XK120 banger racing!
Discussion
These rose tinted spectacles are really wonderful, aren't they? Has anyone looked seriously at how much it cost to restore a wreck of a Jaguar these days? Let's look at a Mk X or a 420 for example. Last I heard a new wing was getting on for £1,000 and after you have spent £60,000 restoring your pride and joy to a wonderful condition then you have a car worth around £20,000 tops. That's why banger racing started - cars weren't worth restoring and were given their last blaze of glory before going to the breaker's yard.
People want us all to conserve every damned car these days but overlook the cost of restoration which in so many cases isn't worth it - ever. A friend has a 420 which they were given by the family, but it is pretty rotten. Enter Ebay where a chap had had restored the shell of his 420 at vast cost and then had a stroke; they bought it restored for £500 from the family but there is still, to get it perfect, around £5,000 to spend on it including preparation and painting and then all the work of stripping the old one and transferring everything over to the new shell. Add to that goodness knows how much for other parts they'll find need replacing and you end up with a labour of love just to save a rather unloved model. Interestingly, there is a four page article in the JDC magazine in July about all the Jaguars that end their days banger racing, and it is quite illuminating, showing cars such as Austin Sheerlines and even a Bentley Mk VI ending their days on the track.
If the body is - and it usually is - "returning to produce" thanks to the iron moth, then what harm in having one last blast with it and then selling the parts on? I tried to research many cars I have owned via the DVLA site and the majority no longer exist, including my Cooper S 1275 and many others. Do I weep? No, because they were past their sell by date in the end I guess and went to the scrap heap or were dismantled for parts.
So let's not be hypocritical about this. Cars reach the end of their life and that's it. May I die with my socks on with a young blonde in a last blaze of glory and then let them raise a glass to me in the pub after the cremation. They certainly won't be talking of trying to resurrect me, that's for certain. Oh, and I haven't seen anyone here offer to buy these "wonderful cars" and restore them either.
People want us all to conserve every damned car these days but overlook the cost of restoration which in so many cases isn't worth it - ever. A friend has a 420 which they were given by the family, but it is pretty rotten. Enter Ebay where a chap had had restored the shell of his 420 at vast cost and then had a stroke; they bought it restored for £500 from the family but there is still, to get it perfect, around £5,000 to spend on it including preparation and painting and then all the work of stripping the old one and transferring everything over to the new shell. Add to that goodness knows how much for other parts they'll find need replacing and you end up with a labour of love just to save a rather unloved model. Interestingly, there is a four page article in the JDC magazine in July about all the Jaguars that end their days banger racing, and it is quite illuminating, showing cars such as Austin Sheerlines and even a Bentley Mk VI ending their days on the track.
If the body is - and it usually is - "returning to produce" thanks to the iron moth, then what harm in having one last blast with it and then selling the parts on? I tried to research many cars I have owned via the DVLA site and the majority no longer exist, including my Cooper S 1275 and many others. Do I weep? No, because they were past their sell by date in the end I guess and went to the scrap heap or were dismantled for parts.
So let's not be hypocritical about this. Cars reach the end of their life and that's it. May I die with my socks on with a young blonde in a last blaze of glory and then let them raise a glass to me in the pub after the cremation. They certainly won't be talking of trying to resurrect me, that's for certain. Oh, and I haven't seen anyone here offer to buy these "wonderful cars" and restore them either.
Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 4th August 12:45
I know there were people who were interested in restoring the 150. I do not know whether they contact Lawrence, but having put a pointed into the Jag-Lovers XK forum I was contacted to find out how to make contact.
Once the PO had insisted on the car being cut up and so the roof being cut off mid pillars then I'm sure this 150 was past the point of economic restoration.
I still fail to understand the mentality of the PO who insisted on an XK being destroyed. It does sound like at the start of the story the car was viable but that repair was not permissible.
While I personally would not have done with the car what Lawrence chose to do. Having heard the story I will accept his decision.
I would have preferred to see the usable panels made available for people who did want them. I've been through the process of trying to find panels for my 150 and it can be a long time consuming and potentially very expensive process. I needed a replacement bonnet, mine had done what 150 bonnets like to do and come open at speed. CMC offered to make me a new one, for 6K, ouch! but even then it would have taken 3 months, if I could get Nick a decision quickly so he got his man to start making my bonnet before he started the next project. Otherwise I would probably have lost the majority of the summer. The situation with wings is worse, they rot.
The more panels that are lost to the XK community the harder that gets. This then pushes up the cost of restoring the cars and so more cars go beyond being economically viable to repair so more are lost. It is a vicious cycle.
Once the PO had insisted on the car being cut up and so the roof being cut off mid pillars then I'm sure this 150 was past the point of economic restoration.
I still fail to understand the mentality of the PO who insisted on an XK being destroyed. It does sound like at the start of the story the car was viable but that repair was not permissible.
While I personally would not have done with the car what Lawrence chose to do. Having heard the story I will accept his decision.
I would have preferred to see the usable panels made available for people who did want them. I've been through the process of trying to find panels for my 150 and it can be a long time consuming and potentially very expensive process. I needed a replacement bonnet, mine had done what 150 bonnets like to do and come open at speed. CMC offered to make me a new one, for 6K, ouch! but even then it would have taken 3 months, if I could get Nick a decision quickly so he got his man to start making my bonnet before he started the next project. Otherwise I would probably have lost the majority of the summer. The situation with wings is worse, they rot.
The more panels that are lost to the XK community the harder that gets. This then pushes up the cost of restoring the cars and so more cars go beyond being economically viable to repair so more are lost. It is a vicious cycle.
Edited by a8hex on Wednesday 4th August 13:44
Lowdrag, I can see where you're coming from.
I think you're a little conservative in your estimate for 420 wings, the last new pair I looked at were closer to £2,000 each. As a result a derelict 420 sits not more than 5 miles from my house, (with a 420G for company). It will likely suffer the same fate as the pair of S-types that were there a few years ago... it will be broken up or raced.
I seem to be in the minority... I actually went out and contacted a few racers and came away with a nice XJ6. Even so, I have not started working on the body of the car, and have spent in excess of £3,000 on mechanical work so far. The maths doesn't really work - I could have bought a better example for less than I have spent.
It came down to me wanting that particular car instead.
I would say this to people who wonder why the racers get to stuff first... one night when you are walking the dog, or going to the shop, count how many old cars you come across. Then look around your village. The numbers are surprising.
The other point is word of mouth... if you use an old car every day you get noticed, the cars will find you. Eg:
"Geoff has an old Jag on his yard his missus wants rid of."
Its surprising how many have come my way like that (most of them only good for bits.) I counted them up, and I've got through 17 XJ's in 7 years.
Regards,
Rich
I think you're a little conservative in your estimate for 420 wings, the last new pair I looked at were closer to £2,000 each. As a result a derelict 420 sits not more than 5 miles from my house, (with a 420G for company). It will likely suffer the same fate as the pair of S-types that were there a few years ago... it will be broken up or raced.
I seem to be in the minority... I actually went out and contacted a few racers and came away with a nice XJ6. Even so, I have not started working on the body of the car, and have spent in excess of £3,000 on mechanical work so far. The maths doesn't really work - I could have bought a better example for less than I have spent.
It came down to me wanting that particular car instead.
I would say this to people who wonder why the racers get to stuff first... one night when you are walking the dog, or going to the shop, count how many old cars you come across. Then look around your village. The numbers are surprising.
The other point is word of mouth... if you use an old car every day you get noticed, the cars will find you. Eg:
"Geoff has an old Jag on his yard his missus wants rid of."
Its surprising how many have come my way like that (most of them only good for bits.) I counted them up, and I've got through 17 XJ's in 7 years.
Regards,
Rich
d put a "cars towed away for cash" leaflet under the windscreen wiper of my XJ6 the other day.lowdrag said:
These rose tinted spectacles are really wonderful, aren't they? Has anyone looked seriously at how much it cost to restore a wreck of a Jaguar these days? Let's look at a Mk X or a 420 for example. Last I heard a new wing was getting on for £1,000 and after you have spent £60,000 restoring your pride and joy to a wonderful condition then you have a car worth around £20,000 tops. That's why banger racing started - cars weren't worth restoring and were given their last blaze of glory before going to the breaker's yard.
People want us all to conserve every damned car these days but overlook the cost of restoration which in so many cases isn't worth it - ever. A friend has a 420 which they were given by the family, but it is pretty rotten. Enter Ebay where a chap had had restored the shell of his 420 at vast cost and then had a stroke; they bought it restored for £500 from the family but there is still, to get it perfect, around £5,000 to spend on it including preparation and painting and then all the work of stripping the old one and transferring everything over to the new shell. Add to that goodness knows how much for other parts they'll find need replacing and you end up with a labour of love just to save a rather unloved model. Interestingly, there is a four page article in the JDC magazine in July about all the Jaguars that end their days banger racing, and it is quite illuminating, showing cars such as Austin Sheerlines and even a Bentley Mk VI ending their days on the track.
If the body is - and it usually is - "returning to produce" thanks to the iron moth, then what harm in having one last blast with it and then selling the parts on? I tried to research many cars I have owned via the DVLA site and the majority no longer exist, including my Cooper S 1275 and many others. Do I weep? No, because they were past their sell by date in the end I guess and went to the scrap heap or were dismantled for parts.
So let's not be hypocritical about this. Cars reach the end of their life and that's it. May I die with my socks on with a young blonde in a last blaze of glory and then let them raise a glass to me in the pub after the cremation. They certainly won't be talking of trying to resurrect me, that's for certain. Oh, and I haven't seen anyone here offer to buy these "wonderful cars" and restore them either.
Agreed 100%.People want us all to conserve every damned car these days but overlook the cost of restoration which in so many cases isn't worth it - ever. A friend has a 420 which they were given by the family, but it is pretty rotten. Enter Ebay where a chap had had restored the shell of his 420 at vast cost and then had a stroke; they bought it restored for £500 from the family but there is still, to get it perfect, around £5,000 to spend on it including preparation and painting and then all the work of stripping the old one and transferring everything over to the new shell. Add to that goodness knows how much for other parts they'll find need replacing and you end up with a labour of love just to save a rather unloved model. Interestingly, there is a four page article in the JDC magazine in July about all the Jaguars that end their days banger racing, and it is quite illuminating, showing cars such as Austin Sheerlines and even a Bentley Mk VI ending their days on the track.
If the body is - and it usually is - "returning to produce" thanks to the iron moth, then what harm in having one last blast with it and then selling the parts on? I tried to research many cars I have owned via the DVLA site and the majority no longer exist, including my Cooper S 1275 and many others. Do I weep? No, because they were past their sell by date in the end I guess and went to the scrap heap or were dismantled for parts.
So let's not be hypocritical about this. Cars reach the end of their life and that's it. May I die with my socks on with a young blonde in a last blaze of glory and then let them raise a glass to me in the pub after the cremation. They certainly won't be talking of trying to resurrect me, that's for certain. Oh, and I haven't seen anyone here offer to buy these "wonderful cars" and restore them either.
Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 4th August 12:45
Actually, if you think about it, it's a form of historic racing. Knacked out old Jags have long been used as banger racers, so in a way it's nice to see, and indeed hear, such a veteran doing the drifting and banging thing. There's worse ways for a car to die.
IMO there's far too many old Jags kept locked up and never seen on the roads.
Gnostic Ascent said:
Andy Zarse said:
IMO there's far too many old Jags kept locked up and never seen on the roads.
Garage Queens. Now that is a whole other thread in itself. A car was made to use. It doesn't really mind getting wet. Get out and drive it.
guru_1071 said:
plonker751 said:
i bet you will have a big version framed in your house, and in years to come you will still be able to say, 'yeah, i raced that!' when people ask!
a8hex said:
It does look fun at that point
it was unbeleivable mate, still buzzing slighty now lol, just a shame that after the 1st lap i got a puncture on the rear drivers side wheel which made it a right pig in the corners, but once on the straight, even with a puncture, 4.2 jags and even a 3.9 rover v8 powered series 2 xj6 couldnt catch me.Got some more race pictures if anyones interested.
Still trying to get some pics of the rover people, just camera is playing up
well, thats that, the rover is officially dead'ish now, axle on the floor, all 4 leaf springs have snapped, back ends jacked in, wont reverse but will still drive forward, got lots of pictures on a diffrent camera to put up, pre-race, during and after if anyones interested int the pre-race and after ones.
And just to let you all no, theres a fair few bits and pieces been saved off the car, full set of windows, engine and gearbox, just needs distributr, spare half shafts etc.
No need to worry now, back to the normal run of the mill rubbish for racing, mk3 granada, vectra etc
And just to let you all no, theres a fair few bits and pieces been saved off the car, full set of windows, engine and gearbox, just needs distributr, spare half shafts etc.
No need to worry now, back to the normal run of the mill rubbish for racing, mk3 granada, vectra etc
plonker751 said:
well, thats that, the rover is officially dead'ish now, axle on the floor, all 4 leaf springs have snapped, back ends jacked in, wont reverse but will still drive forward, got lots of pictures on a diffrent camera to put up, pre-race, during and after if anyones interested int the pre-race and after ones.
And just to let you all no, theres a fair few bits and pieces been saved off the car, full set of windows, engine and gearbox, just needs distributr, spare half shafts etc.
No need to worry now, back to the normal run of the mill rubbish for racing,mk3 granada, vectra etc
Go for the Vectra, I'll shut up then And just to let you all no, theres a fair few bits and pieces been saved off the car, full set of windows, engine and gearbox, just needs distributr, spare half shafts etc.
No need to worry now, back to the normal run of the mill rubbish for racing,
RetroCosworth said:
plonker751 said:
well, thats that, the rover is officially dead'ish now, axle on the floor, all 4 leaf springs have snapped, back ends jacked in, wont reverse but will still drive forward, got lots of pictures on a diffrent camera to put up, pre-race, during and after if anyones interested int the pre-race and after ones.
And just to let you all no, theres a fair few bits and pieces been saved off the car, full set of windows, engine and gearbox, just needs distributr, spare half shafts etc.
No need to worry now, back to the normal run of the mill rubbish for racing,mk3 granada, vectra etc
Go for the Vectra, I'll shut up then And just to let you all no, theres a fair few bits and pieces been saved off the car, full set of windows, engine and gearbox, just needs distributr, spare half shafts etc.
No need to worry now, back to the normal run of the mill rubbish for racing,
rover pics as well, before and after race, will get some pre race pics up this week
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