Jaguar : XK Roadster

Great Project Car For This Winter
(with the expensive stuff already done)

What you are bidding on is an 85% to 90% professionally restored 1959 Jaguar XK150 Roadster 3. 4 liter engine with left-hand steering with matching numbers. This car is one(1) of only 2265 XK150 Roadster ever built and they were sold world wide.

This car is an unique opportunity for several different types of buyers.

Perfect winter project even if this is your first restoration because all the heavy lifting is done.

First is someone wanting a really nice car to invest “sweat equity” into but where majority of the really hard and expensive work is already done. this is the perfect car. What a fantastic car for a father and daughter (or son) to work on together this winter. This is a car a father really can teach a kid about cars. There is not a single computer in this car. as a matter of fact when this car was build there probably wasn't a single computer in the world that was smaller than this car.

All that needs to be done to get this car on the road looking good is finding the one missing piece. the rear bumper (I know where there is one for $500). redoing all the chrome. detailing the engine and engine compartment. replacing the wiring harness (not as intimidating a job as one might think because there are very few wires). installing the upholstery (all redone in Jaguar red leather and installing the Jag carpet) and then get the engine running (the engine hasn't run since 2002 but did easily turn over by hand). All the upholstery is finished just not installed in the vehicle. New tires but they are 12 years old (too old to recommend for serious driving). The top is all there but needs work (I was planning just to use a Tonneau cover if I was dumb enough to get caught in the rain).

Second is someone who wants a fantastic driving sports car that will give the driver a driving experience unavailable in any other car of any era. This person isn't as interested in showing his car as he is interested in “showing off” his car at 60 MPH. While. still being a great car to drive in the Home Coming Parade (maybe even with his daughter in it) but also one you could even drive to work on nice days and then could proudly showed the local car shows the next day.

Third is the person that wants to really nice show car. a winner locally but not top car at big shows. However. this car will be drive-able without the same anxiety of driving a very high point car. This car needs the engine pulled and completely detailed. the engine comportment needs total detailing also. Same detailing needs to done in the trunk and probably some work on the interior. Two mistakes we made restoring this car. the piping between body parts is black and not painted the same as the body. Also the removable dash board was covered in error in red material not the original grey. Both these errors are fine for a “driver” but not for a “show” car.   Maybe a more expensive chrome job would be in order for a show car than need for a “driver”. Probably need to switch back to a generator also.

However. someone who wants to make this car a very high point car. probably would do better buying a basket case and starting over. Although the original restoration was done by a very high quality restoration shop my emphasis was to have really great looking drivable car. not a high point show car. Also this car was worked on in 2002 and may not be up to more modern practices of today's high point cars.  

The reserve price is well below what it would cost to buy a “basket case”. remove the body and do a mechanical restoration. Then strip the body down to bare metal and then giving the body a show quality paint job in Jaguar white. Then upholstering everything in Jaguar red. including all leather seats and red carpet all to Jaguar standards. The wheels were also restored and painted matching white. with brand new tires (in 2002). so they look great but probably not safe to drive.

All the restoration work was done by Manns Restoration in Festus. MO in 2002. Mike Mann will verify any statements I have made involving the restorations in 2002. All matching numbers and original equipment car (except rear bumper and a few other things that have been changed). I have owned the car since 1974 and I drove it quite a bit until deciding to have it restored in the late 1990's. I know it ownership back to 1970.

I will endeavor to describe exactly what you will be getting to the best of my ability. As well as explain all known problems. The auction is for the car as is except where noted otherwise.

1. The rear bumper is gone but the two vertical chrome pieces are there (used rear bumpers generally about $500. needing re-chroming).
2. The original generator was replaced with an alternator which was working when the car was went into the shop.
3. All the chrome needs to be re-chromed to make it match.
4. The body is in very good condition except one small ding in the passenger fender and there is small cracking around the ding (total area 6” x 6”).
5. Top is all original and needs to restored. There are 2 third-party Tonneau one needs work also but is probably functional. the other is new (may or may not fit).
6. The tools. owner's manual and all other documentation are all missing. with the exception of the jack.
7. The plate that goes on the firewall with the original numbers is missing (I have a document from the Jaguar Heritage Certificate with the original numbers. which match the numbers on this car).
8. Two minor mistakes were made when restoring this car. the piping between body parts is black and not painted the same as the body. Also the removable dash board was covered in red material. not original grey. Both these errors are fine for a “driver” but not for a “show” car.
9. Everything mechanical (including the engine) that needed to be rebuilt was and everything else was checked out. For example the rear-end and transmission were serviced but didn't need to be rebuilt. The clutch was replaced. The engine was rebuilt.
10. The exact mileage is unknown becàuse the original speedometer was replaced and no documentation of what the mileage was at that time can be found. My best recollection as well as the previous owner's recollection the mileage was around 60000 before the speedometer was replaced.
11. Although the tires were new and they look good. they probably should be replaced before any serious driving. either speed and/or distance.
12. There is no spare tire or rim.
13. Needs two six volt batteries.

It is very difficult to know what is missing in a project like this. so to protect the buyer when the car is picked up. we will make a video and written inventory of everything. Anything not listed above and is missing or not useable when the restoration is started. I will pay to replace the missing item(s) with a suitable used item or pay cash if both parties agree on the amount.

THIS CONDITION ONLY COVERS ITEMS NOT MENTIONED ABOVE.

What is this car worth? I haven't seen many “basket cases” recently. One sold on eBay of this July and it was missing many parts including the seats and it brought $48. 00 with 59 bids. The story about that sale can be found at Barnfinds website.

What would professional mechanical restoration with the body removed cost? The engine and brakes worked flawlessly when finished. The car has been in storage since 2002. The engine did turn over manually very easily when the spark plugs were removed.

What would an off the chassis. down to the metal professional show quality paint job cost? Wheels trued and painted. cost? All new tires but they are 14 years old and probably not useable for highway driving. cost? What would it cost to have a professional upholstery including all upholstered areas in Jaguar leather (where original was leather) and Jaguar carpet?

I have no idea what that those three services would cost today. all I know is that these are the three most costly parts of any restoration. back in 2002 and I am sure that the cost of these services has not gone down in the last 12 years.

Any other questions please feel free to contact me. Good luck on bidding.

I will work with buyer on short term financing with a substantial down payment of at least 25% of the sale price. which is not refundable. The title and car remain here. The buyer pays for the storage fee $90 per month and insurance to cover the value of the car including theft but no interest until  April 1. 2015. This arrangement can only go on until April 1. 2015. After April 1 interest will be 2% per month.

On Dec-13-14 at 06:49:34 PST. seller added the following information:

 Additions made Saturday December 13:

I have added several more photos some of the undercarriage trying to show that frame was painted with body off the frame. Although there is accumulated dirt and dust since it has been in storage for 13 year it will clean-up and look very good.

I also added a picture of the only damage to the paint but I don't think shows well. the car got bump once in moving and no dent was left but the paint cracked when metalwas pushed in. There are a few little flaws in the paint but I have been assured they will be easy to fix. especially since this car was never in sunlight

I have added some pictures of the underside of the hood as well as other pictures of the body. in hopes to show the quality of the workmanship.

Other questions:

Some people asked what exactly was done when the mechanical systems was restored. All gaskets and seals were replaced. The clutch was replaced. new brakes and shocks were installed. Transmission and rear end were serviced but not rebuilt. I don't believe the water pump was replaced only new gaskets.

The new speedometer only has 300 miles on it (I think I drove it for a while before replacing the broken one).

There is a radio but I don't know if it works or if was original equipment (which I would doubt) but I will check it out.

The glass in the windshield is very good and glass in windows is also good.

Hope this helps and as I find out more about this car which I have owed for only 42 years. I will add that all information I find - "The Good. the Bad and the Ugly".

On Dec-13-14 at 12:46:45 PST. seller added the following information:

 Once again I made a mistake about this car. I said I had a radio but didn't think it was original. pretty obvious since I don't think a radio was even an option plus there wasn't even a good place for one. When you drive this car. you'll understand you don't even need a radio. Why I thought there was a radio. there was one in the box with some Jaguar stuff (turned out it was an old Motorola that was probably even older than the car).  

Another dumb thing I put in the ad was that there were two Tonneau covers one used and one new that had never been used. Truth is that I never look closely at second one and it turns out it is really a new convertible top. so everything is needed to restore the top is there. And for price of little sweat (good job for that teenage daughter you're trying get involved with this project and spend some quality time with her) you can have restored top.   The top seems to be of high quality and was probably the closest thing you could get to the original (at least in 2000).  

Stay tune for next dumb thing I say about this car. something like this. I really like the painted wheels much more than chromes one. "

On Dec-17-14 at 06:08:59 PST. seller added the following information:

Added 12/17:

I got a hold of the gentleman (he was retired) who did the mechanical restoration and he remembered working on the car and as we talked he started remember more and more. He actually said give him a little time and could recall almost all major restorations he did.

He did the following:
New bearings.
New rings
All new gaskets
Rebuilt the radiator and cooling system and thinks he replaced the water pump. If he didn't it must have in very good condition. otherwise he always replaced it.
New Clutch
Cylinders were in perfect shape
Head was machined
Valves were all perfect at that time
New Brakes and cleaned system
New shocks
Transmission and rear end were serviced but didn't need to be rebuilt.

On Dec-17-14 at 14:45:58 PST. seller added the following information:

I have located three rear bumpers ranging in price from $350 to $550. I will give this information to the buyer the car.

On Dec-19-14 at 06:40:10 PST. seller added the following information:

 Many people have asked about the motor being started. as mentioned it turned over manually very easily but it hasn't started since just after it was rebuilt. If when the car is picked up. we can't get it to start. I will refund the buyer $500. 00 on the spot.

Also published at eBay.ca

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