Where can I find an XKSS (replica)?

[Longnose]

Greetings everyone. It looks like XKSS's don't get discussed very often, so hopefully this will be a catalyst for a few thoughts from Pistonhead experts.

I would like to buy a LR/RAM/Realm XKSS but they don't seem to come on the market very often. The last one I saw was auctioned by Bonhams in June.

My hobby budget won't stretch to an aluminium Lynx or Proteus etc., and although there's always a few RAM D-Types for sale (which can be very appealing), an XKSS is what I really want.

Does anyone have any leads, suggestions or comments on the wisdom of this? Ideally a finished car (with 16" wheels, triple Webers, a lower ride height and a slightly more inclined windscreen!), but also an incomplete project, or a car which needs some attention.

I spoke to Realm a couple of days ago and apparently 98 out of 693 produced were XK-SS's.

Regards to all.

[Longnose]

No, I'm not. I was in the Jaguar Drivers Club a few years ago when I owned an E-Type, but I'm not sure which Jaguar club would be best. They can be a bit snooty about replicas and kits.

[Longnose]

Yes, I saw that on my internet trawling. Was it converted from a Lynx D-Type? Even so, it looks very nice to me but over budget I fear. Thanks for the link, and to A8hex for the D-Type link.

[Longnose]

Thank you for the comprehensive expert response which covers all the options. I saw the pics of your Lynx on this site and it does look fabulous!

I spoke to Realm a few days ago and was told that production has been 'mothballed' rather than stopped. He said similar things about restricted space inside an XKSS and that a C-Type is a more practical proposition. From your description I'm too tall, but I don't want a C-Type :-(

I was at Prescott E-Type Day in June and spoke to TWR. Their price for their only XKSS at that time was to be about £65-70K with August delivery, which was described as previously built but completely dismantled and refurbished.

The Classic Jaguar Replicas blue XKSS in their website pictures was on Ebay recently for £65K. Unsold (with twin SU's, wrong steering wheel and (in my opinion) awful interior).

I know it's supply and demand but advertised prices for fibre glass cars, which are essentially home built kits, do seem to be ridiculously high with extremely variable build quality. You can't blame people for trying to get a good price but I have noticed that RAM D-Type adverts remain in place for months and months, and auctions don't reach the reserve price and are unsold.

Everyone seems to be offering aluminium bodies at the moment: TWR, CJR, Tester Engineering, and Lynx. I guess these all originate from the Czech "Oldtimer Klassic" company. £250K seems a bit steep, there must be a very healthy profit margin in there.

I suppose I'll have to wait for a fibre glass car to become available. I imagine they are passed on by word of mouth and don't necessarily make it into the ads or auctions. Or compromise on a RAM D-Type - there always seem to be a few for sale.

Thanks again for all the input. Please let me know if you hear of anything for sale.

[Longnose]

That would be great. Thanks very much.

[Longnose]

Yes, interesting pricing information. I have been rummaging through recent auction results and, for example, there's plenty of choice of Cobra 'evocations' at anything between £11K and £24K. I don't want one, but the structure under the skin, parts and build time can't be very different from a D-Type or XK-SS kit. Also interesting is that less than £40K would buy a nice Aston Martin DB9 with only 29,000 miles.

I still want an XK-SS though!

[Longnose]

I am too tall (but shrinking with age), not particularly well built, definitely over 35 and I've had 3 E-Types. I'll squeeze in somehow.

[Longnose]

Still looking. Nothing yet :-(

[Longnose]

Thank you very much. I appreciate your help.

This one ( http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C501734 ) has been for sale for months and months in Germany but it seems a bit pricey. Observations welcome.

[Longnose]

I went to the Racing Car Show at the NEC yesterday. Spent a lot of time drooling over this. Anyone want to guess what the engine picture is from (clue: not a D-Type or XKSS)...

[Longnose]

That's very clever as the 3rd picture didn't seem to get uploaded. You must have seen it the NEC. Yes, it is a "continuation" Lister. No champagne or cigar I'm afraid.

[Longnose]

Just keeping this thread alive...

Did anyone see the Cars supplement of the Saturday Daily Telegraph a couple of weeks ago? Apparently someone in the USA called Howard Lutnick has had XKSS701 (morphed from XKD555) made into a replica of Steve McQueen's car, i.e. no luggage rack, no side windows and a tonneau cover rolled up behind the seats. I think I prefer the 'standard' look. Nice registration number though: XKS 5.

[Longnose]

Thanks. I'll have a look.

[Longnose]

Hi Kevan,

As I said above I will look at your advert. I'm on holiday at the moment and don't have much time or internet. I will PM you tomorrow.

Thanks and regards,
Paul

[Longnose]

Yes, I saw that one. It's got a nice riveted aluminium floor, but I can't make sense of the price. Over the past year I've been to quite a few auctions. No XKSS's but quite a few RAM D-Types, most recently last month at Coy's, Sandown Park. £35K is tops for a nice triple Weber RAM D-Type. I'm beginning to think about abandoning XKSS's and going for a GT40 - my other desirable replica. There seem to be a few around at more sensible prices.

Thanks for keeping a lookout and monitoring the cars for sale.

[Longnose]

I think there are people here trying to talk prices up! Nobody knows what cars are sold for in private transactions and the only public information is auction results. I go to a few of them. Here's three nice looking GT40 auction results in the last month: Silverstone: £42750, Coys: not sold at £63000, H&H: £48250. That includes auctioneers fees so the sellers got less. Who says £75K is the going rate???

One more result: I saw a racing car sold and at the Autosport show in January for £9K and it was in a dealer for £29995 a week later. It's a minefield out there.

[Longnose]

Mr. Lowdrag, "An alloy Proteus is on the market at a tad under £100,000". I haven't seen this. Can you provide more information please?

[Longnose]

>>ETA: Like your site name. Not many people would get the reference.

McQueen's California registration number?

[Longnose]

I interpreted that as road registered in North America. Maybe not as restrictive there?

[Longnose]

My OCD is getting worse.
Note (in red) that one bolt is longer than the other, and (in green) the nut and bolt is the other way around.
Looks like they were assembled by apprentices.