I don’t need to worry about value. Mine is a race car ( tribute to Group 44) My concern is speed. Can I beat the Big Block Corvettes? Will the XKE’s beat me?
Life is too short to worry about a spread sheet. Totaling a column of numbers isn’t what I would call a thrilling weekend hobby. Not too sure what pleasure the wife will get from checking out the balance sheet. I know she’ll enjoy the social aspects of a Vintage race weekend. Nice meals, antique shopping, socializing with women who’s husbands have the same hobby. Pretty cars, some period clothing.

 

i watched the F1 Grand Prix at Austin TX , at COTA track,, Circuit of the Americas!
mind blowin crowd, 400 thousands,, actual race was close at last 4 laps, Versttappen won!

 

Bottom line is that these wonderful things can only be more valuable as time goes on because the weak will die and the good examples will live on. They will get rarer and people of a certain age will want one because they represent something that cannot be found in "newer" cars ... this has been happening for decades. I have in-laws with US and Australian "muscle cars" that are going nuts regarding prices. All about nostalgia. There are generations of car nuts who love the mystic of the XJS and think it has aged well. I bought my 87 XJS-C six years ago and could easily get 4 times what I paid for it. But what can I buy then that would give me the same thrill?

 

FWIW, I go by the Hagerty Valuation numbers. Need to know what to insure my XJS for in case I have to replace it...with another XJS.

 

I like to say that the XJS is the cheapest Bathurst winning coupe that you can buy. Sure you might get a Fox Mustang or a Sierra cheaper but they were more hatchback than Coupe. Torana indeed was a hatch too but had more of a coupe side profile.


So true and the reality is these often overpriced cars drive like ****. Just sold my Valiant for a tidy sum because I was not using it. I replaced it with a 1992 V8 LTD which have not gone silly in prices yet, drives very nicely and is eligible for historic rego in 2 months time.

Something to enjoy while I tinker with the XJ-S. Its value has undoubtedly increased in the 8 years I have owned it. Rust free Pre HE's are not common.

 

The XJS will CERTAINLY go up in value. Of course that only applies to the nicer examples. Time has a way of rewarding things that are rare, even if they weren't at one time desirable. The XJS represents a true analog yet contemporary driving experience - it's a unique period in time that some older models that were produced for long spans inhabit. Cars like the XJS, Alfa Spider, Porsche 911 (air cooled)... these cars were developed in the 1960s-70s and then produced and refined for decades. So they drive like a more vintage car, with some modern conveniences but not over the top like cars of today. These cars were also largely built by hand.. with all the good and bad that represents. The industry has moved well past that point.. and something has been lost along the way.

That "something" can never be made again. It's a lost treasure. That's the value proposition right there.

That in itself is very hard to find and worth something to folks like us. Drive a newer car back to back with an XJS, and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Even though these cars aren't made to the same standards or quality as newer vehicles - that's entirely the point.

Things that can't - and won't - ever be made again are destined to appreciate.

But that shouldn't stop anyone from driving and enjoying their classic every day. If you want an investment, buy stocks or real estate. If you want to enjoy a hobby that may indeed one day reward you by not costing you any money, then classic cars are for you.

 

MG nothing is more useless than an old race car!

 

David Love sold his old race car for 56 million. The LeMans winning D types sell north of 20 million.
Should I go on?

 

MG of course everyone has one of those!
comon get reai im talkin cars like you have! NO VALUE!

 

My last racing Jaguar I sold during the depth of the 2008 recession and got well over $50,000. Now that had a long successful vintage racing history. But earlier offers were well in excess of $200,000

I’m there on the pole next to me is David Love’s Ferrari Testa Rossa behind him is the 1956 LeMans Winning D type

 

yesterdays memories , are done and gone!
i built a race car in 1964/65,, and went 200MPH! fastest car of the day trophy!
1957 won a motorcycle race in New Hampshire, yup forgotton times!
altho talking with you ressurects old memories! i suppose we can call it a win!

 

Except I’m building another Jaguar race car as we speak. A tribute to Group 44. That’s my 4th Jaguar race car. They make wonderfully durable and inexpensive cars to race. Plus they tend to be fast enough to win, which is always fun.
There are people who like to restore cars to original. There are those who get pleasure out of changing them to their preference. ( good for you ) Then there are a few people who see their real speed potential. What they really excel at. Remarkably with Vintage racing the rules are fixed so there isn’t a constant need to go faster and faster, driving the cost of racing too high for a paycheck guy.

 

Tullius a great racer guy! Grp44.
the last time he raced a car at Daytona ,an IMSA car, his hauler driver came by my shop in Daytona, and unloaded it for pictures , he started it up,the whole neigborhood came out to see it!
you are correct , a paycheck race car,(sad to say), will almost never be of high value!

 

The value of a car like that depends on 3 things.

First the quality it is prepared at,
Second it’s competitive record.
Third it’s rarity or uniqueness.
Camaro’s, Mustangs etc. are towards the bottom of SVRA’s group 6 value. There are plenty of those around. Corvettes fall into two groups. Big block and small block with big Block worth a premium over the small block. Then we have Jaguars. XKE’s are at the top of the group with roadsters ahead of the coupe due to a smaller frontal area. Followed by the XJS due to roughly twice as many available as XKE’s.

 

you have it backwards,, American Muscle cars are far more valuable than any XJ jaguars!

 

O B..
After sitting back considering your reply, I have both a logical and viseral reaction. To be transparent, I have owned a 92/93 XJS 4.convertible for 15+ years. It currently shows 212K odometer. That said...
1. My car regularly gives 20+mpg combined. It has been used as a daily driver all these years. Admittedly, the V12 cars are not known for either good MPG and manageable maintenance. It is, afterall, a V12! Come on.
2. I take issue with the term "cult car". Under what definition, either academic or cultural, does "cult" apply to a car. If ever that term would apply to a Jaguar model, I would offer the E-Type. In every respect of the care and feeding of a car, it qualifies. How many E-Type owners use their car as a daily driver?

As with any object of enjoyment or participation, isn't the point just that...enjoyment or participation? Drive the damn car! My lifelong thought while owning/repairing/racing or just admiring has, and will continue to be, just this... When I open the garage what I see should make me smile for what it is, not what it is worth, regardless of marque.

Dave in AZ

 

IMHO They’re both high Maintenance.

 

It depends more on you than the car. If you are a check writer when it comes to maintenance snd repairs. Then Yes they are high maintenance. Plus you are paying the luxury tax ( higher wages and often expanded flat rate hours)
But if you’ve kept up the service work and regularly drive the car. Owning a V12 is not high maintenance. I see countless engines rebuilt that really don’t need it. I think more because either mechanics want a nice paycheck or the owner wants to open it up and see. Typically the required work is little more than replacing a rubber hose or electrical connection. .
Well yes interior work occasionally comes in but tends to be much simpler. But no more so than a Cadillac/ Buick or any other luxury car of the era.

 

Well I have had mine for sale on this forum for a couple of months at a bargain, imho, price, the ad has had 1100 odd views. But no other interest except someone saying its too cheap.

 

Rex
What a beautiful car, and it is an absolute bargain at that price. If I were 20 years younger... Where else have you listed it?

I am not surprised it has had no takers from the forum as the marketplace is incredibly hard to navigate (as I have just found out prompted by your post) so probably few have seen the ad!