchased one. Let me know if you have any questions - I know a lot about the early Jags!

07-05-2012, 07:40 PM	#7
Apologue Pure heart, filthy mind Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 79	Oh, also - Clark Gable was one of the first Americans to buy an XK120, and he got his in 1949.

07-06-2012, 06:16 PM	#9
Apologue Pure heart, filthy mind Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 79	You should! And use the coupe! Unless of course the character you have driving one is very tall...I always joke that my car is a woman's car because I don't know how anyone more than a few inches taller than me could drive it. I certainly don't know how my Dad did it all those years - he always looked crunched up in there. The steering wheel isn't adjustable either. Just for fun: