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Stolen Jaguar Recovered Forty-Six Years Later

Forty-six years ago Ivan Schneider, successful Manhattan lawyer, bought himself the Jaguar convertible that would feature in a most unusual tale of unrequited love. It was the first (and "prettiest") of many luxury cars he would own, his companion on fast drives - and the only one that was ever stolen. Forty-six years later, a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol analyst running a routine export check through a stolen car database came up with a hit. The 1967 Jaguar XKE was hot. The problem: It was already on a cargo ship, in a container, headed for Europe, two days out of the Port of Long Beach on the Pacific Ocean. Investigators with the California Highway Patrol and nonprofit National Insurance Crime Bureau got to work. New York police still had the March 1968 incident report. CHP investigator Michael Maleta spoke with Schneider in Florida, where he now lives. Schneider thought it was a prank. "After we convinced him, he was excited," said Maleta. After all, Schneider told The Associated Press on Wednesday, he would think of the car every time he bought a new one. And, he said, he is a car guy who has owned quite a few exotics. For the months he owned it, he was in love. "I've always said that was the prettiest," Schneider, now 82, said. Tracing the car's history, Maleta learned the Southern California man exporting it to the Netherlands had bought it about three months ago from an owner in the San Joaquin Valley, who himself had it 40 years. What happened between its disappearance from the concrete canyons of the Upper East Side and its California sojourn - Maleta hopes his investigation will answer that. After its out-and-back sea journey to the Netherlands, the car is back in Southern California, more than two months after the law finally found it. It's rusty and scratched, but still worth about $24,000 - and far more if restored, as Schneider plans to do. He just won't push it too hard. It's old, so is he, and though beautiful it is known for trouble under the hood. "I'll use it as a Sunday car," Schneider said. "They were never reliable." At least, one day soon, it will be back home. Related Gallery 2014 Jaguar XJR Test Drive Weird Car News Jaguar stolen car

Jaguar considering lightweight F-Type Club Sport?

In the market for a Jaguar F-Type? Then let us commend you, first of all, on your good taste. But you've got a difficult decision ahead of you: Do you go for the power of the V8 or the lighter weight of the V6? It's a tough call, even if the ~$30k range in price from the entry model to the flagship doesn't phase you.
Well, to make the decision easier (or potentially more difficult), Jaguar is said to be looking into yet another tempting option: that of a lightweight Club Sport model. Tipped to be based on the coupe (and not the heavier roadster), the F-Type Club Sport would allegedly shed a good 400 pounds or so off the curb weight, not so much through the removal of one component or another but through a "holistic" approach that would call on all aspects of the car to play their part in ditching excess weight. That could mean everything from carbon-fiber body panels to a stripped-out interior denuded of sound-deadening materials and creature comforts, says Auto Express.
In developing the rumored F-Type Club Sport, Jaguar is apparently facing a similar dilemma to what buyers are pondering: will it base the track-focused model on the top-of-the-line F-Type R, with its 5.0-liter supercharged V8 driving 542 horsepower to the rear set of lighweight alloys but weighing down the schnoz? Or should it try to get more power out of the lighter 3.0-liter supercharged V6, which currently nets 340 hp in base form and 380 in S spec? Let Jag know what you'd do by leaving your thoughts in Comments.

Lister reveals first continuation Knobbly roadster at Autosport

It's been over a year since we reported on a plan to revive Lister Cars, and now the storied British racing constructor has revealed the first production continuation example of its legendary Knobbly roadster. Built to the same specifications as the original from 1958, using the same drawings and equipment, the reborn Knobbly features aluminum bodywork and a race-prepped 3.8-liter straight six out of a Jaguar D-Type and producing 330 horsepower. Revealed at the Autosport International race car show in Birmingham, the new Knobbly arrives on Lister's 60th anniversary and less than a month after the passing of its founder, Brian Lister. Only ten examples like this one will be built, all of which have already been spoken for, prompting Lister to consider an additional three examples. Each is eligible under FIA regulations to compete in vintage racing events, with performance specs quoting a 4.3-second 0-60 time and a top speed of 181 miles per hour. LISTER CARS' REBORN 'KNOBBLY' MAKES PUBLIC DEBUT AT AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL - Lister Cars' reborn 'Knobbly' racer has made its public debut at Autosport International - Built to the very same specification as the original 1958 'Knobbly' it uses the late Brian Lister's original drawings and manufacturing jigs - Lister has received an overwhelming response to its limited run of ten continuations and order books are full - Lister Cars is now considering creating three individual final editions each celebrating the racing pedigree of the 'Knobbly' in a unique and memorable way Lister Cars' reborn 'Knobbly' racer has made its public debut at Autosport International at the NEC Birmingham. Celebrating Lister's 60th anniversary, the reborn 'Knobbly' is built to the very same specification as the original 1958 'Knobbly', using the late Brian Lister's original drawings and manufacturing jigs. It is powered by a race-prepared Jaguar D-Type 3.8-litre straight-six, producing 330bhp. All 'Knobbly' models are built at Lister Cars' Cambridge factory to meet relevant FIA racing regulations, with owners able to compete in a series of Lister historic race meetings planned during 2015. Despite following an original design laid out more than 55 years ago, the reborn 'Knobbly' has performance to match modern sports cars; it can accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds and hit a top speed of 181mph. Lister Cars has already received an overwhelming response to its limited run and the 10 cars are now sold out.