This is my first post and hopefully, I will soon be a Jaguar owner. I have possibly found the worst example of a Series 3 and it is perfect. A 1987 200k mile, rebuilt title, and has a top speed of 76mph. The guy wants 2 grand for it and there is no way I will pay such a price for that car, but if he is willing to come down a bit to cushion the blow of this car catastrophically breaking I might be an owner. What should I look at on a Series 3 when buying one, especially one this rough? Will working on this car be similar to my TR7? At a surface glance, it seems like the same/similar 1960s technology to work on and I can disassemble the car with a set of hand tools.

 

Hello,
What to look for. Rust, rust and rust. Everything else is just a matter of fixing and/or replacing parts. Rust is like Cancer. If there are Any rust bubbles, even tiny ones, around the windshield and rear window, behind the wheels, above the wheel arches, under the doors, then consider those places to be merely the Tip of a very large iceberg.

It's never a good sign when odd wires are hanging loose and bits missing here and there. Not to mention the Terrible condition of the seats and dash cap,but these things are easy to fix compared to Rust. But they do indicate a lack of care and long term deferred maintenance that will cost a pretty good sized number with several zeros behind it, and take at least several months if not Years to address correctly.

You don't show us the engine and you don't say if the car runs or not. Even if it runs well (which would surprise me given the conditions we can see) $2000 is Way out of line INO. Offer him $500 after pointing out all these items, and any others that other members might mention.

And by the way, when you get a minute, you probably should stop by the New Members section and post an introduction as Forum Rules require.
Until you get to that, Welcome to our section from ElinorB.
(';')

 

Hi and welcome, maybe. Depends on if you buy it. The rear seems to be droopy. Really bad springs? The inboard rear calipers/rotors/pads would need a serious looking into and would require dropping the rear end to correct caliper/rotor issues. The upside could be in the wheels. If the chrome is in decent shape then I'd up LnrB's offering to $750. You have to ask yourself do you have a long term spot in the garage as you will be doing a lot of sorting. Best of luck.

 

Here are some pictures of what mine looked like when I bought it. I paid $800 for the car, two engines, and a few conversion parts. I am comfortable with that negotiation.

Note: Take a look under the car just behind the front wheels and just ahead of the rear wheels on each side. These are the jacking points, DO NOT trust that you local garage knows this!

Dave

 

Hate to say it, but if the seats are any indication of what you are in for - it's a "title to torment".

 

But it does have a nice steering wheel......................

 

one job at a time. Multi tasking gets you nowhere.

 

I could name names of people who have fallen in Love with just such a piece of junk for just such a flimsy reason!
(In his case it was a house, and he fell for the workbench in the garage so bought the house. Just before he took possession, the sellers RIPPED OUT THE WORKBENCH!)
(';')

 

that's a good reason to strangle the seller.

 

Had that happen to us/ We bought a nicely decorated home in Grnada Hills, California

alas, the PO reved the nice vanity and replacedit with a base unit. Also, all the bnice blinds. aND A COUYLE OF CHANDELEIERS. bASE STUFF INSTALLED. ugh.
I was too busy ar wqork to make a fuss ovwer it.

We jusat redid it.

Carl