talontsiawd
Well-Known Member
I'm having one of those days where i feel like ****, the weather is bad and my mind is overactive lol.
As some of you know, i have a 1971 Jaguar XJ6. If you have seen it, you know it needs work.
Here is the deal. I have personally had it as my car since i was 16. I started working on it when i was 15. My grandfather (deceased) bought it new in 1971. My dad took it out here to cali in the mid 80's. It has run about 10% of it's life since in cali. I my dad didn't have time to maintain it so it ran here and there. When i started working on it, it took 3 months to run. I drove it consistantly after that. It really only ran well for the last 6 months of HS. After that, i moved away, it sat. I got it running this summer again, it has ran inbetween these times but not reliable enough to drive. It was running great for a few months, then I don't know what happened, it just started stalling (as it loves to do). I have spent so many hours on this thing i can't even estimate.
Why i would keep it:
-Obvious sentimental value. I love my grandfather and this is one of the things that keeps him in my mind and heart
-Time invested. I've done much of the "big" things on this, as well as most of the expensive things
-It is my first car, it is a great looking car (well, not at the moment), and i can't drive it to the gas station without getting a ton of compliments
-It is a great/unique car. It drives like a modern car. Independant rear suspension, power windows, power brakes, good power. It doesn't feel like driving an old car at all
-My dad pays for EVERYTHING it needs, as long as i do the work. He wants to see it done as much or more than me. He just doesn't have the time.
Why i would sell it:
-Even though much of the major work has been done, these minor issues could take years to solve.
-I'm down to about 1k left to finish it mechanically. Body work and paint, 2-3 grand. If perfect, it will be worth 5k most. Right now, it's worth maybe 1k, but in parts, well, it's worth double to triple that
-Everytime i feel close to getting this thing road worthy, it just quits. This car really needs constant maintance because of factory issues (fuel pumps and carbs need constant tuning). I can't do this, it needs a specialiest.
Anyway, one thing i can do to solve all my issues is put a chevy engine in it. 350 or bigger, common swap, pretty simple actually, i feel i could do it. Father is not on board, until i want to pay for everything, it's a no go. I'm against it in away as it takes alot of the heritage and uniqueness out of the car but what good is a car if it just sits.
I also have my whole life to finish it. It can sit at my parents house forever, not having a place for it will never be an issue. As stated above, it doesn't cost me anything but work and time, time often becomes an issue, this is what keeps it sitting, and eventually undriveable again.
Sorry, long post, ****ty weather, nothing to keep my busy, frustrated on two cars i'm working on.
As some of you know, i have a 1971 Jaguar XJ6. If you have seen it, you know it needs work.
Here is the deal. I have personally had it as my car since i was 16. I started working on it when i was 15. My grandfather (deceased) bought it new in 1971. My dad took it out here to cali in the mid 80's. It has run about 10% of it's life since in cali. I my dad didn't have time to maintain it so it ran here and there. When i started working on it, it took 3 months to run. I drove it consistantly after that. It really only ran well for the last 6 months of HS. After that, i moved away, it sat. I got it running this summer again, it has ran inbetween these times but not reliable enough to drive. It was running great for a few months, then I don't know what happened, it just started stalling (as it loves to do). I have spent so many hours on this thing i can't even estimate.
Why i would keep it:
-Obvious sentimental value. I love my grandfather and this is one of the things that keeps him in my mind and heart
-Time invested. I've done much of the "big" things on this, as well as most of the expensive things
-It is my first car, it is a great looking car (well, not at the moment), and i can't drive it to the gas station without getting a ton of compliments
-It is a great/unique car. It drives like a modern car. Independant rear suspension, power windows, power brakes, good power. It doesn't feel like driving an old car at all
-My dad pays for EVERYTHING it needs, as long as i do the work. He wants to see it done as much or more than me. He just doesn't have the time.
Why i would sell it:
-Even though much of the major work has been done, these minor issues could take years to solve.
-I'm down to about 1k left to finish it mechanically. Body work and paint, 2-3 grand. If perfect, it will be worth 5k most. Right now, it's worth maybe 1k, but in parts, well, it's worth double to triple that
-Everytime i feel close to getting this thing road worthy, it just quits. This car really needs constant maintance because of factory issues (fuel pumps and carbs need constant tuning). I can't do this, it needs a specialiest.
Anyway, one thing i can do to solve all my issues is put a chevy engine in it. 350 or bigger, common swap, pretty simple actually, i feel i could do it. Father is not on board, until i want to pay for everything, it's a no go. I'm against it in away as it takes alot of the heritage and uniqueness out of the car but what good is a car if it just sits.
I also have my whole life to finish it. It can sit at my parents house forever, not having a place for it will never be an issue. As stated above, it doesn't cost me anything but work and time, time often becomes an issue, this is what keeps it sitting, and eventually undriveable again.
Sorry, long post, ****ty weather, nothing to keep my busy, frustrated on two cars i'm working on.
