Q. Why was the 1960s E-Type Jaguar sports car Prince Harry and his new wife Meghan, the duchess of Sussex, drive on the grounds of Windsor Castle to the couple’s reception after their recent wedding in a 295-horsepower electric-powered car when all E-Types had a potent gasoline six-cylinder engine? Can I buy such an electric E-Type (commonly called the XK-E in America)? — E.N. (via Internet)
 
A. Sorry, that electric E-Type is a one-of-a-kind car built to publicize Jaguar and its future production electric cars. The car and engine swap reportedly cost around $400,500, says the publication Automotive News. The Jag isn’t registered for use on public roads. That’s why Prince Harry drove it on the private grounds of Windsor Castle to the couple’s reception.  



Q. Was the first post WorldWar II muscle car the 1964 Pontiac GTO? — E.H. (via Internet)

A. That’s the general opinion. But the first such muscle car was really the handsome 1949-50 Oldsmobile “Futuramic” 88. It was a last minute addition to the Olds 1949 line and had the automaker’s new high-compression, high torque 135 horsepower overhead valve V-8—also used in the heavier, more luxurious Olds 98. Being lighter than the 98, the 88 naturally was faster. In fact, the 88 dominated NASCAR stock car racing into 1951. Famous colorful auto writer Tom McCahill said the 88 with the new V-8 was “(H)ot as a hornet’s kiss.” 



Q. Do you think electric cars and self-driving autonomous vehicles have a future in America? — L.B. (via Internet)

A. It’s not known if there’s a future for large numbers of electric vehicles without government assistance to buy them. And it must be shown that people want and are willing to pay for autonomous vehicles. Also, it has to be proven they are safe. Testing of them shouldn’t be allowed on public roads, where they can kill and injure people until their technology is well proven. Automakers have established proving grounds for seemingly endless tests of vehicles to make sure they’re safe before being sold to the public. 

Q. Now that Danica Patrick announced that she has retired from racing after the last (2018) Indianapolis 500 in which she crashed, what did you think of her as a racer ? — J.W. (via Internet)
 
A. Patrick, 36, had a long and generally noteworthy career. For one thing, she’s the only woman to win an IndyCar Series race, the Indy Japan 300, and her third place finish at the 2009 Indy 500 stands as the top finish by a female driver at that famous track. In fact, toward the end of that race, it looked as if she might win it. Several top racers crashed during the 2018 Indy 500 partly because a modified type of race car was being used. Maybe the bottom-line is that Patrick has become a wealthy celebrity. During the 2018 Indy 500, in fact, she starred in at least three commercials during the race.



Q. Many new cars are being equipped with advanced safety gear, such as automatic braking, lane keeping aids and adaptive cruise control that keeps your car a safe distance from the one in front of you. But few new car buyers reportedly are trying out such gear. Why so, when such gear could save their lives? — A.C. (via Internet)

A. For one thing, many new car dealers don’t stock cars with these often-costly software-driven items. And many salespeople would rather concentrate on selling more cars than spending time explaining safety technology to car buyers. In fact, I’ll bet some salespeople don’t even know how such gear works.



Q. I notice that many smaller, mom-and-pop-owned new-car dealers are disappearing. Is this just my imagination? — P.S. (via Internet)
 
A. It’s not your imagination and is another sign of a “disappearing America.” Small to mid-size dealers are selling their businesses to auto retail giants or investment firms.




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