[xk] 1957 Brown's Lane fire video

Here’s something I hadn’t seen before.
A news reporter interviewing Sir William the day after.

http://oldcoventryonfilm.vidmeup.com/view?q=4f1fe5eeabc94.flv--
XK120 FHC, Mark V saloon, XJ12L Series II, S-Type 3.0
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

First time for me also.

Amazing what’s still out there.

Most reports these days talk mostly of the loss of D-types and XKSS, but
surely the XK140 roadsters must have been the final January 1957 production,
ending any more, with a gap to the first of the XK150s, rather than the
usual overlap/runout of old model prior to new model release. The fire
happened on the evening of 12 Feb 1957.

JDHT records advise FIVE Jan 1957 build XK140 OTS, all LHD so intended for
USA, were destroyed in fire - interesting cars in that these January 1957
LHD XK140 roadsters “introduced” the new XK150 range of ‘standard’ paint
colours.
But others were still despatched in the weeks after 12 Feb, so maybe a few
escaped damage, or more likely were recoverable.

Roger Payne
XK140MC OTS; 4.2E OTS; DaimlerSV8
Canberra, Australia

.-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xk@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xk@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
Rob Reilly
Sent: 29 October, 2015 07:29
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Subject: [xk] 1957 Brown’s Lane fire video

Here’s something I hadn’t seen before.
A news reporter interviewing Sir William the day after.

http://oldcoventryonfilm.vidmeup.com/view?q=4f1fe5eeabc94.flv

XK120 FHC, Mark V saloon, XJ12L Series II, S-Type 3.0 --Posted using
Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

In reply to a message from Roger Payne sent Wed 28 Oct 2015:

Roger,
My car was built 15,Jan and dispatched 15, Feb. should I
assume it is a survivor?–
Dparker
Babylon/New York, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

12 February, 1957 was the fire.

Jaguars damaged or destroyed due to the fire are
5 rhd MK VII Saloons damaged
1 rhd and 5 lhd MK VII Saloons destroyed
64 rhd and 104 lhd MK VIIIs damaged
36 rhd and 54 lhd MK VIIIs destroyed
no 2.4 Saloons damaged or destroyed
2 rhd and 124 lhd 3.4 Saloons damaged
no rhd, 61 lhd 3.4 Saloons destroyed
no XK 140 DHCs damaged, 2 destroyed

Does anyone have the chassis numbers for the above cars damages or
destroyed?

5 D-Types destroyed
XKD543 Destroyed in Factory Fire
XKD556 Destroyed in Factory Fire
XKD565 Destroyed in Factory Fire
XKD571 Destroyed in Factory Fire
XKD574 Destroyed in Factory Fire

The totals damaged are:
71 rhd and 228 lhd cars (299 total), and
42 rhd and 122 lhd (164 total) destroyed.

G’day Dparker,

Tell me your XK140s Chassis and Engine Numbers (and while you’re at it Body
and Gearbox numbers) and I will tell you how close your car was to the
action, but with those build dates/dispatch dates your car was probably in
amongst the action.
(Direct and not on-list if you prefer)

I do have a record of the five XK140s (by Chassis Number) that were
destroyed in the 12 Feb 1957 fire, but not in strict Chassis Number sequence
indicative of position actually on the line, or in dispatch preparation bay.

One last question for another reason, do you know what your cars original
paint colour was?
(and any sign of fire scorch marks on the paint?)

Roger Payne
XK140MC OTS; 4.2E OTS; DaimlerSV8
Canberra, Australia

.-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xk@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xk@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
Dparker
Sent: 30 October, 2015 12:19
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Subject: RE: [xk] 1957 Brown’s Lane fire video

In reply to a message from Roger Payne sent Wed 28 Oct 2015:

Roger,
My car was built 15,Jan and dispatched 15, Feb. should I assume it is a
survivor?

Dparker
Babylon/New York, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]-- --Support
Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

Where did that come from Steve,

Somewhat at odds with my info.

RE XK140:-
I record five LHD-OTS XK140 chassis numbers of supposedly destroyed cars,
out of the 161 LHD OTS actually built in January 1957, but some of which had
already been dispatched before fire on 12 Feb.
No RHD roadster built in Jan 1957.

No RHD FHC built in Jan 1957.
Five LHD FHC built in January 1957 but last on 9th Jan, so most (and maybe
all) dispatched before fire.

One RHD DHC built in 1957, but dispatched, and a known survivor today.
Seven LHD DHC built in January 1957 but again last on 9th Jan, so most (and
maybe all) dispatched before fire. (Certainly not on my list of chassis
numbers as being destroyed)

I have seen the D-type destroyed numbers before.

No info at all about the saloons.

Roger

Roger Payne
XK140MC OTS; 4.2E OTS; DaimlerSV8
Canberra, Australia

.-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xk@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xk@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
Steve Kennedy
Sent: 30 October, 2015 14:48
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Subject: RE: [xk] 1957 Brown’s Lane fire video

12 February, 1957 was the fire.

Jaguars damaged or destroyed due to the fire are
5 rhd MK VII Saloons damaged
1 rhd and 5 lhd MK VII Saloons destroyed
64 rhd and 104 lhd MK VIIIs damaged
36 rhd and 54 lhd MK VIIIs destroyed
no 2.4 Saloons damaged or destroyed
2 rhd and 124 lhd 3.4 Saloons damaged
no rhd, 61 lhd 3.4 Saloons destroyed
no XK 140 DHCs damaged, 2 destroyed

Does anyone have the chassis numbers for the above cars damages or
destroyed?

5 D-Types destroyed
XKD543 Destroyed in Factory Fire
XKD556 Destroyed in Factory Fire
XKD565 Destroyed in Factory Fire
XKD571 Destroyed in Factory Fire
XKD574 Destroyed in Factory Fire

The totals damaged are:
71 rhd and 228 lhd cars (299 total), and
42 rhd and 122 lhd (164 total) destroyed.

In reply to a message from Roger Payne sent Thu 29 Oct 2015:

Looking at the video and other photos in various books, I
see a number of 140 FHCs and I think I see one DHC in the
junk pile. The FHCs are up in the air, perhaps on some sort
of structure. Perhaps these were bodies not yet set on
chassis, thus incomplete and not counted in the loss totals.–
XK120 FHC, Mark V saloon, XJ12L Series II, S-Type 3.0
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

May also explain why the Body Numbers count does not fully reconcile with
the Chassis No count, given chassis supplied to specialist body builders are
already allowed for in the JDHT statistics.

Roger

Roger Payne
XK140MC OTS; 4.2E OTS; DaimlerSV8
Canberra, Australia

.-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xk@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xk@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
Rob Reilly
Sent: 31 October, 2015 02:11
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Subject: RE: [xk] 1957 Brown’s Lane fire video

In reply to a message from Roger Payne sent Thu 29 Oct 2015:

Looking at the video and other photos in various books, I see a number of
140 FHCs and I think I see one DHC in the junk pile. The FHCs are up in the
air, perhaps on some sort of structure. Perhaps these were bodies not yet
set on chassis, thus incomplete and not counted in the loss totals.

XK120 FHC, Mark V saloon, XJ12L Series II, S-Type 3.0 --Posted using
Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]-- --Support Jag-lovers - Donate
at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

In reply to a message from Roger Payne sent Thu 29 Oct 2015:

Roger,
Chasis #: 813176
Engine #: G98888S
Body #: F13250
Gearbox #: JL37080CR

Original color Creme. Currently red so no idea of scorch
marks. Thanks for your response–
Dparker
Babylon/New York, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

In reply to a message from Dparker sent Fri 30 Oct 2015:

I thought Sir William displayed quite an example of stiff
upper lip and Dunkirk spirit.–
XK120 FHC, Mark V saloon, XJ12L Series II, S-Type 3.0
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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1 Like

Does anyone know anything else about cars that were detroied? In particular about the Xkd543, i’m looking for some proof of the restauration, someone says that it’s been rebuilt in 2001 by Gary Pearson, but i’ve heard other version. Thank you for the time

Can anyone still access the video or knows where it would still be available?

According to Larson et. al. in “Jaguar C-type, D-type & Lightweight E-type Register” (2014), XKD 543 was seriously damaged in the factory fire and designated “strip for salvage”. The engine was rebuilt and possibly sold to Tojeiro, but the authors note that the car did not leave the factory with a bill of sale as a complete entity. In January 2001 Gary Person acquired the original frame and other parts of XKD 543 and, " built a car to original production D-type specification around this frame using many period D-type parts and a new monocoque."

Chris.

These may be the ones.

Frankie

I don’t think it is one of those. There is no William Lyons interview in there.

But thanks for the links anyway!

Cheers,
Harald