Worth saving or not

[Romeo_3400]

Evening all,

Bit of a dilemma... My Dad has a RHD 1989 Sovereign 3.6 in need of some Work. It has average mileage, currently non runner ( suspected starter issue/ignition coil) and located in France.
He used the car daily for year but hasn’t ran now for at least 5 years. Bodywork is good with the odd rust spots ( bonnet, c Pilar and near side wings) it will need a respray as lacquer is peeling on roof, bonnet and boot.

Interior is average (usual ski slope veneer and some trim bits need replacing).Realistically the car is worth peanuts but we both like a good XJ40 and don’t really want to scrap it.
I had 5 in the past but so don’t want to waste our time and money on the “wrong” car. I am busy at the moment playing with a v12 XJS and S2 Daimler XJ.

My Dad is thinking about doing it up but we’re not 100% sure it is worth it as values still low and there are still a few decent cars around cheap, it’s just a shame not to do anything with it, if that makes sense.

What would you guys do ?

Cheers. F

[Indiana_Jones]

If you've already got the car, has 'good bones' and can do most of the work yourself, might be worth a punt.

If it were me, I'd likely give it a go, because that's essentially what I'm doing with my car lol. Like most classics, you never really get back what you put in time and money wise, but that's not why most people do it (I tossed a bit of money into my old Wolseley landcrab, but I had a great time with it).

\not sure if that was of any help, but it's always nice to see another early car on the site, they seem to be a fairly rare breed now!

[Elsa_jag]

I think they’re all worth saving now! There are hardly any left!

Even if you could just get it road worthy and move it on? At least then it’s a more viable project for the next guy?

[Indiana_Jones]

Carl raises a good point, even if you could get the car to a point where it could be sold to someone and finished, that'd be good. Not sure what it's like up there, but down here in NZ, you don't tend to see many pre '90 cars for sale these day.

[abercanadian]

A RHD located in a LHD country has very limited appeal I should think.

Larry

[Elsa_jag]

A RHD located in a LHD country has very limited appeal I should think.

Larry

I would tend to agree, but there have been a number of these cars taken from the UK to Europe over the years due to lack of availability.

I remember this happening even 8 or 9 years ago, forum member Esta-Jane? Leticia Mace daughter?

[Romeo_3400]

Thanks for the replies, I agree there is not many early cars left these days, even parts are getting expensive.

The difference between a sound car on good order and a restoration project like my Dads car is not much hence the question.

RHD cars abroad are not a bad as people think, as least you can see the side of the road !