Tough Question: Should This 1956 Jaguar MK I be Restored?
For most cars, even ones as cool as a 1956 Jaguar MK I, the questions surrounding restoration are always the same.
Last week, I wrote about how much fun it was seeing Grant Williams rip around Goodwood in his classic Jaguar MK I. At the end of that post, I pondered the idea of an MK I project, and like clockwork, an MK I project popped up on the forum. Seriously, do I have my finger on the post of Jaguar Forums or what?
Now, there’s not a ton of information on mldayton1203’s post, but it doesn’t take a whole lot of detail to get a conversation started, particularly when the question posed is as old as the car hobby itself. For the sake of clarity, I’ve posted the start of the thread below.
Recently inherited this (pictures included), full assortment of parts, and stripped down unibody. The array of parts not pictured, such as the instruments, and the rest of the hardware, are all organized and tagged in boxes nearby. Aside from the body, which seems to have a lot of rust, mostly around the sides and end of the underside, the additional parts are in good shape, as everything has been stored inside for about the past 30 years.
Prior to that, and before being disassembled, it was in a barn in the midwest for 20 or so years. Is the body pictured here worth my time, or would I benefit more from just turning it into scrap? Determining this is going to dictate which direction I take with this… attempt a restoration, or part out what I can. Thanks for any input!
As regulars on the forum know, this isn’t an uncommon question. Sure, the cars may vary, but the question of whether to restore a project that’s been inherited pops up often. That said, it’s a relatively easy to answer , though the answers aren’t great, particularly if you have to ask the question in the first place.
Fortunately, mldayton1203 didn’t have to wait long for an answer. And while veteran member JeffR1 got some pushback for coming off as negative, I have to say I — mostly, at least — agree with him. Here’s his answer, in all of its blunt, unvarnished glory:
It depends who is doing the body work and how much you like the car. Personally I don’t like the Mark I body compared to the Mark II, so I would scrap it and sell off the bits.
If you like the Mark I body and you can weld and do body work, then go for it, don’t expect to recoup your time and labour if you sell it. I didn’t mention restoring the interior or rebuilding the engine and other mechanical bits, I’m going to assume that you can do those things yourself. If you can’t, then you will need a wheelbarrow full of money.
In reading JeffR1’s comment, I hate to think about the body being scrapped, especially since it doesn’t look too far gone. But as anyone who has attempted even a mild refresh of an old vehicle knows firsthand, the “wheelbarrow full of money” bit is right.
There’s a reason that projects are so often found in this state, because as NPR’s Clink and Clack, always used to say, disassembling something is the easy part. The real challenge is getting it all back together, and there’s a metric-ton of work to be done before this old kitty is roadworthy.
Now earlier, I alluded to that fact that if you have to ask whether it’s worth restoring something, from a monetary perspective, the answer is pretty simple. And it’s not no — it’s hell no.
As collectible as old cars can be, there are precious few that will actually deliver a return on the investment to bring them back from the brink. In the Jaguar world, E-Types and XK 120/140s might be the only exceptions to the basket case rule. Restoring cars is a labor of love, and keeping track of costs is just going to make for heartburn.
I hope I’m not coming off as too negative here, because I love finding threads like this, and it’s a great example of just how valuable a resource the forum is. Hopefully, a little guidance will help this old MK I find a new home.
Personally, I think the best bet here might be for mldayton1203 to sell of some of the parts, so other MK I owners can get their projects rolling again. Then, if they make enough money, they might be inclined to let the body go to someone for a song. You never know, maybe a local gearhead is looking to build the classiest rat rod ever! If you have other ideas, head over and post them on the thread!
Photos: Jaguar Forums