I’m considering the purchase of a 1968 Jaguar XK-E Roadster. The car has been restored to concours quality standards. During the restoration the entire driver side and passenger side floor pans were replaced due to rust. The rest of the sheet metal on the car is original. I’m concerned that the replacement of the floor pans will impact the future value of the car. What are your thoughts?
My Answer: My thoughts really don’t matter. What matters is the thoughts of a potential buyer should you decide to sell the car, or a judge should you decide to show the car. That being said, theoretically if two IDENTICAL Jaguars are restored to EXACTLY the same condition, the one with the original sheet metal will be worth more, and will be easier to sell.
However, we live in the real world, not a theoretical world. XK-Es were particularly prone to rust, and there are several shops around the country that are capable of restoring even a heavily rusted example to “as new” condition. Although it would be ideal if the floor pans on your potential purchase were original, their replacement is probably alright if done properly.
An XK-E that has undergone a restoration to concours quality standards is a significant investment, so I would recommend contacting the JCNA (Jaguar Club of North America). Find a JCNA judge in your area and have him or her review not only the car, but its provenance as well. It is important to understand that with these cars, provenance is equally as important, if not more so, than the replacement of floor pans. The fee that they will charge will be well worth the investment.