The 'E' Type Forum

I think everyone knows 9600 HP started life as a LHD, when did it change to RHD, before Mr Porter found it, or after?

It was changed to RHD under Jaguar ownership.

Hi David, thank you for the information, do the original records show this change?
Its just that an article on http://www.imcdb.org seems to dispute this?
They seem to doubt the cars provenance which considering its fame seems unbelievable.

The car which Philip Porter has unquestionably is the genuine article. If you get an opportunity to examine it ( and PP is quite willing to oblige if you ask him ) you will find that it has many of the non-standard features which were not incorporated on the production cars . The seats are the easiest to spot but there are many other details

Can't actually find the article* on imdb but the writer was clearly an idiot for not doing the most elementary of research:

Feel free to refer them here if you want to set the record straight. If you want more information on 9600 HP it is worth getting hold of Philip Porter's book 'The Most Famous Car in The World'


Not to be confused with this book:

Both fascinating books to read actually.

EDIT: * not an article, just a series of posts; some informed, some misinformed

omnipeta wrote:Hi David, thank you for the information, do the original records show this?

You know what the records show because you routinely tout your access to them. Your question therefore appears a little disingenuous.

omnipeta wrote:....They seem to doubt the cars provenance which considering its fame seems unbelievable.

Almost as unbelievable as a vendor who has the brass neck to undercut the factory and sell information from a supposedly legitimate copy of Jaguar' entire build records, when no such copy exists. Before questioning the provenance of Mr Porter's car I would look a little closer to home. It is 'unbelievable' to me that anyone could feel at ease or claim honest provenance for such records, which presumably walked out of Jaguar Heritage on their own two feet, without ever stating publicly and unequivocally exactly how they came to be liberated from Jaguar's sole custody.

There are also people who doubt the provenance of the Lindner car - or specifically what was done during restoration. I was able to see Pete Southam's work first hand as the restoration progressed, also lucky enough to talk to Peter Wilson who built the thing at the Jaguar Experimental workshop and I think it is fair to say it is as good as it gets. There are always going to be conspiracy theorists who want to find fault and disparage the work of others. But I am happy to be corrected, so (omnipeta), if you have any information to the contrary please put it on the table!

Peter, you really do get angry over things/events you know absolutely nothing about, neither myself nor Mark Dale have to justify anything to you or anyone else for that matter, I have no intention of answering ridiculous speculation based upon innuendo and rumour, suffice to say that Classic Car Heritage was set up legally and has a growing standing for the quality of it?s service. I worked at Jaguar for over 2 decades and believe I have more of an insight than the ill informed ?cabal? who consistently engage in this inane groundless tittle-tattle. My original question has not really been answered; do the original records show this change from LHD to RHD? The quote below may explain my feelings at this moment, sincere and kind regards, Tom.
He gossips habitually; he lacks the common wisdom to keep still that deadly enemy of man, his own tongue? Mark Twain
PS I know Mark Dale is completely fed up with the never ending ?who did what ?when, why, how?? and now intends to sell the business on, I?ve personally known him for 10 years and he is one of the most decent, honest individuals I have met, by the way people who know me say the same things about me, but I would not expect you to believe either of these endorsements. Mark has never got involved personally in any board discussions, he leaves that to me, so you may have got your way (referring to your jaglovers post) and your obvious burning desire to see Classic Car Heritage?s demise.

Tom

Your comments are a reasonable riposte to Peter's but can we get back to the point please?

You originally asked when 9600 HP was changed to RHD, before or after Porter found it and I think the answer is in that picture from the January/February 1962 edition of 'The Motor'. Jaguar used it as "the Press hack" until it was sold later that year to the UK market. None of us here have access to the factory records so we can only present what is in the public domain. On the other hand you seem to have access to these records through your association with Classic Car Heritage so perhaps you can enlighten us? As regards the imcdb.org "article" it just seems to be a short thread with some informed and misinformed views about whether the vehicle used in the film 'The Greatest Ever' was the real 9600 HP: http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_273311-Jag ... -1960.html

A couple more pictures from Philip's book 'The Most Famous Car in the World" to illustrate the point:



If you do not have this book it is certainly worth getting as it is a very good piece of detective work and an enthralling read.