Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Oh dear me...

Dave, it's a car I always wanted ( you know the feeling ) however I couldn't get on with it, to much of a lumbering old beast, beautifully built but not for me however I have had the pleasure of ownership ( box ticked )

I had an XK120 FHC when I lived in Jersey, cracking car wish I'd never sold it.

Thanks for all your comments....is rust an ever present threat or does a rebuild remove the worry?
E.G. my V8 mgb started rusting again almost immediately after rebuild...as did my Volvo 1800es

XK's have a very strong seperate chassis so quite different to an MGB or Volvo in that respect.

Rust shouldn't be an issue if they've been properly rebuilt and rust proofed to a degree. Overall they're very robust cars.

Nick, That Jag engine is probably amongst the best engines ever made by anyone, it has survived for almost a century and I'm sure it would still be around now in a current guise if some idiot hadn't decided to use plastic in the engine construction and managed to get away with it for a short while!
Sometimes you have to go with your heart, you only walk here once and it's the choices you don't make that you regret.

The Mogan can still be a play thing for you. perhaps a budget example of a yesteryears scolded rat that you can tuck in a corner which will allow you to satisfy that need when it pops into view!
I won't ever be able to make those decisions and have a plus 4 with the most reliable of everything assembling it because I have to cover all bases of reliability, corrosion resistance and still something I can do all the work on. I once toyed with an Aston Martin DB9 when prices started to fall but research showed me to walk away. So my Morgan is a compromise car. It gives me my toy for driving, old fashioned mechanics, and a joy of owning a car that I couldn't get from anything else made today. And despite it's short comings it's a car I have always wanted since....... well, forever really!

I don't think you had a bad day yesterday, rather the opposite. You just had that feeling of excitement and a could I have that moment that life tells us to put aside for the sake of others!

Just remember ........ This is your walk!

As a yoof, first sight of the XK engine created a memory for life...(-: As a Classic I suspect the early XK`s may be less expensive to maintain than Vintage Bentley's, given the spare parts availability, but likely to provide as much driving pleasure, all be it somewhat updated in terms of comfort and styling yet with a sporting history that will ever attract those of us who may prioritise a degree of nostalgia relative to much..? (-:

Nick I had an xk150 for a number of years back in the early 2000's don't confuse the steel with the material used in the 70's is a lot thicker and heavier.

I moved mine on after about 8 years as the kids wouldn'f fit any more, nice easy car to work on and lots of information to be found on the engine. I was originally looking for an e-type but couldn't find one within budget but stumbled upon the xk part way through a rebuild following a crash. Took a punt and didn't regret it.

If the car came up for sale again I'd have it back.

Sold it a bought a sensible car my first aero.

Well, has there ever been a more positive set of responses to a question? What a great forum.
Thanks for all your comments, I really appreciate them. I'll let you know what happens next.....

I said I'd let you know what happened.
Someone with more get up and go than me got up and bought it before I could get there! So it's gone
Very sad but I'm not going to look for another actively. I'll just keep an eye on adverts. Funnily enough it has rekindled my interest in perhaps getting another Volvo 1800es, I really enjoyed the one I had many years ago....

Be careful because old flames can disappoint