Superchargers

A friend of mine, who is not yet on the net, asked me to post this question: During the 60's there was an E type running around with a supercharger. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with supercharging a 3.8L XK engine. He is presently racing a '61 and is looking for more horsepower. Thank you. - Ian

Ian: Funny you should ask. My first question to the group way back when there were 15 of us, was " does anyone know anything about this supercharger that I bought for my jag many years ago". John Elmgreen came through (as usual) and sent me some literature about the Carb for it (not the same one, I'm afraid and some interesting articles on supercharging in general. I still have the unit (Arnott-Cory vane type unit mfr. by Carburettors Ltd. London England. It is driven by double pulleys off the crank through a long torque tube and uses a very strange indeed sand cast carb that has to be seen to be believed. I believe water injection was part of the package. Years ago during my search for info I went to the old Briggs Cunningham Museum in Costa Mesa Ca (now defunct and mainly in Florida) I found a book in their giftshop showing this very unit installed on a 3.8 and to my undying regret, did not buy it. I have never seen in since. If anyone out there knows about this beast, let me (and Ian) know. I still intend to mount it under the bonnet of my 120 OTS along with other period speed equipment that I have been hoarding for years. All the best. - Bruce Baysinger

Hello Bruce ! What you describe is very similar to what Gordon Parker fitted in the fifties and early sixties in his "special" single seater the "HK Jaguar " . This thing with wich he managed to get BTD at the Brighton Speed Trial in 61 (or 62?) had a tubular chassis with clever de Dion rear axle, an ENV pre-selective gearbox, a 3,4 L XK engine (ex MK 7) with 2 Arnott superchargers feeding each 3 cylinders from 2 huge SU carbs. He claimed to get up to 400 BHP (Optimistic?) I raced it at Montlhery in the early eighties. The noise was superb but the car was frightening! The car is mentionned in D Nye's book " Powered by Jaguar ". I have some documents about it that I can fax if needed. However there are simpler ways of getting more power from an XK engine ! - Michel Gosset

Hello Michel: I have heard stories over the years and recall a brief note in one of the many Jaguar books in my library referring to a 120, I believe that was returned to Coventry for addition of a blower but, as it was described, bore no resemblance to this Arnott-Cory unit. Arrnot_Cory, I think, was a speed shop in Pasadena Ca (Rose Bowl) and they distributed this beasty. When I bought it it came with some spares, several inlet manifolds and a special double pulley that bolted to the front vibration dampener/pulley. The paperback book I referred to showed the unit on an 'E' Type. I would appreciate, of course, any info that I can get. My fax# is 562-431-1016 (listen for message and push the * (star) button or just put in the post to: Bruce Baysinger P.O. Box 2954 Seal Beach, Ca. USA It is currently buried deep in the bowels of hell garage at the moment, but when I get a chance, I'll dig in out, snap a few digitals, and sent you a graphic or two. Perhaps Dick White (hello Dick, you there?) can post it on the Message board and offer some head scratching opportunities to the rest of the faithful. Thanks again. - Bruce Baysinger

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