We are proud to share with our Fans and Friends these 3 videos of the Milano Auto-Show taken a few days ago by a Member of THE JAGUAR SOCIAL NETWORK.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Jaguar Scumbags and Crooks
It is widespread and takes place all over the world on a regular basis. More and more gullible and innocent Jaguar Owners are being scammed out of MILLIONS of $/£ by Scumbags masquerading as Jaguar experts and restorers. They are SMOOOTH talkers and easily con you into trusting them to repair your precious Classic Jag. Below are a FEW of some of the cases that I am aware of and in one instance where I became a victim.
MIKE CUMMINS
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| MIKE CUMMINS once a highly respected Judge of the Jaguar Clubs of North America (JCNA) |
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| One victim paid Mike Cummins $220,000 and was given the garbage shown above in return after years of legal hassles. CHERYL KOOP CUMMINS ALSO PART OF THE SCAM  _______________________ STAN HIGGINS  STAN HIGGINS WANTED FOR QUESTIONING BY THE RCMP FOR FRAUD Stan Higgins started his career of Jaguar rip-offs in Toronto, Canada (my home town) in the early 1970s. I met Stan almost 40 years ago. I had just bought a Jaguar XK 150 'S' Roadster with a rare mechanical OD used for racing. I was TOTALLY green and knew very little about Jags. The car needed some work but nothing major. He convinced me to leave the car so that he could prepare an estimate of what the car needed to make it roadworthy. I came back 2 days later and his estimate was around $12,000. I very politely said "Thank you but no thank you"; at which point he pulled out an invoice for $200 for preparing the estimate. He threatened to place a "Mechanic's Lien" on the car if I didn't pay. A "Mechanic's Lien" can be a very lengthy and costly legal procedure so I was forced to pay $200 for his rip off estimate. Within a week I had the car fully roadworthy for under $400. Unfortunately the story does not end there. Over a period of about 15 years, Stan ripped off a bunch of Toronto Jaguar Enthusiasts to the tune of around $500,000. Fraud and criminal charges were brought against Stan Higgins and he is/was wanted for questioning by the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police). Stan was one step ahead of the Law and fled to the Guernsey Islands. One of the main reasons he chose Guernsey is because there is no Extradition Treaty with Canada. He fled Canada almost 25 years ago.  What one Canadian victim was left with after paying Stan Higgins over $200,000 Adding insult to injury, rubbing salt in some deep wounds Stan Higgins managed to hide his personal collection of Classic Jaguars from the Canadian Authorities and some how managed to smuggle them out of Canada all the way to Guernsey(????). A Jaguar XK 120 Chassis # 671269 shown below, the Jaguar MK II shown above and a Jaguar XK 150 DHC. The "coup de grace" to this saga is that Stan was prominently featured in an article in the XK Gazette in the March 2010 Issue # 150 and hailed as some kind of XK Michelangelo living on Guernsey. Paul Skilleter the well known author also featured Stan and his cars in Jaguar World, February and December 2003. If any one reading this Blog knows Stan Higgins please tell him "YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE" and please refer Stan to this Blog.  JAGUAR XK 120 OTS # 671269 SMUGGLED OUT OF CANADA __________________ WORST BRITISH MULTI-COMPANY SHAM and SCAM Jaguar Engines Bray Engineering Limited MPH Engineering Limited Range Rover Engines  Jaguar S-Type that a victim managed to salvage from the crooks minus the original engine. Over 400 victims lost £1.2 MILLION in this scam. Full details of the SCAM HERE. ATTENTION! THESE CROOKS ARE BACK IN BUSINESS RIPPING OFF INNOCENT VICTIMS. THEIR NEW NAME AND ADDRESS APPEARS TO BE: Engine Search Ltd Clock Tower Road Isleworth Middlesex TW7 6DT _________________ If you hear of any scams or have been victimized contact us. We want to help.  |
Monday, January 2, 2012
THE 100 MOST BEAUTIFUL JAGUAR XK/XKE in the WORLD
A sample slide-show of 100 of the most beautiful Jaguar XK 120, XK 140, XK 150, XKE/E-TYPE and Classic saloons on THE JAGUAR SOCIAL NETWORK. We are the world's #1 top meeting place & Premier Social Network for Jaguar Owners who share a passion for XK 120/140/150, E-TYPES/XKE & pre-1967 Saloons. Join us and become a Member if you own one of these iconic cars. Membership is free.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
TIME CAPSULE BUILT by THE JAGUAR SOCIAL NETWORK
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
POPULAR MECHANICS FEBRUARY 1955.
I think everybody will LOVE this Blog post because it is TRULY a real time machine. From this Blog you will be able to turn back the hands of time and read all the automotive articles in the above 1955 special car issue of Popular Mechanics just by clicking on the links below and turning the pages. We guarantee you will not find another time machine like it anywhere else in the world or on the Web.
1) Three of 1955's Crop of Dream Cars Page 72 74, 78
2) Diary of a New Car Page 128 to 137 Cont'd Page 242 to 244
3) Parade of 1955 Cars Page 138 to 147 Cont'd Page 168
4) Some of the Year's High Lights Page 148 to 149
5) What Does it Cost to Own a Car Page 150 to 153
6) The Changing Automobile Page 154 to 159 (EXCELLENT)
7) Are European Cars Better? Page 160 to 163 292, 294, 296
8) They Also Ran Page 164 to 167
9) What Makes Automatic Transmissions Automatic? Page 169 to 173
10) Whip Those Horses Page 175 to 176
BONUS (NOT RELATED TO AUTOMOTIVE)
Copyright The Jaguar Social Network
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The First McNabb Report: La Dama en Roja
McNabb Report 0: La Dama en Roja
In 1968 Jim Roth was just returning from foreign assignment with an oil company and beginning with a new company in Bakersfield, California. He had a plain jane white Chevy company car and bought his wife a Mustang, but the car was just not working out. As he was looking through the classified ads he spotted a 1968 Jaguar XKE convertible (serial number J681E18273), a series one and a half, red with black interior. He had always loved these cars but never thought he could afford one. When he went to look at the car the seller was moaning that he had just bought this beautiful car and now his wife was pregnant. Jim did not have to think twice about it and bought the car. He gave his wife the company car and began a lifelong relationship with the Jag.
Jim was a California boy having been raised in the Ventura, Bakersfield and LA area by a father that also worked in the oil industry. Incidentally his father, George, won a gold medal in gymnastics in the 1932 Olympic Games in LA. For those not familiar with the California landscape, Bakersfield is halfway between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the ocean, about a two hour drive either way. Jim commuted the few miles to work each day in the Jag but also took trips to the coast and amazingly enough even put chains on the car, a ski rack on the back and went to the ski slopes!
In 1972 Jim changed to a smaller company in the LA area. Now his commute was a bit longer but included a drive up Coldwater Canyon, a race along Mulholland Drive (ala Steve McQueen and James Dean!) and down Beverly Glen to work each day. The Jag continued to give good service on the daily commute. In the mid-70s Jim bought a house in Malibu near the ocean and continued his commute to LA. Through several smaller companies Jim continued to work in the same area through the mid-80s.
In 1984 Jim was finally transferred to Houston, Texas, which is a bit inevitable in the oil industry. He shipped the Jag to Texas but now began to drive a company car to work and keep the Jag for pleasure driving. He also bought a Catalina 36 sailboat (serial number 39 out of about 30,000 built). In 1987 he was divorced. His new girlfriend made a big impression about a year later. She backed his van out of the driveway and hit the Jag, causing some damage (he married her soon after in spite of this!). Although the car was still in good shape his mechanic suggested a complete restoration. Jim’s company was sold and he received a pay out. He figured maybe the time was right but he decided to manage the project himself. He commissioned the mechanic to do the motor, a painter for the body and paint and another gentleman for the interior. It took most of 1988 but the results were spectacular.
In 1989 Jim finally started his own company and began spending a lot of time cruising in the Jag, going to some shows and competitions, and sailing. It was about this time that I met him as he really needed a regional map of Latin America for some presentations. I work in the oil data business and allowed him to borrow a map. Our meeting would have been brief except for the fact that he had a die cast of an XKE on his desk. That started a conversation that lead to a friendship. In 1990 there was a hurricane that damaged the sailboat and it was restored as well at that time. About this time his wife was diagnosed with cancer. With the success of his own company he decided it was time to go home. In 1993 he shipped the sailboat to Ventura harbor and his wife lived on the boat and commuted across the harbor each day to supervise the building of their dream house in Ventura Keys. The next year with the house finished he shipped the Jag back to California after a 10 year stint in Texas. Unfortunately his wife died in 1998. In 2005 he completely restored his sailboat.
We now find the Jag back home in California, looking and driving as good as new, and always ready for a spin up Highway One along the coast. Jim comments that the only thing more challenging than owning a vintage car is owning a vintage sailboat as well. I have heard a few people ask from time to time how it was that Jim never sold the car to buy a more modern sports car. Jim said the answer was simple, his two sons would kill him if he ever sold it. I think this car is going to stay in the family for a long time. And so the relationship continues after 42 years with the Lady in Red!
In 1968 Jim Roth was just returning from foreign assignment with an oil company and beginning with a new company in Bakersfield, California. He had a plain jane white Chevy company car and bought his wife a Mustang, but the car was just not working out. As he was looking through the classified ads he spotted a 1968 Jaguar XKE convertible (serial number J681E18273), a series one and a half, red with black interior. He had always loved these cars but never thought he could afford one. When he went to look at the car the seller was moaning that he had just bought this beautiful car and now his wife was pregnant. Jim did not have to think twice about it and bought the car. He gave his wife the company car and began a lifelong relationship with the Jag.
Jim was a California boy having been raised in the Ventura, Bakersfield and LA area by a father that also worked in the oil industry. Incidentally his father, George, won a gold medal in gymnastics in the 1932 Olympic Games in LA. For those not familiar with the California landscape, Bakersfield is halfway between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the ocean, about a two hour drive either way. Jim commuted the few miles to work each day in the Jag but also took trips to the coast and amazingly enough even put chains on the car, a ski rack on the back and went to the ski slopes!
In 1972 Jim changed to a smaller company in the LA area. Now his commute was a bit longer but included a drive up Coldwater Canyon, a race along Mulholland Drive (ala Steve McQueen and James Dean!) and down Beverly Glen to work each day. The Jag continued to give good service on the daily commute. In the mid-70s Jim bought a house in Malibu near the ocean and continued his commute to LA. Through several smaller companies Jim continued to work in the same area through the mid-80s.
In 1984 Jim was finally transferred to Houston, Texas, which is a bit inevitable in the oil industry. He shipped the Jag to Texas but now began to drive a company car to work and keep the Jag for pleasure driving. He also bought a Catalina 36 sailboat (serial number 39 out of about 30,000 built). In 1987 he was divorced. His new girlfriend made a big impression about a year later. She backed his van out of the driveway and hit the Jag, causing some damage (he married her soon after in spite of this!). Although the car was still in good shape his mechanic suggested a complete restoration. Jim’s company was sold and he received a pay out. He figured maybe the time was right but he decided to manage the project himself. He commissioned the mechanic to do the motor, a painter for the body and paint and another gentleman for the interior. It took most of 1988 but the results were spectacular.
In 1989 Jim finally started his own company and began spending a lot of time cruising in the Jag, going to some shows and competitions, and sailing. It was about this time that I met him as he really needed a regional map of Latin America for some presentations. I work in the oil data business and allowed him to borrow a map. Our meeting would have been brief except for the fact that he had a die cast of an XKE on his desk. That started a conversation that lead to a friendship. In 1990 there was a hurricane that damaged the sailboat and it was restored as well at that time. About this time his wife was diagnosed with cancer. With the success of his own company he decided it was time to go home. In 1993 he shipped the sailboat to Ventura harbor and his wife lived on the boat and commuted across the harbor each day to supervise the building of their dream house in Ventura Keys. The next year with the house finished he shipped the Jag back to California after a 10 year stint in Texas. Unfortunately his wife died in 1998. In 2005 he completely restored his sailboat.
We now find the Jag back home in California, looking and driving as good as new, and always ready for a spin up Highway One along the coast. Jim comments that the only thing more challenging than owning a vintage car is owning a vintage sailboat as well. I have heard a few people ask from time to time how it was that Jim never sold the car to buy a more modern sports car. Jim said the answer was simple, his two sons would kill him if he ever sold it. I think this car is going to stay in the family for a long time. And so the relationship continues after 42 years with the Lady in Red!
Please follow me on facebook under Paul McNabb and also my first soon to be published book, THE JAGUAR CONSPIRACY (visit facebook and like!) coming in May, 2012, a murder mystery about a missing C-type Jaguar.
Friday, October 14, 2011
THE TENTH LIFE of A JAGUAR E-TYPE Part III
PART I,.... PART II
1963 JAGUAR V8 XKE 5 SPEED ROADSTER BLOG UPDATE by Mack Besser ZZAAPP Vintage Auto. September 22, 2011Summer has passed without a drive. Other “summer cars” took precedence; and several folks are now on the road in vintage sports cars! The Edelbrock bolt on fuel injection kit had a perplexing issue with fuel starvation past idle. The new kit’s fuel pump had failed to deliver past start-up & idle. Placement of the pump (FYI), was not below the fuel tankcausing it to overload. Another item to correct (as were many from it’s arrival). I wonder why????After a prescribed “period of consternation” the pump was relocated, to just above the right side mount of the rear sway bar. Looks factory. Justin did a great job rearranging the inlet & outlet fuel piping. Well, it started before, it should start now. It does-and on the first day of fall-we take the E-V8 out for it’s initial foray. First let me say, we are located on a farm, 200 yds. of (go very slow) gravel road-then the nice 2 lane paved county road. No traffic for miles, unless tractors & combines count. The first 1.5 miles, we took very slowly, making sure all 5 gears worked, the 4 pot alloy calipers, boosters, etc. were doing their job. All seemed well. We did run the car up to 4500 RPM’S in 1, 2 & 3, likely exceeding the speed limit by 100%! 4th and 5th were a coast purely for safety reasons. Brakes were excellent; I had never driven a BRAND NEW Tremic 5 speed-now I know why the Mustang guys like ‘em! What’s not to like! Much left to do-in reality-a proper exhaust, new seat belts, water temp gauge correction, bigger rear tires (!), front suspension alignment. Oh yeah, then we have to put in the windshield & interior trim bits. LOTS O’ POWER-from 2500 RPM’S on up. Good move on the owner’s part to maintain originality in all aspects of appearance. A bit of the real tricky business was the shift console relocation and tunnel console alterations; all the while adhering to unobtrusive modifications. FYI, you folks with those old E 2+2s, especially the V12 cars, this would be a good swap. Using a Holley carb would save you about $2800 and a lotof plumbing work. Ford 302 V8’s are cheap, not so the Tremic. However, you could actually enjoy an E 2+2. They are very inexpensive & usually broken. 2 good reasons to make the purchase & proceed with this type of project. Remember, the V12 cars already have decent brakes, and a slightly wider engine bay, making a header fit easier.
Will only bore the readers with a few lines with regards to the complete bell housing, trans & driveshaft tunnel fabrication. We used factory parts, adapting to fit, and strengthened the main cross member that someone had cut to clear the Muncie linkage.The trans tunnel was made 2” wider & 4” longer by some clever shaping on the English Wheel, it’s basis was an original piece. We’ve included a picture of the monster tunnelthe car arrived with for comparison. Held on with 6 sheet metal screws. I wonder why??
1963 JAGUAR V8 XKE 5 SPEED ROADSTER BLOG UPDATE by Mack Besser ZZAAPP Vintage Auto. September 22, 2011Summer has passed without a drive. Other “summer cars” took precedence; and several folks are now on the road in vintage sports cars! The Edelbrock bolt on fuel injection kit had a perplexing issue with fuel starvation past idle. The new kit’s fuel pump had failed to deliver past start-up & idle. Placement of the pump (FYI), was not below the fuel tankcausing it to overload. Another item to correct (as were many from it’s arrival). I wonder why????After a prescribed “period of consternation” the pump was relocated, to just above the right side mount of the rear sway bar. Looks factory. Justin did a great job rearranging the inlet & outlet fuel piping. Well, it started before, it should start now. It does-and on the first day of fall-we take the E-V8 out for it’s initial foray. First let me say, we are located on a farm, 200 yds. of (go very slow) gravel road-then the nice 2 lane paved county road. No traffic for miles, unless tractors & combines count. The first 1.5 miles, we took very slowly, making sure all 5 gears worked, the 4 pot alloy calipers, boosters, etc. were doing their job. All seemed well. We did run the car up to 4500 RPM’S in 1, 2 & 3, likely exceeding the speed limit by 100%! 4th and 5th were a coast purely for safety reasons. Brakes were excellent; I had never driven a BRAND NEW Tremic 5 speed-now I know why the Mustang guys like ‘em! What’s not to like! Much left to do-in reality-a proper exhaust, new seat belts, water temp gauge correction, bigger rear tires (!), front suspension alignment. Oh yeah, then we have to put in the windshield & interior trim bits. LOTS O’ POWER-from 2500 RPM’S on up. Good move on the owner’s part to maintain originality in all aspects of appearance. A bit of the real tricky business was the shift console relocation and tunnel console alterations; all the while adhering to unobtrusive modifications. FYI, you folks with those old E 2+2s, especially the V12 cars, this would be a good swap. Using a Holley carb would save you about $2800 and a lotof plumbing work. Ford 302 V8’s are cheap, not so the Tremic. However, you could actually enjoy an E 2+2. They are very inexpensive & usually broken. 2 good reasons to make the purchase & proceed with this type of project. Remember, the V12 cars already have decent brakes, and a slightly wider engine bay, making a header fit easier.Will only bore the readers with a few lines with regards to the complete bell housing, trans & driveshaft tunnel fabrication. We used factory parts, adapting to fit, and strengthened the main cross member that someone had cut to clear the Muncie linkage.The trans tunnel was made 2” wider & 4” longer by some clever shaping on the English Wheel, it’s basis was an original piece. We’ve included a picture of the monster tunnelthe car arrived with for comparison. Held on with 6 sheet metal screws. I wonder why??
Thursday, September 8, 2011
THE JAGUAR SOCIAL NETWORK HONORS VICTIMS of 9/11
This is a special 9/11 dedication to all our friends, fans, supporters and viewers. 9/11 is not/was not confined to the USA only. On that infamous day ALL of us around the globe lost something. Please download the PPS slide-show and email to all your friends or simply share this post.
In memory of that terrible day, we are making available a special and very powerful Microsoft Powerpoint Slideshow Presentation as a free download to honor the victims of 9-11-2001. To view the slideshow you will need to download MICROSOFT'S POWERPOINT VIEWER if it is not already installed on your computer.
The name of the file that you will be downloading from our sister website (jag4jag.com) is called neverforget911.pps. Please give it ample time to download as there are more than 150 slides in the presentation. To begin the download click anywhere on the picture. As a precautionary measure we recommend you check the file for viruses.
In memory of that terrible day, we are making available a special and very powerful Microsoft Powerpoint Slideshow Presentation as a free download to honor the victims of 9-11-2001. To view the slideshow you will need to download MICROSOFT'S POWERPOINT VIEWER if it is not already installed on your computer.
The name of the file that you will be downloading from our sister website (jag4jag.com) is called neverforget911.pps. Please give it ample time to download as there are more than 150 slides in the presentation. To begin the download click anywhere on the picture. As a precautionary measure we recommend you check the file for viruses.
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