Photo: eBay
When Jaguar replaced the E-Type with the XJS, enthusiasts were booing and hissing all over the place. We understand them as the XJS didn't live up to expectations due to the way it looked, reliability issues, and many other whatnots. But this isn't your typical V12-powered Jaaaaaaag, not by a long shot.
Advertised on eBay as a "Pro Street blown 383 Chevy stroker Jaguar XJS 1983 Coupe," the seller isn't lying. What you can admire in the adjacent photo gallery is an excellent machine, albeit it isn't an XJS anymore. Other than the mostly original body shell - which was restored about 10 years ago when the car was converted, only the steering wheel appears to be an OEM component. Unfortunately, the rest of the interior is laden with aftermarket equipment.
On the plus side, gone is the somewhat unreliable Jaguar V12 motor and in came an SBC 383 stroker. Its 6.3 liters of Chevrolet crate V8 madness develop in excess of 400 horsepower in naturally aspirated form. But the owner wasn't happy with that, so he bolted an upright blower to the 383 cubic-inch motor for added oomph. Vector in Holley 750 carbs, a Corvette exhaust manifold, and that it "runs fine on pump premium."
Notice the size of the rear tires. Ginormous 29x18 R15s are needed to keep the torque in check, as is the TH350 automatic transmission, the 2,800 rpm stall converter, and narrowed Ford 9-inch rear end. But the car isn't 100 percent perfect, or so the seller is telling us in his extremely detailed eBay listing.
The Pro Street Jaguar XJS at hand doesn't have wipers, the signal lights and horn aren't working, power window motors need to be changed, and the rear end "could use a new housing gasket." You can see from the photo gallery that the underbody is clean except for the rear end, but hey – it's a small and cheap fix.
Best of all, the drag racing XJS is $12,300 after 34 bids, which is almost $2k less than a Ford Fiesta.
On the plus side, gone is the somewhat unreliable Jaguar V12 motor and in came an SBC 383 stroker. Its 6.3 liters of Chevrolet crate V8 madness develop in excess of 400 horsepower in naturally aspirated form. But the owner wasn't happy with that, so he bolted an upright blower to the 383 cubic-inch motor for added oomph. Vector in Holley 750 carbs, a Corvette exhaust manifold, and that it "runs fine on pump premium."
Notice the size of the rear tires. Ginormous 29x18 R15s are needed to keep the torque in check, as is the TH350 automatic transmission, the 2,800 rpm stall converter, and narrowed Ford 9-inch rear end. But the car isn't 100 percent perfect, or so the seller is telling us in his extremely detailed eBay listing.
The Pro Street Jaguar XJS at hand doesn't have wipers, the signal lights and horn aren't working, power window motors need to be changed, and the rear end "could use a new housing gasket." You can see from the photo gallery that the underbody is clean except for the rear end, but hey – it's a small and cheap fix.
Best of all, the drag racing XJS is $12,300 after 34 bids, which is almost $2k less than a Ford Fiesta.
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