Don’t get me wrong, I like a good project car, but it amazes me to see what people will pay for a pile of rust and bolts. Take this 1953 Jaguar XK 120 for instance. It looks like a previous owner had a little too much fun in the twisties and ended up wrapping it around a pole or two… The seller is asking $18k and the crazy part is that there is someone out there willing pay that. I love XKs just as much as everyone else, but come on! This is just getting out of control!
The guys over at Beverly Hills CC are always unearthing garage finds from the homes of California’s past elites. Their inventory includes mainly cars with needs and there is always something interesting. Their location among the rich and famous may inflate prices a bit, but not anymore more than you will encounter on eBay these days.
This Jag has been battered and abused, but they are optimistic in mentioning that it is numbers matching, has had the same owner for many years, and would make an excellent restoration candidate. We are not sure about that last part, but then again, it could be worse, right?
It just got worse! This 1955 XK 140 has not been lowered, the body, well what is left of it, is literally sitting on the ground! This project actually makes the last one look very doable. Again, being the positive guys they are at BHCC, they point out that this car is equipped with overdrive, has a solid frame, and has been in California for the past 20 years. They also state that those door are from a drop head coupe. Not sure if that is a good thing though.
The asking price redeems this one a little, well until you do the math. At a little over $10k it may seem like a cheap entry into cat ownership, but if you look at it that way, it will probably never make it much past its current condition. Unfortunately, these once beautify cars are not for the budget-minded enthusiast. You are going to need a serious love for everything British and some very deep pockets.
Surprisingly the frame actually does looks pretty good and appears to have undergone a restoration attempt. There is an engine in there too, but not much else. We have a hard time imagining that this car wouldn’t be better used for parts. That could be considered blasphemy to Jaguar enthusiasts and the investors may frown upon me too considering the fact that number one examples of these cars go for well over $100k. Maybe I am just getting lazy, but it looks like too much work for me…
I think someone is cleaning out an old junk yard. lol Maybe if you bought both it might make one whole one. that’s 35K for a truck load of parts. what is a 120 worth??
I just looked at the rest of the pics for this thing. there is no body, just fenders and doors. 17K. damn. the plugs are loose in the motor, and it’s not complete either.
“It was running when it was parked”
From the article intro: “The guys over at Beverly Hills CC are always unearthing garage finds from the homes of California’s past elites.”
The author should not assume that just because the seller is located in California that that’s where their inventory comes from. I recently sold them an old project Porsche in ‘standard-East-Coast-rusty’ condition; they had their transporter pick it up here in PA and it was on their website a week later. As a seller, BHCC was fine to work with; I have no buyer-perspective experience to offer.
I called them once about a Maseratti they had. I got the impression they felt like they were doing me a favor by answering the phone and that they were selling concourse stuff.
Just get a dent puller and that first one will be good to go.
I DO REALIZE THAT AMERICA—OR AT LEAST A GOOD PORTION OF IT==HAS TURNED INTO A DUMBED DOWN POPULATION—WITH MORE MONEY THAN COMMON SENSE—-THESE WRECKS THAT ARE SHOWN ON BARN FINDS BELONG AT THE HOT END OF A BURNING TORCH—BUT AS LONG AS THE STUPIDITY EXISTS—I SAY—FLEECEM CLARENCE—–
I’ve only ever heard people refer to them with respect to their prices. General consensus is that they’re ludicrous.
On that bottom one…it’s all about the stance.
They both just need a minor tune up and they will be as good as new.
In no time you’ll be enjoying them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H37diumMPd4
Can all be fixed with just one word…
“BONDO”!!
(& LOTS of it!!) LOL
I saw one where some cars had been dumped in a ravine as erosion control and decades later wheb the ravine washed out pulled one out and sold it.
If I can find the link I will post it .
The black 120 may be the one “Big Ed Baumstein” rolled at Sebring back in 1952. Where are the Greek and Buddy Palumbo today? They could have the 120 fixed up in a few weeks, but Julie Palumbo may have some hard thoughts about Buddy taking on the mess. BJ Levy’s book is more real than the idea of restoring any of this scrap metal.