bfellows

I've noticed lately, especially on UK ebay, the amount of cars being broken for spares. I know one seller whose on his 4th dismantle in 12 months. It got me thinking - do we have any idea how quickly 928's are disappearing through accidents, dismantling etc.

CWO4Mann

It is probably a natural conclusion to a Marque. There will be only so many running members of a Marque at the end of the day, so to speak. Take a look at how many 1950 Jaguar XK120S Drop Heads there are running around not in a museum. That was my very first "sports car" when I was 18 years old.

Of course, I spent every dollar and leisure moment keeping it running (that was in 1961) and after about one year I sold it for what I paid for it -- $500.

"Now if only" ... is a phrase we hear often. My father's 1950 Kaiser Traveller with less than 100K miles that I towed to the dump in 1963 after he passed away .. a good example of hindsight is always 20/20.

The major reason I found and am restoring Kryptonite is to preserve a distinct and relatively unique moment of the Marque. What do I have? A 1978 European Model 928, five speed, with all options except sun roof. Imported into the USA in 1979 by a person rumored to be a Miami, FL drug king-pin who then lost the car through a US Marshal's sale of seized vehicles and which has since gone through a number of hands, some loving, some not.

I am sure that the number of 928's which go to the Breakers will increase every year and within a generation there will be no more 928's on eBay for $1,000 no reserve. All existing 928's will be in private or museum hands, running or not running. A generation is only 25 years in the future, by the way.

Why will the cars go to the Breakers? Because those who own them do not have the foresight or the resources or the committment to preserve their vehicle.

This is not a negative commentary on whether people keep the car ... I mean no disrespect to those who sell or part out their 928.

I mean, look at me, 18 years old, owning an XK120S Drophead that would pass anything on the road except a Tennessee Highway Patrolman. What did I know?

All I knew at THAT time is that the heater didn't work and I froze my butt off driving between Fort Campbell and my Granny's house over here in Nashville. The drophead was a cranky SOB that had these two latches on the windshield that would usually come unfastened at around 80 mph. It had three solex down-draft carbs (or maybe only two) and even with the balancing kit I bought never balanced. Smith's guages were, in a few words, difficult to keep operating. The mechanical tach cable was broken and I used the speedometer cable instead. The electric fuel pumps were cranky and I had to install a toggle switch to manually turn them on and off.

Oh my, what a PITA car.

Oh my, what I would not give to have that beautiful, wonderful, machine in my garage today!

I think that about covers it.

Cheers,

dfroelicher

amen

david928

Dave,

Your story reminds me of a time in 1964, when I ran across a beatup XK120 parked in an alley on the next block. The owner wanted to sell it for $150. Besides being too young to get a driver's licence, my paper route salary couldn't cover even that low price. Since then I've always wanted a Jag.

Somewhere in the back of my mind is the total number of 928s produced -- about 65,000. The present fleet is probably 40-50,000? I predict soon the intrinsic value of these cars will be better understood, fewer will be parted out, and more will be restored. No one in their right mind would scrap an XK120 today.

slate blue

What is the value of those Jags today? My friend once had a D type, that was big bucks back in the eighties.

Cheers Greg

F4GIB

Restored (for some "restoration" consists of a good polishing) XK120/150 ...
$50,000 min. More likely $70,000. I've seen one with matching luggage, picnic basket, and all papers listed for more.

heinrich

Soon they will be gone. Govt is pushing the sales tax through the troof on used 928 based on new value. SOON. I won't go there again. Next one will be parted out.

Garth S

Dave, I cannot help but agree: my first 'real' car was a '62 Austin-Healy 3000 MkII ... purchased when in university for $700: This car led me through a lot of life and living for three years ... plus some skills learned out of desperation ( 'Zen and the art of the motorcycle' style), like tuning triple SUs, rebuilding wire wheels, rebuilding my first engine, ... all sold to enter grad school for the princely sum of $825.
Good examples now sell on Barrett-Jackson for multiples of 928 prices ... and pass on to caring hands that respect that marque.

I hope that will be the fate of the 928s I now enjoy ... there will always be good examples to survive.

Fogey1

CWO4Mann:
"... within a generation there will be no more 928's on eBay for $1,000 no reserve. All existing 928's will be in private or museum hands, running or not running. ...
Why will the cars go to the Breakers? Because those who own them do not have the foresight or the resources or the committment to preserve their vehicle. ..."

I'm convinced that one of the ways the rich stay rich is that they have the room to store stuff. Store a car for your grandchildren and they have a nice high $$ car. Store that painting for 200 years and your descendants can rebuild the north wing.

Heinrich, if Washington is doing that to you, re-sell the cars into a state that is less thieving. Or get Ron h to sue for a fair market value based sales tax.

DANdeMAN

The exact same model I had BT7 2+2, 3 carb ...This car was super fun to drive and a chick magnet to boot...Ahhh the memories. The 928 is the modern equivalent as for fun factor but way ahead in quality.