Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

Twenty three years is a long time to own any vehicle and it will be this length of time in April this year since I bought my Mark 2 Jaguar 3.4.

I have only driven it for just over a thousand miles since it's restoration was completed in November 1996. At first I was rather nervous to drive it lest I scratched the paint or induced wear on the seats or start it's deterioration.
Micro blistering of the paint two years after the restoration stopped all that and it is really only now that I have found the time and enthusiasm to address the problem. The whole car will need bare metalling again.

I have done it before so it's no burden and that is really all that needs to be done prior to new paint being professionally applied. Everything else is 100% right - bodywork, mechanics and running gear because everything was inspected, renewed or reconditioned in the five years between purchase and the completion of the restoration.

[]

As you can see the car's been prepared for a new strip down but when it's finished (again) I'm not sure that I want to keep it.

I have two old Land Rovers and I'm tempted to buy something modern with possible future classic status and I am looking with rather more than casual interest at a Vauxhall VXRV8.

Am I just broody (in a car sense)or have any of you had the the same second thoughts about keeping a long time owned classic?

I would very much appreciate your thoughts, advice or insight.[/img]
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[colwyn500]

I think it sounds like you are already hardened to letting the car go. You don't really use it, it must take up a lot of space.

I would go further and say that unless re-painting is something that you can do quickly and cheaply (unlikely), sell it with all the bits back in place and let someone else decide if it needs doing up.

[clan chieftain]

If your heart is not in it then sell it or maybe swap it.
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The Clan Chieftain

[Keith D]

Ellis,

It is a very hard decision to make. Once the car is gone, it's generally gone for good and one's mind cannot be changed.

When my father passed away I ended up with his 1971 Kombi Campmobile. It was a superb vehicle, loved and cared for from new by my father. He and Mum had travelled almost every road in Australia in it over many years.

Nearly ten years ago it came to me. I licenced it, insured it and it got used barely once a month. My wife has a very bad back and we could not use it for camping so I drove it just enough to keep the battery charged. I couldn't bear to part with it, yet it took up garage space that I needed.

Finally I was approached by a VW fanatic who pleaded to buy it. I relented last year and was rewarded by a new owner who loves that car as much as my Dad did! It was a great relief.

My Austin A40 tourer has been owned by me for 40 years and has never been unlicenced in it's life. This one I will never part with; it has become a family pet!

Keith

[ukdave2002]

Hi

I think the fact you have asked the question probably says it all, if you really wanted to hang onto her, she would have been back on the road a few years ago!

Move her on and get something new to enjoy; the VXR V8 will put a smile on your face when you drive it

Dave

[Rick]

I sometimes think that when a car is stored away like that, it's easy to forget why you first fell for its charms. Move it outside, dust it down and re-fit some of the loose items, and you may just get all excited about it again.

RJ
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[mr911er]

Hi

Guess it depends why you have classics in the first place.

I owned a TR4 for 8 years (not a patch on 23..) and recently sold it. The car was great fun and I drove about 18K miles in it, all over Europe, used it for holidays etc.

For me a classic is about (in order of preference)
a) driving it
b) the social scene around it
c) just for the appreciation of the history around it
d) spending time under the bonnet and 'sorting' it.

Havent included money/ value in the list - I regard any value issues as a bonus - not a reason for owning the car.

I agonized over selling the car - but realized that I had done everything I could in it. Everyone in the club seemed to be getting old - and there were no new members.

So I bought a 1982 Porsche 911 - in your words - a modern vehicle which will be a classic in the future.

Best thing I ever did - new things to learn, totally different attitude and tye of enhusiast (e.g. questions on the forum about fitting child seats..).

Reckon I now get the best of both worlds as I still attend the traditional classic shows etc.

So for me, the question would be - what am I really getting out of the car sitting in the garage?

If I wasnt driving it, I would sell it.

Cheers

Kevin

[ukdave2002]

[D4B]

Ellis, I have been there with a splitscreen VW camper, spent almost
20k getting it to concourse condition, and when it was finished I was
scared to use it in case it got scratched ~ all the fun was gone so I sold
it and lost a chunk of money at the time too....

If the Jag was mine I would keep it and use as is ~ just enjoy it !
and as the paints not perfect you wont worry too much if it gets marked.

Steve