Saved from the scrapyard - A story of love and passion (and expense)!!

[J44EAG]

Easy answer to that, Steve.

I run on methanol vapour and supercharged cold air! The articles form when I sleep and my pillow is a large three pass Chineese intercooler radiator!! I`m frequently mis-understood except by those with an engineering degree. My best work is done on an empty stomach and between my third and ninth pint of Creme de Monthe. I`m told that is what the Pope drinks. No wonder they have to carry him around in a chair.

Mike

[Ladams]

Thank you Mike & Steve. I do hope you do not think I was being pushy or impatient with my post, it was not my intention to do so and I apologize if it came across that way. I was just giving an update on what I had sent and the method of sending.

All understood about email & file sizes. I did get an email from Nigel asking me to go ahead and write the article and send him pictures. It was his suggestion to send them via "We-Transfer" as he said everything would all be in one place and easy to retrieve when required. I also named each picture with a brief description to identify them.

I have no doubt Nigel is very busy and of course I completely understand that I am not the only person submitting an article and that mine may be in a queue, or even deemed unsuitable. Of course I would be delighted if it were used, but I have no expectations.

I am taking "Mr Cat" to Beaulieu this Sunday, there is some kind of Jaguar day going on there. I don't see it mentioned in "events" so I don't know if JEC has a presence there or if any members are going. I was told of it by a friend who knows I go to the New Forest most weekends for lunch and a cream tea (very civilized )

Mike, your replies are always very helpful, and comprehensive. You have never failed to respond to my posts and have given me good advice. I would very much hope we can meet at one of the events and I can buy you a glass of shandy or maybe something stronger... but then you will probably be driving

Thank you both once again for your replies and help.

Les.

[J44EAG]

I`ll be on the Portsmouth Region stand. Come over and we can hook up.

Greatly look forward to seeing you.

All the best,

Mike

[Ladams]

I`ll be on the Portsmouth Region stand. Come over and we can hook up.

Greatly look forward to seeing you.

All the best,

Mike

Excellent. I have just bought tickets. My partner Jackie (and Mr Cat) will see you Sunday!

[Goss]

Great story Mike,

My 1999 3.0 SE V6 that I have owned since 6 months old has been sitting in my back garden for 3 years now, since the reverse on the auto gearbox started juddering and it won't go into top gear at anything over 50mph (does below this speed) we had to upgrade. Simply uneconomic to repair at the time with £2,100 for rebuilding the gearbox. I hope it will be a future classic as I really don't want to scrap it, its in very good condition and fully loaded so perhaps I should bite the bullet!

Good on you for saving one and enjoying it.

Regards

Goss

[Ladams]

Thank you Goss.

I don't regret my decision to spend money on this car, it became a mission and it feels good to have kept this car on the road and make it something special.

As far as your car is concerned, I suppose it depends on what it's use will be. If is a relliable cheap run about you want, I would say it isn't worth repairing. As I discovered, you can end up throwing money these cars and they still come back and bite you. I suppose the first thing to check is the bodywork, especially the sills as these can rot and are expensive to replace. I learned this from reading this forum. Also get a health check on the engine, suspension and all the major components.

If however you feel like me and want to keep it then be prepared to dig deep in your pockets! I reached the point of no return after spending £1,000 having the head gaskets replaced and that was done by an ex Jaguar racing mechanic as a cash in hand job. A garage would have charged twice that or more.

If you want the gearbox replaced I can certainly recommend Planet Gears in Peterborough. Very competitive and nice people who do a very thorough job.

For me it became a passion and a project. My Jag is not only a pleasure to drive, but with the cosmetic improvements I made, it gets admiring nods from other S-Type drivers and at events. I would do it all again, no regrets.

LES.

[Goss]

Hello Les,

Definitely not worth repairing so it will probably be scrapped soon if there was a small chance these would be collectable I would keep it but it would need to be sorted first. The body is in superb condition and has been garaged for all but the last 3 years.

Regards

Goss

[Ladams]

That's a shame Goss. I suppose all cars will become collectable eventually when only the best examples remain or are restored. After all, the mk1 Ford Anglia and Escort were once commonplace and most ended up in banger races before being scrapped. Nowadays they are hard to find and fetch big money. My Father used own an immaculate Ford Capri Classic which he sold for circa £300 before they became rare. I saw one for sale last year, a 1963 model for £8,500 and there are not many that survived long enough to get into motor museums.

I doubt I will live long enough to see S-Types reach true collector or classic status but no doubt one day they will. However, I think you are making the right decision for you.... It could end up being a money pit.

All the best. Les.