2014-12-11 10:43:33 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 12/11/14
www.ebay.com/itm/Jaguar-XK-Roadster-1959-jaguar-xk-150-roadster-85-ground-up-res ...
Current bid US $20,000 reserve not met 1 bid 9 days left in auction.

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

85% to 90% professionally restored 1959 Jaguar XK150 Roadster 3.4 liter engine with left-hand steering with matching numbers.

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).

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.