"Concours quality "

sounds like a financially rewarding restorative acquisition / disposal for sure....good job you did not take that baby to the slalom track , although getting it sideways should have been no problem once the rear suspension radius arms fell off....... pretty sure there would have been some baling wire in the trunk however................

you need to share your restoration secrets with the world.

HEY! I have no complaints about the $400 - it was well spent for a car that I ended up selling for $1800 exactly one month later after spending exactly $51 "restoring"!!! ... more like a re-conditioning with some leatherique, vacuuming, car polish and wax. Replaced the throttle cable, the ignition switch and generally made it a bit more presentable ... I never got around to installing the chrome for the rear side bumper which still came with the car - including full service history since new and original invoice.

But what I will say now that I have had a $400 Jaguar ... is that for $400, I will expect a Jaguar that can be driven for a whole month without leaving me stranded! Not that I would probably ever buy another $400 Jaguar and dare drive it to work for a whole month! Although, my $500 V12 VDP comes close!

well what do you expect for $400. dollars!

John Testrake and Man Shun Poon - Thank you both for your insight. Of course, answers just seem generate new questions. Do either of you restore or update your Jaguars with your own blood, sweat and tears or do you contract with auto restorers. If you do use commercial restorers or auto shops with specialized services , do you have a special relationship with the restorers in that you expect "concours quality" or "concours condition" to be maintained in any work performed on your vehicle.

In other words, if I purchase a future Jaguar to be repaired and restored, by commercial restorers, what expections should I have?

I am assuming I need to specifically sit down with my restorers and agree to an agenda or a timeline of a "concours condition" vehicle if that is my desire. Is that the "mind set" of one who purchases, repairs and restores a fine motor car, Thanks again,

I'm insulted! I love those Kent wheels haha! They look great on the series 3, and on XJS'.

But anyways, as you might see - the rear side bumper chromes are not even on the car as I pulled the car out of a farmer's field just three days prior to the show! (It had sat with the sunroof open for four years outdoors) ... this is what $400 gets you though...

Man-Shun, maybe if you replace those ugly but original Kent wheels it might get a better review....(just kiddin').

(Volvo used those, or very similar-looking wheels in 1971-1973, in the 1800-E and ES models).

Edited on 2008-04-19 11:27:56

The phrase in question is "Concourse Quality" ... NOT, "Concours Condition"; it is therefore irrelevent as to whether or not the car being shown is in new condition.

Concours Quality, in my mind would refer to a car that was continually updated or restored to a certain benchmark quality - those defined by the use of Original equipment parts. More or less, a car that can either used daily or shown once a year etc, but composed of no less than 100%authentic/genuine Jaguar or Jaguar-factory-specified components.

I don't believe Concours Quality means a car prepared for show, but just a car that is in keeping with the originality and quality specified by the factory (yes even if that means poor build quality).
Concours condition, however, could refer to a vehicle fit for a Concours show which is in immaculate condition, and with quality set out by the use of original equipment (re: Concours Quality).

...take my piece of junk for example - Concours Quality having been slowly updated with original parts, not concours condition...
thankfully this car was not judged... it isn't concours condition though and certainly won't win a concours... so there is no question of just how unfit it is in this setting: