'Jaguar XK120 - Anatomie eines Kultobjekts BAND 1'

A few of us have had the good fortune to have seen some of Urs' book in proof form, and I recall some very favourable comments a couple of months back from a Lister who had seen these in Paris. I just want to say that, from the proofs, I believe Urs' book is nothing short of magnificent!

He has deliberately chosen to stick with 120s at this stage due to the huge job of covering the field of all XKs, and this has enabled him to really get down to the fine detail. Looking through the proofs, it is almost like he has taken every part of an XK (including detailed engine parts) and photographed the different 120 versions of these side by side for comparison purposes.

An example is the front timing chain cover, shown in different versions front and back. All the blocks and heads are there also and detailed changes to crankshafts. It is like a super parts book with every detail photographically illustrated.

Another feature is the treatment of alloy 120s, where Urs owns one or two very original examples, and they are shown partly dismantled.

A book like Phillip Porter's Original Jaguar XK is also a magnificent achievement, but was written to the requirements of a commercial publisher (limiting things like the final size, number and size of photos etc) and therefore cannot hope to cover in the same depth as Urs has done for the 120.

Also the Porter book is produced at what I would regard as a very modest price (about GBP20) and is fantastic value. It appears however that Urs' book is not constrained by commercial considerations in any way and has been produced to satisfy an inner urge to document all about 120s for the benefit and enjoyment of us all. It is full of pictures, fully captioned, and with an attractive up to date layout.

The text is in German but I understand that an English edition is being worked on. I have a small German / English XK dictionary produced with Rob Reilly a few years ago (a few pages of technical terms re XKs) which I have sent to Urs and I think we will probably get it put up on the XK-Lovers website for ready reference.

The pictures tell the story anyway.

So, have I said enough? If you have the slightest interest in XKs, you should buy this book and marvel at it and get great pleasure from it. If you have the slightest interest in motoring literature you should also buy it. It is a classic already.

I don't know what the price will be but I expect it to be expensive especially for US buyers who, in my opinion, looking from Australia, have always been able to get books nearly for free!

Whatever, the cost will be but a fraction of the cost of production in terms of the years of research etc that have gone into it.

[Addenda]

I have now received my copy of Urs' book Jaguar XK120.

I should now add that it is a magnificent production - everything about it is of the highest quality - for example, the general layout and artwork, and the wonderful photography, crystal clear - and not just of beautiful cars in fields, but the finest details of virtually every part.

There is also evidence throughout of the most painstaking research, with items included such as copies of contemporary advertisements by suppliers (e.g. Champion spark plugs) and also of packaging used by Lucas and others when supplying replacement parts, or for the Minor Replacement Outfit etc.

This book is quite magnificent, and I wonder whether anything comparable has ever been produced anywhere in the world for any other make or model of motor vehicle.

John Elmgreen, Australia
June 2000