Jaguar F-Type R Wrecked But Salvageable
A 2016 Jaguar F-Type R with all-wheel drive suffered pretty extensive damage but is set to get a new lease on life, thanks to YouTuber.
Jaguar basically created a timeless coupe with the F-Type. Although the 2021 model recently arrived, the previous model still looks as good as ever. And the R trim still calls to us with its 550 horsepower V8. Those models were somewhat rare so all of them should be preserved if possible.
It seems at least one YouTuber agrees with that sentiment. Rebuild with Nick recently acquired a 2016 Jaguar F-Type R AWD with some significant front-end damage. Based on a cursory glance, the Jaguar appears like a lost cause. Whatever impact it sustained pushed the radiator in and completely wrecked pretty much everything in front of it. But our intrepid influencer has experience with restoring heavily damaged cars and doesn’t seem deterred by the car’s current state.
Broken Kitty
Fortunately, the restorer does not think the frame is damaged. That would make any effort to repair the vehicle completely moot. But there is a lot of work to be done. The influencer took stock of the Jaguar and explained why he decided to take on the project. “This car is for a customer. He reached out to me recently and he wanted me to repair this thing. Basically, he bought it and then when we looked back this car was in the auction before he bought it. Someone doctored it up, they sent it back to the auction,” says the restorer. The Jaguar certainly has a dodgy history and there are a lot of unknowns with the car.
Overall, the front end definitely experienced a pretty significant smack. The front driver’s side is pretty much completely destroyed. Other components behind the bumper took an absolute beating. “The intake box is damaged too. Reinforcement bar definitely damaged. It’s cracked in the middle. Then, headlight is damaged for sure,” says the restorer. Beyond the bigger stuff like the hood, the bumpers, and the headlights, there are tons of little parts that got wrecked by the collision.
Not Totally Gone
Despite the extensive damage, a lot of the bodywork behind the windshield is in good shape. The airbag did deploy, but other than that it appears the rest of the car seems to have escaped harm. Amazingly, the car starts up just fine and does not appear to be leaking any fluids. The Jaguar also closes its trunk on its own, although it doesn’t seem to be able to open it without help. One potential problem area concerns the exhaust. When the restorer went out back and pushed on the exhaust tips, they made an ominously creaky noise. “That doesn’t sound too good. We’re going to have to lift up the car and see what exactly is going on under there,” says the restorer. Hopefully, the problem isn’t too serious.
Overall, the Jaguar sustained damage most novices would assume to be terminal. The insurance company probably felt the same way, which is why it went to auction. But the restorer is pretty confident the F-Type can be successfully rebuilt to its former glory. Based on his assessment after lifting the car up and removing the visibly damaged pieces, it seems like there’s more to the story. But that’s for a future installment. For now, make sure you check out part 1 to see the badly damaged Jaguar. We certainly hope the young kitty can purr again.