XKSS bodied E-Type ‘Re-created’ Jaguar May Be More Desirable Than Originals
It’s a bold statement, but this “XKSS” has appeal the original run cant match.
Teases come in many shapes and forms, and the worst one comes from cars you’d love to drive, but are just too risky to take out on the road. An XKSS from Jaguar’s original run would sell for tens of millions, if you could even find one for sale. James Chen’s XKSS, as featured by Petrolicious, fixes that problem, because it’s “recreated.”
In his younger days, Chen had the same dreams of vintage and exotic machinery that we all shared. “As a young boy when you’re 15 or 16 you look at all these cars that seem to be unattainable. I figure if one day I could own it, I’d like to have that experience,” smiles Chen. And for the XKSS, the King of Cool, Steve McQueen was a big inspiration. Chen wanted to experience the same sense of occasion, and the same excitement as the actor would have had while cruising the streets of California.
Based on an E-Type, this XKSS still retains all the panache and joy of a vintage Jaguar, but has upgrades including engine, brakes, and even an independent rear axle. If anything, this XKSS is better, almost along the lines of what Singer does for Porsche 911 models. Plus, the cost of this is far less. Chen notes, “as you know a real one is 10-15 million dollars. I looked in my pocket and don’t have that kind of money. But it’s not a matter of owning the genuine article or owning something which was based on something else. The feeling is the same.” With a blend of E-Type and D-Type parts, it’s about as close to an original as possible, and certainly stands up against the term “replica.”
Chen shares this passion with his son, and sees it as an opportunity to spark an interest that may be waning from younger enthusiasts. Enjoyment of cars is important to Chen, and since he truly puts them through the paces, he wishes that same sense of joy can be handed down.
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