Worth Restoring An XJS?

[Vodka Margarine]

After seeing an XJS (and falling in love with it) I was thinking of restoring one as a project over a few years.

I don't have any experience but I have common sense and I know how to use a spanner.

Am I completely bonkers for even thinking of attempting this? And is it worth doing to such a car?

[NormanD]

I expect that the body may be the problem, are you any good with a welder?

May I sugest joining the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, and get back copies of their mags that covered XJSs

There is a club meeting to the west of Farnham tonight, 8th May,
open this link for a map and directions.
www.jaguar-enthusiasts.org.uk/regions.html

I'll be there ask for NormanD

Edited by NormanD on Tuesday 8th May 17:38

[cardigankid]

I really doubt that you will get your money back out of it.

[Vodka Margarine]

cardigankid said:

I really doubt that you will get your money back out of it.

Who said I would ever plan on selling it?

[Vodka Margarine]

NormanD said:

I expect that the body may be the problem, are you any good with a welder?

May I sugest joining the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, and get back copies of their mags that covered XJSs

There is a club meeting to the west of Farnham tonight, 8th May,
open this link for a map and directions.
www.jaguar-enthusiasts.org.uk/regions.html

I'll be there ask for NormanD

Edited by NormanD on Tuesday 8th May 17:38

Thanks for the advice Norman!

I can't make it tonight (car is broken at the moment and I really need to get on with some work!) but I will make an attempt to go to the next meeting.

[thebatman]

I think what cardigankid meant was that you may as well buy a good one rather than blow thousands trying to 'silk purse n sow's ear' one...I know, cos I bin there and done it. Apparently there is enough wiring in an XJS to go to the Sun and back. Even silly things like the special petrol tank rotting devise in one, will cost you the price of a complete car just to replace. Moral: Get the best you can afford and keep it in the lounge, out of harms way.

[cardigankid]

You just took the words out of my mouth - go out and find the best XJS on the planet and buy it for a fair but still low price.

Lounge sounds like a good idea, you can leave the three bar heater on at night to dehumidify the car!

[Jaguarnut]

Take the line that any unrestored older Jaguar is a money eater then after that the world is your oyster!!!

Talking from experience, I deliberately bought a 1978 Daimler Sovereighn (XJ6 Series 2) which was in need of work. And still is some 2.5 years later!!! Although it was road legal in that it was taxed and MoT'd, one seriously had to question the competence of the MoT tester who done the biz some 3 weeks earlier. It seemed like a candidate for a Fred Flintsone movie!

Why did I but it? Simple, I knew that it would be a great looking car with that "OOOh - Aaagh factor - ain't that nice" needed for shows - but what I was really after was a project that I could go right back to basics with and be justly proud with the final result. That said, I never knew a vehicle could hold together with so much rust. It is a marvel to me how difficult it is to remove rusty parts of the structure - yet they always give way when an MoT tester gets his little hammer out! (Excepting the one who did this car who must have used his toy rattle!).

So what am I saying. Well the sensible advice is to buy the best you can afford. But it does depend on what you want to do. In my case I wanted to learn and learn and I can assure you I have!!! Just be aware of what you are letting yourself in for.