History Hot Rod 1958 Jaguar XK150 Barn(ish) Find

"Holly Crap MAN!"
That's what my dad said when I answered his call yesterday. Of course I chuckled.

A few months ago he told me about a Jaguar that had been sitting for 30 years (the last 4 outside covered up, the 26 previous in a horse barn). Apparently the old man was having a "Mens Sale" less than a mile from my dads rural home. Six houses down, over and up, down and around the hill. And he didn't even know the guy!

My dad is a sucker for a sale, and something like this, he was done at "Mens"! A Garage Sales on steroids. Tools, machines, cars, trucks, parts, scrap wood and metal. It was time to sell the family home and all of these treasures were for sale. Well, except that thing under the tarp behind the barn.

"Well, what is it?" StNick asked.

"That's my Hot Rod Jag, its got a 1956 265 Corvette motor in it. I'm hoping I can get it running one of these days", the dreamy-eyed old man replied.

Of course my dad weasel'd the cover off the car and left his whisker trails on the windows. After a semi-convincing plea to buy the car he ultimately he went home with only a handful of screwdrivers and scrap wood for the heat stove.

So back to the call I got from StNick, "Holly Crap MAN! I bought the Hot Rod JAG!"

Apparently the old man resigned to the fact that the car was never going to burn the rubber off the knock-off wires while in his possession and thought StNick might see it through. He knocked on my Dad's door and gave him a price, they dickered a bit and now the Jag is in my dad's driveway.

Enjoy the following photos of the unearthing, we haven't been able to get the bonnet open yet, but I assure you the we will and the photos will get posted here. We have been able to verify from underneath it is a SBC, cant wait to check it out.

There are a lot of details that are still unfolding, stay tuned!

 

Holy crap is right!

 

dime a dozen...wow nice find!

 

OMG!! And a drop top!

 

That is cool beyond words!.....

 

Santa has a Jag? Nice score...

 

That's beautiful! I know I'm gonna get lit up for this but I'd be inclined to find the 3.8 that belonged to it and ULP.....restore it......(as he tugs at his collar and awaits the stones to start flying)

 

I would think that it is worth more as a restored car than with a SBC in it.

 

Well your dad looks good in it.Will be following this.Nice looking Jag.

 

Any chance you'll paint it red?

 

Now your speaking my language.
On the other hand, if you want it to be completely HAMB friendly, you could put a flatmotor with an Ardun head conversion under the bonnet like this Allard. It surely would be a big hit in the hot rod class at Pebble Beach.




All kidding aside, that Jag is quite a find.

 

Great looking car!

 

HOLY SHIT!

I am so goddamn jealous right now!!!

 

Wow

 

I really like that car, that could be such a very cool build, wish it were my shop.

 

Yeah,I could live with that.

 

Fire up that dual overhead cam six and go blow some small blocks right the fuck off!! Those things were BUILT to Race. I had a 140 when I was in the Army ( 1969) that I bought for $750. bucks!! Now a parts car is worth between 10 and 20 grand- complete cars are going for 75to 100k ( and I sold it for 2 grand and thought I hosed the guy!) Check out Hemmings- big bucks.
I hope the underside is as nice as the top side-NICE SCORE!!!!!
PLEASE don't put a freakin' 350 in it!! I'll puke!!

 

how's he gonna wash it?

 

I'm not sure I've ever seen one.... this model was 1957-1961. thanks!

"Drop Head", with a funny accent...thanks!

HAHA! I know RIGHT! thanks!

It is cool looking isn't it! I don't think it'll get an original motor while he has it, I think the 265 is GREAT! We can work on that! Thanks!

I'm sure you are right.

Yes he does! Thanks!

He did mention that! With white walls and a white top? OH YEA!

I like the sound of an Ardun! Thanks!

Thanks!

HA!! Rides a the Hot Rod Dirt Drags!

I think this will be a Jolly Ole time! Thanks!

Thanks! Dont worry, no 350's.

Water and a sponge? Is this a trick question?

Ah yea.... Please refer to this post 19 on "How to Correctly Wash A Barn Find"
"Get at least 2 big breasted women, lots of soap and a video camera..........."

 

mr.chevrolet is referring to this thread:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/how-to-correctly-wash-a-barn-find.809797/
It's something of a classic, right up there with the legend of the hippo boat.

But nowhere near as classic as that car you've found! Wow!

 

yeah, I thought everyone would remember that one.

 

Holy Crap is an understatement. That is AWESOME!

Ryan.

 

Oh man that's awesome. Remind me to tell you a story about how I found one of those and lost a potential girl friend at the same time. Hah!

 

But you got the car right???!!

 

Wow!

 

I'm always amazed at the stuff that is still out there. Good find, Bob!

 

Sexy

 

Like everyone says "awesome"

 

All XK120/140/150s are cool cars. This one is a 150 drop head coupe as opposed to the roadster. The 3.4 to 3.8L DOHC straight 6 that it came with would make that car fly. The 265 corvette is probably a downgrade in a performance sense. The Jag engine was pretty indestructible. The real issue was maintence as there were less guys that knew how to work on them. Not rocket science but just different.

Look for rot in the sills and floors. Chassis is fairly stout so that is most likely fine. If you can clean it up and get it going with minimal effort it should be a blast.