OV9

speedingfine wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 2:05 pm

mik wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 1:55 pmAltcantara?

The fake one is a la alacantara I think.

Broccers wrote: Sun Apr 25, 2021 4:02 pm I saw two vids on 720s recently this and LLF who has just bought one. I prefer Harrys driving.

Sorry if repost

Broccers wrote: Sun Apr 25, 2021 4:02 pm Sorry if repost

HarryM on PH wrote: Wow, lot's of interesting comments on here regarding the XJC V12 restoration, There's too many to answer individually but here's a general overview of what's going on here.

Point one is this car cost me £5000 six years ago and is huge fun to drive. I confess to thinking it was stupidly cheap at the time, especially so for a very rare, V12 Jaguar Coupe with a great 5-speed conversion. I knew the body wasn't in good shape but it drove brilliantly and started on the button every time I went to use it. I then had the suspension done and it drove even better than I dared hoped it might post conversion.

But there was always an issue for me; the tatty body and colour meant I generally took another car out of the garage when going for a drive that might have suited it. The easy answer was to sell it and move on but my son is the biggest fan of this Jaguar and, in a way, I'm a fan too but not in it's current condition. Hence why I decided to go ahead with this restoration.

Now, when you undertake a job like this you know your initial budget could well be out by a significant factor. Having said that, nothing the bodywork has thrown up during strip-down has been a surprise, Jaguars of this age are often full of rot and you either try and buy one from a sunny country that never got exposed to salt, or do what I'm doing and do a proper restoration. The fact the engine needed major work was the big surprise.

Next, you need to factor in rarity and end value to make sense of it. A Jaguar XJC 5.3 V12 is a very rare car, approx 1800 were produced worldwide but perhaps only 100 good examples exist today. It's also one of the prettiest Jaguars made post E-Type, as well as being one of the most desirable. It was Sir William Lyon's final car but I suggest 99% of the ones that do survive have issues, be it rot or engine problems because they got too cheap.

The result is I think it's worth doing a proper restoration now because it will stand out in the market, were I ever to sell it. But it's not all about resale value, it's about the journey and then owning perhaps one of the very best example of Jaguar V12 coupe out there at the end of it. I wouldn't be doing this restoration if it wasn't a manual, as that tweak transforms this car into something else.

In summary, I suggest just enjoying the journey on Harry's Garage and watching UK specialists do their amazing craft. We're so lucky to have these specialists around and I have zero remorse on taking this project on, as I will get to own and drive a fantastic car by the end of it, that'll live on for decades to come and be enjoyed to the full by all the family.

speedingfine wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:30 am Can't believe the guy has to take a defensive stance for doing up a V12 Jag, on a car forum of all places!

Ah it's Pistonheads that explains it

Beany wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 9:21 am

speedingfine wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:30 am Can't believe the guy has to take a defensive stance for doing up a V12 Jag, on a car forum of all places!

Ah it's Pistonheads that explains it

Indeed, he's not short of cash, and he's made it clear how much of a smile the car puts on his face (and his sons). Add to the fact it's a knocking on 40 year old Jag, if anyone thinks he went into it not expecting it to be riddled with tinworm then they clear aren't right in the head.

But as you state, it's pisonheads - common sense is trumped by the need for a thrusting middle manager with a leased BMW to be correct

Marv wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 11:43 am

Beany wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 9:21 am

speedingfine wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:30 am Can't believe the guy has to take a defensive stance for doing up a V12 Jag, on a car forum of all places!

Ah it's Pistonheads that explains it

Indeed, he's not short of cash, and he's made it clear how much of a smile the car puts on his face (and his sons). Add to the fact it's a knocking on 40 year old Jag, if anyone thinks he went into it not expecting it to be riddled with tinworm then they clear aren't right in the head.

But as you state, it's pisonheads - common sense is trumped by the need for a thrusting middle manager with a leased BMW to be correct

Wonder if the revenue Harry gets from his youtube vids go some way to cover the costs of restoring and running his cars and bikes?

I imagine so.

He is slightly nuts piling money into a ropey old Jag like that, but it's going to be a wonderful thing once it's all done

Beany wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 9:21 am

speedingfine wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:30 am Can't believe the guy has to take a defensive stance for doing up a V12 Jag, on a car forum of all places!

Ah it's Pistonheads that explains it

Indeed, he's not short of cash, and he's made it clear how much of a smile the car puts on his face (and his sons). Add to the fact it's a knocking on 40 year old Jag, if anyone thinks he went into it not expecting it to be riddled with tinworm then they clear aren't right in the head.

But as you state, it's pisonheads - common sense is trumped by the need for a thrusting middle manager with a leased BMW to be correct