Where our XK came from and where it may go
 

As in, is 50 years of ownership and joy possible with maintenance??

Joy certainly, cars wont get classier, even from Jaguar, they will only get more futuristic. In other words if you like the Etype and you like your car, there will be nothing better, this was perhaps the last car that even makes an effort to throwback to tradition.

Depending on your current age and health, 50 years of enjoyment may be just too much of a stretch. :)

My car will most certainly outlast me.

I've no desire to live until I'm 103!

Why is there no 'Like' button on this forum as that's what I wanted to do for Sparky's post above...grrr

I bought my XK in my late 20's.

So I guess that would be late 70's.

At some point I might "convert" it to an XKR via taking off the license plate, moving the XK out of the parking spot, moving an XKR into the parking spot, place license plate.

If you do that, your only regret will be not having done it sooner! :D

The good news is that Pristine XKRs will always be available, unlike any other car I am aware of, XK150s tend to be preserved and pampered by primarily mature owners.
As if one is subconsciously aware of the car's useful life exceeding theirs.

Of course, this assumes that a generation indulging in cannabis And $6 coffee will have the enthusiasm and means to go out on a drive, in an exotic car driven by themselves. (I do believe that they will come to the realization that gasoline does not come from fossils and its the best thing we can use that is not being used anything else)

The challenge with most newer vehicles is the extensive use of plastics. Older vehicles such as the E-Type had very few plastic bits to perish, so I'm not sure how the X150 or other newer Jaguars are going to fare fifty years on.

The electronics are another issue, which if mobile phones are any indication, will be obsolete and parts unavailable. Of course there could be an industry the pops up at some point to find solutions to older electronic components. This already is the case with 'infotainment' systems for classic cars.

There's a $6 cup of coffee in my Jag's cup holder literally every morning. Even on weekends. I love my dinosaur-powered, non-PC luxury car that gets 14 miles to the gallon on a good day.

You may be pointing out the sobering reality. The junction where cars could be good, timeless and yet simple is behind us.

Perhaps the next industry to evolve will be one that simplifies. Entirely possible as these cars are being sent to emerging countries where necessity is still the mother of invention.

These seem to be the rarity of what is on the market.

Generally the cars seem to shift between dealer lots and auction houses for a period of 3-4 years while sitting outside.

Eventually the price falls enough where it goes back to private hands.