Hello everyone,

I have the opportunity to take a look at and possibly buy a 1990 VDP Majestic (in the USA). It is VERY high mileage (300K) and I don't yet know the history. Exterior looks good but interior looks dicey (front seat all ripped up). It is currently on the road so I guess that's a plus! Asking price is $2.5K......any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, if I do buy it, I know a lot of the interior is custom to this model but are there any other year/model interiors I could use from a scrap/junk vehicle, I'm thinking of the seats in particular?

Thanks and regards,

 

Hi Anthony,

My first reaction is that $2.5K is far too much money for an XJ40 with that mileage and such a rough interior, though the good news is that it is running. Running cars in that condition tend to bring less than $1K in our area, and the most I've seen a very clean example go for was around $3K. Used car dealers ask higher prices, but they usually wind up sending the cars off to auction because they don't sell.

I think seats from '90-'92 models should fit, and possibly '88-'89 seats also but with some modifications to the electrical connectors. You can look up parts compatibility at jaguarclassicparts.com

I'm in a rush but other members will offer some advice on things to look for. A good primer on the XJ40 can be found here:

Jag-Lovers XJ40 E-Book

Cheers,

Don

 

I completely agree with Don. That price is far too high, even for a rare Majestic model. Interior parts are especially hard to come by and expensive for VDP/Majestic models of this vintage.

It's just my opinion, but I personally would be far more inclined to buy a non-running 1990 Majestic with a mint exterior and interior over one that runs and drives fine with rust or a bad interior. But then there's that whole 300,000 miles thing...

Mechanically, parts are easy to come by and generally inexpensive. No so with interior parts. Good luck finding matching seats or leather trim pieces without having them custom dyed to match. I've been looking long and hard for VDP trim pieces/seats in Isis Blue. Years. I have yet to find anything other than an armrest for the door panel and an center console lid.

I'd pass and find a lower mileage car. These cars can still be found with less than 100k miles, and for not much money. Keep at it.

Nick

 

Thanks for the advice guys.....I've decided to take a pass