It was a Beeeautiful day in the Real Northern California, one would never know we're in the midst of a historic drought.

As it was such a nice day, I took Nix to town for our weekly hit run. Weather has been so good that street crews are busy repairing stuff fast as they can, because we never know when another storm will come ashore. We passed by one such crew and one of the guys in his Hi-Viz vest gave Nix the V sign. I waved back acknowledgment.

As we were loading Nix's trunk with results of this week's foraging mission, a couple Really scruffy old guys of indeterminate age (anywhere from mid 50s or early 60s), with about 4 days growth beard, driving a ratty old Ford pickup with trash in the back and cow poop running down the side were just leaving after their equally successful foray. All they lacked was the pack of snarling dogs barking their heads to complete the Red Neck, Good Ole Boys picture.

One of them rolled down the window and said, "Nice Car!"
I said, "Thank you."
Guy said, "What would you take for it?"
I said, "You got $11 grand cash right now you can drive it home."
He pretended to fumble for his wallet, mentioned how I'd have to find another way to get my groceries home, we all laughed and they drove away.

Husband said, "You might want to think more carefully before you quote someone a price like that. Those are the kind of guys who might just carry that kind of cash around and then what would you do? If you ever plan to sell it, you need to think hard about how much you'll need to replace it in the current market."

"You're right," I said. "Next time someone asks, I'll tell them,'$27.5 cash right now.'"
That should scare them off cuz I don't really want to sell her.
I want to DRIVE HER WHEELS OFF first!
(';')

 

I'd consider selling mine, but with the current price of fuel I would have to find someone as silly as me, and we are thin on the ground.

 

Hubby 100% correct LnR. If any of us sell our sorted cars, we are not just selling a lovely old Jaguar. We are selling a 100% sorted out old Jaguar that performs as well, or better - in my case I flatter myself! - than a brand new one. Now, the market for such cars is highly stratified: there are people who just want an old Jaguar at "market" (ie at the normal, unreliable, worn out, old car price). Then there are a few discerning buyers who want a reliable, beautifully driving Jaguar, and know just what that should feel like to drive. Such people grasp how much work and expertise it takes to get a car to that pitch, and hence understand the price required.
The latter type are few and far between, but they do exist, and as decent parts become scarcer, and fewer and fewer cars survive, a properly sorted car is an ever more desirable commodity. AS far as I am concerned, i shall be buried in mine rather than sell it at a giveaway price! But if my boys do not want it, or are not able to look after it for various reasons, then I would gladly sell it to someone who would appreciate it - but at stratified market price!

 

Thank you, Greg. You Do have a way with words!

Stratified. What a description!
I have noticed this past year that many (virtually all) of the Xj6s, and indeed Xj40s that I used to see on the road in good weather are Absent!

Having had to re-bush my own suspensions after just a few years, I now know what happened to them all. Owners can't afford to put another $3000 (that might be conservative) into a suspension that will only last another 3 years, but they can't bear to part with their beloved car either so it Sits. It sits in the garage if they have room, in the carport if not room in the garage, in the driveway if no carport, or worst of all, out in the back yard where it becomes infested with rats and squirrels, trees growing up in the wheel wells, and it ROTS!

I am Very grateful for direction to David Manners, ltd. for Proper, long lasting bushings to keep this example of 1970s automotive art alive and rolling down the road, bringing smiles to all who see her whether they know exactly what she is or not.
(';')

 

Can't be replaced at $27.5K. If you got $40K, would you want to start from scratch. I always say it's not worth what I'm asking, but I'll take $90K.

 

As do you LnR!

 

Excellent point, Clyde, and I'll take it to heart!

No, I do Not want to start over, in fact, I hope never to do any of it again, but it was a Load of fun to do Once!
(';')

 

Late model miata ??? don't you need a pink drivers license for one of those ...jus sayin.

 

27.5 might not be enough. great tale!!1

there is an od tale of a raggedy guy in a RR sales room. ignred,. finaly got a salesman to listen. how muh? price quoted. SURPRISe. peeled off the billls from a wad in his pocket!!1

Carly

 

At a pre car club run car gathering in the park, I was approached by a fellow member who has a Maserati. He has expressed interest in the Jag previously. He walked up to a bunch of us and says "We'll Steve I have the Maserati here , perhaps we could make some kind of swap/cash deal?" My response was "sure! how much cash are you prepared kick in?"

The crowd was amused

I did a quick calculation to get to a similar point if everything would be done in shops (in Pacfic Pesos)

Good unrusty base car $10k
Small repairs as nothings perfect $4k
New leather Interior and roof lining $3k
V8 and trans (from this century) $7k
Trans refurb while out $3k
Engine swap, misc parts and engineering cert for registration $20k

That's north of 45k assuming no surprises. I am sure he would expect it to be less than half that.

In our market you would never get anything like that as is very dominantly about original cars. My car would be seen as "destroyed" by most. Its value would lie in being a base to return to original as the conversion was done cleanly and nothing has been hacked up.

 

that happened to me in L.A. Some guy opened his window and said $10 Grand Right Now! for my 1973 Volvo 1800-ES Sportwagon. I still miss that wagon today. It was a lot more luxurious than the XJ-6 but the 4 cylinder B20 engine was a slug.
Yes I took the $10 grand and bought a Saab 900 Turbo, biggest piece of **** I ever owned.

 

Actually, if I could find one of these in Pink, that matched my -shirt that says:
"Female Mechanic
Of Course I don't work
As hard as men!
I get it right
The first time!"
I *Might* do a deal, IF they caught me on a good day....
(';')

 

Ah, yes. Amazon!!! Got my latest toy, Elinor. It is addicting!.

A cordless whacker/trimmer. Got sick of two thngs on my corded trimmer. It is the string type. Nothing but a ain with the cord and the strigs. m the new one has a seldsction of blades!! One is much like a small mower blade. it really devours big weeds.

As you are a pro in that field, not upto pro needs, but, great for moe. Two batteries. each good fr about 45 minutes.

Teh assembly was fiddly, the instructions useless. but, I got it!!

Now, thnking of a new wallett. gotta research as to what RFID means!1

Keep NIX or you will regret it forevver..

Carl

 

For a while about 10 years ago someone thought it would be a good idea to issue pink drivers license in Ohio. My wife loved it, me not so much. Boy was I glad when they changed them back.

Jeff

 

I was offered $20’000 for mine a few months ago. I thought about it for about 2 seconds……1 second too long to know I couldn’t replace the mechanical work I have done for that.
It might cost me 21 litres a day at $2.20 a litre if I drive to work, but no one here buys these because of the fuel economy of them. I cringe at the pump price when I pay for the fuel but that all fades into driving enjoyment a couple hundred metres after pulling out of the service station.

 

Thank you, Clarke,
I've already pretty much decided I'll keep her till I've driven the wheels off.
Then I'll get more wheels and drive her some more!
(';')

 

Im on the same boat. My s3 is starting to look so good, motorbike riders give me the thumbs up and point at me when I run through the canyons. These cars are starting to look like 4door Astons to the public. Better pricing though. I’ll gladly take 6k for it, but people dont want Range Rover MPG out of a saloon. I personally dont care.

 

You say people don't want Range Rover MPG out of a saloon but these same people will happily drive a huge SUV or truck that burns even more fuel...

Selling something I've sorted is a non-issue since by that time I've grown attached - it would be like selling off a member of the family.

 

Its just the way soccer moms have come to rule the world, that and yoga pants. Besides an S3 is considered used and also problematic for the average Joe. Its not a cheap car, when you take the its underpinnings into consideration.