2016 ASVE Jaguar Kit Car

Description

As an interesting little side note, the company that is currently called Jaguar today was originally called "SS" and the model this replica was built to emulate was the "Jaguar." It was so popular (and because of obvious connotations during WWII) the company changed its name to Jaguar shortly thereafter. Either way, this neat roadster is a fantastic way to get the look without the price tag nor the maintenance headaches of an original.

It's a recent construction that looks better than your run-of-the-mill kit car, suggesting that professionals were behind it, not some guy in his home garage. The light gray paint is sophisticated and elegant, a nice step up from the usual white or tan, and they didn't try too hard to make it exact, which never works out well. Instead, they focused on proportions and style, which gives this one a much more cohesive look than many such replicas and cleverly masks the modern hardware underneath. The headlights, chrome radiator shell, and leaping cat hood ornament are all straight out of the late '30s, and the cut-down doors and swoopy fenders look dramatic. Neat details like the fender marker lights, twin horns, and nicely crafted bumpers do even more to create a compelling illusion. And it's all in very good condition, with great paint, nice chrome, and good attention to detail. There's even a set of back-up lights out back, suggesting that they really cared about making this a real car, not a toy. Nice!

There's more well-turned-out craftsmanship inside, where you'll find a pair of vintage-looking bucket seats lined in gray leather, a wood-rimmed wheel that looks very Jaguar-like, and door panels with gathered map pockets, just like back in the day. The oak dashboard is real oak and has been filled with VDO gauges with big markings and easy-to-read dials. There's also an AM/FM/cassette stereo, a dash-mounted mirror, and even a glove box, giving it a nicely finished look throughout. The automatic shifter handle should look familiar to Ford fans, and it stands out a bit in the sporting interior, but the lovely burled wood E-brake handle more than makes up for it. Weather protection consists of a rather good-looking folding top but if you're doing it correctly, you'll only need it for emergencies.

Don't worry about maintenance, though, because instead of the labor-intensive Jaguar inline-6, you get Ford's bulletproof 2.3 liter inline-4, which probably makes more power than the original anyway. It's simple and rugged, inhaling through a single 2-barrel carburetor and wearing a coat of bright Ford Blue paint. A 12-volt electrical system means it fires up easily and the wiring is simple and well done. The engine bay is fully insulated to keep the interior comfortable even on warm days and the three-speed automatic transmission always seems to snap to attention when you open the throttle. It's a neat fit in the pointed engine bay, but service access is good and parts are readily available, so it'll be easy and inexpensive to keep this car healthy. The chassis is rectangular tubing with a Mustang II front suspension that features rack-and-pinion steering and disc brakes, while out back you get leaf springs and a Ford 8-inch rear with highway gears inside. Classic chrome wire wheels are the right choice on this sporting ride and include 205/75/15 whitewall radials for improved ride and handling.

Replicas like this provide a lot of fun for not a lot of cash, and the truth is, a vast majority of the public won't even spot that it's not a real one. Imagine how much fun you could have with this car and call today!