Jaguar XK8

So, I bought a Jag. What a beauty she is! The moment I laid eyes on her sleek lines and that iconic leaping cat badge, I knew it was love at first sight. Each curve tells a story of elegance and power, and I can practically hear the engine purring, waiting for me to take the wheel!!

 I jump in and the first thing i think is … what is that smell. The car doent’t start and smells like a great grandma’s laundry basket. The car has been sitting for 7 years. The seller said 5 years then 8 years so lets call it 7 years. The poor old bloke waved goodbye to something that i think was special to him in a past life. He had it for 18 years I was told. That’s a long time to have a car. I promised i would send him some pictures when i was finished. He was happy with that. I get the Jag to my holding garage to have a look around. The bodywork looks like a 10 year old has resprayed the car and the leather on the driver seat looks like an old steak that’s been left out in the sun. The headliner is obstructing the view to the back window and looks like there is no stick left in the glue , that’s horrible and will have to be totally replaced. The back shelf looks like someone has held a blow-dryer to it for 11 years , the carpets are sticky and the handbrake is stuck on. The windows keep going up and down when you open the door and did i say the carpets are sticky. The car looks good from about 10 meters but up close its nasty but I love it. I love it more than anything. Its totally iconic and when sorted this will be fantastic. They say the XK8 is the last real Jag. Hopefully thats a good thing.

 THE JAG

I connect a new battery after crawling in though the back seats and getting to the emergency boot open thing because the battery is in the boot, of course .. What a laugh that was. A new battery connected , new fuel , check oil etc. She starts first time !! The car warms up in about 10 seconds and idles perfectly. So perfect I thought …no somethings not right. I leave her running and have a look around in the engine bay under the car etc. She is good in every way, except the smell and the paint and the brakes but you get it. She runs and sounds like a beast !! V8 , SMAERT !! Im happy with that today. Let the work begin.