two2go

Not much chatter here on the Jaguar replicas. I still have my Duke Classic Roadsters replica. I've had some reliability problems the past couple of years and haven't driven it much. The last outing took 4 hours to do a 30 mile loop because the car stalled eight times and I had to wait for it to cool off before it would start and go a bit farther. My mechanic isolated the problem to the fuel pump overheating. A new electric pump seems to have solved the problem. I just did a 50 mile drive today without a hiccup. And my vibration problems were the most obvious of all--tires out of balance. The car is running its best ever since we bought it almost 5 years ago. No plan to sell immediately, but will try next summer. It's still a blast to drive. Especially when it doesn't threaten to strand me. I wish there were more resources for Classic Roadsters, like parts and suppliers. Thankfully the Chevette and Pinto/Mustang chassis are still reasonably well supported with parts and information.

Hi Keith. I'm a little late in getting back to this forum. Best of luck on your project. I have a Classic Roadsters factory-built Duke that I bought over four years ago and have been working on a little just to keep it in running order. I've posted some of my experiences here in the past. I can't quite tell from the picture but I'm guessing you have a Ford Mustang/Pinto doner because your alternator is on the opposite side of the engine bay compared to my Chevy Chevette-based car. Keep us posted, please. Bob M. in Parker, CO

Well, it's been over a year and not much activity on the SS-100 Duke scene. I have followed a few sales on the internet and eBay and see a range of prices still holding around $8-10k and up for the Classic Roadster models, not the VW beetle-based ones. I have continued to drive ours in good weather, and we have reached the point of deciding to sell as we move on to other interests. I had a semi-firm buyer with money in my hand, but he reneged after an extended drive. I have to agree with his objections: the car needs a new clutch and something under there is making it shake, rattle, but not roll at anything above 60mph. So it's going into the shop next week because apparently I haven't thrown enough $$ at it. And actually, I have invested relatively little since getting it almost 4 years ago. So I figure to make the car as trouble free and safe as possible and relist it to come close to breaking even for the cost and fun. If anyone is interested, pictures are scattered throughout this thread and can reply. My price will be in the upper $9k range. A very comparable red Duke sold on eBay last month for $10,001. I still haven't done anything about the windshield frame, but the rest of the car will be primo by the time I get my punch list worked.

Sweet!

That's pretty awesome. Looks like a little over a month from now (July 13). Can you post a selling price if you find out? I'll probably forget.

Here are a couple of nice Dukes. The white one has the authentic look and a real Jag inline 6. The blue one has an outstanding dash. Sweet inspiration. Blue Duke White Duke

Too much fun. On 2 cylinders no less. Who needs 600+ hp Vettes or Vipers?

The Brooklands screen would add a bit more authenticity, but I need the regular windshield frame with the groove on the top to connect the convertible top into. And if I did the Brooklands, then I would want to get a 4-spoke steering wheel and get regular fenders or fill in the side mount holes and put a spare on the back and get 19" wheels and paint it racing green and ... and ... (Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.)

I could use a new windshield frame. Does anyone know anything about the original Duke windshields; whether they were from another car of if any even exist on Planet Earth? I'm also looking into a refinish or replating, but mine is pretty pitted. And chrome plating seems to be a lost art thanks to the EPA.

Love the color. I get quite a few people asking if my Duke Jaguar is a Morgan. I would think people who know there is such a car as a Morgan would also know that they are pretty distinctive looking.

I'll hang around and add my email as C.Jim suggests. Bruce, what about a Facebook group for Classic Roadster replicas...maybe a bit bigger population than just Dukes?

We returned to our CO home the first of May. The weather has not been favorable for much driving of the Jaguar, but better weather is promising. Right after we got home, I ordered a rebuilt Holley carburetor from Rock Auto. It worked out to be the exact replacement and a relative bargain. It wasn't hard at all to replace the original. What a difference. The car starts pronto and the fast, mid, and low idle work perfectly. The only adjustment I had to make was to the low idle speed. The car will now idle smoothly at 900 rpm instead of the stuttering 1600 it took to keep it running. No more backfiring when slowing down. And noticeably more power. I am pulling hills in one gear higher than before. It's like a whole different car now. The carb was the last significant punch list item that needed attention, and the Jag really seems to be fully reliable and smooth running now. I have one cosmetic thing that could be hard to fix. The chrome of the windshield frame has a lot of pitting and really needs to be sandblasted and re-plated. As an old guy who has been out of the loop for too long, I am finding that chrome platers are pretty much an extinct species. There was a shop near here that developed a spray-on process that looked good, but they got hit by the floods two years ago and never fully recovered in their temporary facilities. I will keep looking for a solution.

Whoa, it looks like everyone has cashed in their chips. Am I the only one left who still has their Duke-Jag? We are back in Colorado for the summer. The weather is finally looking promising (sorry to all the Texans). I'm ready to roll (see my thread). Well Bruce, if this is it, let me know when you are ready to turn off the lights.

Yes, the old cars do need to be driven once in a while. I was fortunate to be able to drive my Jag around quite a bit during our time at home in November and December. It's buttoned up tight in our garage now awaiting our return in May, and good thing considering all the snow the Denver area is getting. In the mean time, I have been following the Chevette activity on the Facebook group and am somewhat intrigued by the mods folks are doing to their Chevettes (which is the donor for my Duke). The most interesting is putting in a later GM Ecotec fwd engine with 5-speed rwd tranny and a more conventional and heavier duty rear axle. But all that would be a few $ more than the carburetor I need. Other than that, I feel pretty confident to drive my Jag anywhere reasonable. I have driven it across town on I-25 and C-470, but much over 65 mph feels a bit much, and being between 18-wheelers at that speed is kind of sobering. The best is running up and down canyon roads in the mountains. I wasn't sure if you still had your Duke Bruce, but glad to see it still goes for you.

Back in AZ until May. The Jaguar is in hibernation back in its garage in Colorado. We had quite a bit of decent weather there in Nov., so I put on a few hundred miles driving the Jag around, as long as the streets were dry. The Jag is actually not a bad second car for the occasional trip and I have more confidence in its reliability all the time. With the top up and heater on, comfortable to at least 20 deg. so far. I definitely have to be careful about what I buy at Costco, though. Not a lot of cu. ft. inside. Made some contacts about the carburetor, and the consensus is on a new Weber. I hope to get it on soon after we return to CO.