Perhaps the thing that we most look forward to at the annual LS Fest event in Bowling Green, Kentucky is seeing the many wild, one-off creations that gearheads have concocted and DIY-engineered to fit GM’s famed V8 small-block engine. From boats to mail trucks to rear-engine Deloreans and everything in between, we’ve seen it all. Kris Henderson’s 1959 Jaguar Mark I sedan, of all things, certainly fit the “wild and crazy” criteria this year, as the once-luxury British saloon car did what it was never intended to: crank off quarter-mile laps and cruise the roads with authority.
The story behind this car isn’t one of a high-end restoration or even a manifestation of a lifelong passion for British cars — for Kris it was about taking something unconventional and turning it into a street and strip warrior that would undoubtedly draw attention no matter where it went. When Kris bought the car in 1988 for $800 from a newspaper ad in Oklahoma City, he wasn’t looking for a pristine collector’s piece. “It wasn’t because I loved Jaguars,” Kris says. “I just liked the look of it. It was different from what you usually saw at the time, and the price was right.”
Different is exactly what Kris has always aimed for. Growing up in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, he was surrounded by hot rods and drag racing thanks to his father, who taught auto mechanics at the local high school. “My dad always had something cool in the garage — ’57 Nomads, Corvettes, Camaros. We were always wrenching on something,” Kris recalls. By the time he was in high school, he was already working at a car dealership, honing his skills and building a foundation for what would become a lifelong love of fast cars.
That foundation led to the creation of this one-of-a-kind Jaguar. Over the years, it’s gone through multiple transformations, but its current form is a blend of careful engineering and trial-by-fire innovation. Powering this unlikely race car is a 6.0-liter GM LS engine from a 2000 model-year vehicle, mostly stock but with key upgrades where it counts. Kris didn’t go for the exotic; instead, he focused on reliability and power. Forged Diamond pistons and H-beam rods ensure the engine can handle serious boost, while the compression ratio is kept at a manageable 8.5:1. “I did all the machine work myself. I’ve got a lathe, mill, and valve grinder in my garage. It saves me time and money, plus I trust my own work more than anyone…
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