Aristocat (Autotune)
England
| http://www.aristocat-xkjag.org.uk/ |
Donor car: Jaguar XJ6, XJS, XJ40.
The Aristocat Sports is not a replica of any specific Jaguar XK model, but evokes the spirit of the XK120, XK140 and XK150 models of the 1950's. It has XK120/140 wing profile, but is more akin to the XK150 with the extra width from the front being only half an inch per side wider. The more up to date spaceframe chassis is different to the original car`s ladder frame.
The Aristocat FH Coupe is a dimensionally exact replica of the XK120 / 140.
Aristocat don't specific exactly a time to build an Aristocar, from a few months to 10 years depending on the time you want to commit to it. Martin Webb (The Aristocat Register Chairman) took about 1200 hours of build time.
For the donor vehicle, you can use any XJ6 model from 1968 to 1986, the XJS from 1975 to 1991. The pedal box on the XJ6 is the only difference although this can be modified. The post-1986 XJ40 model can also be used with a specific chassis to suit the AJ6 engine
According aristocat the donor car you need to build the Aristocat, will be an honest car with low mileage. If it is running make sure the engine has good oil pressure, although you cannot always assume it is correct as silting in the oil galleries can give false readings. Check that the engine is not smoking and that there is no whining from the back axle. Check that the donor has a good useable interior, with decent leather seats and no cracks in the wooden dashboard.
Jaguar claim a top speed for a 4.2 litre XJ6 donor vehicle of 201 km/h (228km / h for the V12)! Anthony Taylor at Autotune has driven his racing prototype with the speedo needle off the scale at 160 mph plus!! In practice however, a standard Aristocat with a 4.2 litre engine and auto gearbox will cruise happily at 145 km /h dition, you should get a slightly better fuel economy than the original XJ6 donor - because of the Aristocat is lighter than the donor vehicle.
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