MAILBOX

LETTER OF THE MONTH

After reading about Jaguar’s innovative cars in the August issue (p20), I have a few points to add that may be of interest.

I worked with Jack Emerson in the engine development at Jaguar’s Foleshill factory for about a year fromAugust 1951, developing the 2.0-, 2.4- and 3.4-litre XK engines. The 3.4s were in several forms, from the production version, including a one-off alcohol-fuelled prototype, a low-compression engine for the Ministry of Defence, and, of course, the race engines.

I got to know the experimental shop supervisor Phil Weaver, who lived opposite me in Kenilworth. As well as building the cars, he did some development driving and I remember him having several exciting moments with the first C-type with disc brakes – heat soak into the fluid would give a perfect stop at one corner followed by nothing at all at the next. He took me