Guidance please.

I have a Jaguar XJS V 12 I'm making into a Group 44 tribute car. 
   I while back I realized I almost have enough to make an XK E   Race car. 
   The simple fact is I won't be able to do both. 
    Reasons to finish XJS : 

        It's reasonably close to being finished.  Roll cage installed firewalls welded up. 
         I've got money invested  in fender  flairs and  other items. ( still under $2000 budget). 
        To get to this point on the XKE  I'd need to spend ( at my current working rate, another year)

       Reasons to build the XKE. 
      I've already built one

      It's more the size I like,   the XJS is more Mustang sized   While the XKE is more MG size. 
    With the same power etc. the XKE will be seriously faster,  probably close to 1000 pounds lighter.  It will also push a lot less air. Even though the XJS has a remarkably low CD  the XKE IS 25 inches narrower and less than 1/2 as tall. 

Finish the one that's closer to being done.  Race it.  

Have fun.

If it's not what you want, sell it and build the other.

I'm all about finishing a project.   Focus on that!

Sell XKE parts, enjoy the pile of cash they bring. Finish Group 44.

Either would be a good project.  Which one would put a bigger smile on your face?

Bird in the hand...

I agree, finish the XJS. 

JoeTR6 said:

Either would be a good project.  Which one would put a bigger smile on your face?

The XKE  it would be seriously faster with the same engine. Top speed, acceleration, braking.  Plus I could use a set of Chrome Wire wheels I have access to. 
    The XJS wins only in Cornering.   
   But it feels like a taxi cab in comparison to the XKE  which was designed after the D type.
       While the XJS was built on the 4 door sedan chassis  and starts out 2000 pounds heavier. 
   My heart wants the XKE while common sense tells me to finish the taxi cab and don't be foolish.  

wvumtnbkr said:

Finish the one that's closer to being done.  Race it.  

Have fun.

 

If it's not what you want, sell it and build the other.

 So how much would a 1/2 done racecar XJS  sell for?   I suppose I could paint it and get it rolling with parts needed to get it running.  
 Not asking price, but actual selling price?  

You're in your 70s and 2 years into this build minimum, finish this XJS my guy. Don't start over or you'll be messaging 2 years from now with 2 half built projects asking what to do 

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/jaguar-xjs-progress/183987/page18/

As to what its worth, probably get the most money parting back out or scrsp, so equal or less than the $2k you have in it. To do right someone will want to double check your work and might as well do that themselves.

So, here's one way to look at it. The xjs is probably the cheaper car in case of a "racing incident". The XKE will have a ton more value when/if you go to sell it. Will that value get in the way of you enjoying it? (I know you will launch into a story about the blackjack special, I know you have some experience on that front, but it's a realistic question) sometimes the financially more disposable car is more enjoyable.

Also, does the residual value when you are done racing factor into your decision?

Also, realistically, you have only so long left to get out there driving. Do you really want to trade racing time for building time at this point? (Really not meant to sound insulting, just, realistic)

Hell, I was working on building a sport bike powered, Miata suspended triumph spitfire. I had my first kid and realized I could either race or build with the limited free time I would have available. I sold off the parts and got my F500 that was pretty much ready to go. It's not just "old people problems"

Do you actually want to finish?  That's a serious question. 
 

Some guys enjoy building. I have a feeling you might be one of them. You spent 30+ years building a house that still isn't finished. 
 

Which car would bring you more joy?  Either owning it, racing it, or building it?

Perhaps I should clarify what the XKE consists of.  It's not even a bitsa.  Well except for  most of the mechanical stuff.  
  The front End bodywork is a mold I can make  a bonnet from, yeh fiberglass. 
      The factory frame is all straight tubes 1"x 1".  Very simple to build.   The roll cage will be made like a Dragster cage extended to provide side impact protection.  
     Because it's a race car, I'll continue  it all the way back to pick up the rear cage which holds the differential,  rear brakes, and all of the suspension. Instead of stopping at the firewall.  
    Most of the rest of the rear body will be simple rolled aluminum riveted to the frame. 
   There is an outfit in England  that sells pressed aluminum rear fenders prestreched   to cover the  the slightly bigger fenders most Vntage racers use.  And they are only a little more than the original fenders cost.   
    I already have a mold for the trunk lid  and    
 A lot of the rest of the top bodywork is simple compound curves I can create with my English wheel and pieces of aluminum. 
     If I can't find a pair of rusty doors to make a mold from, the skins for the doors  are still available in England.   While they look simple to create in Aluminum,  that is deceptive.  An alternative would be to hand shape molds from foam covered with bondo. 
     
 

Build what makes you happy. 

SV reX said:

Do you actually want to finish?  That's a serious question. 
 

Some guys enjoy building. I have a feeling you might be one of them. You spent 30+ years building a house that still isn't finished. 
 

Which car would bring you more joy?  Either owning it, racing it, or building it?

      Yes,  you are right.  I enjoy building, & creating.  I take great pride in getting things right on a tiny budget  

  OK, racing is fun too but entry fees etc. are so costly,  a perfect non destructive weekend can cost $2000 and go up from there. 
  Then there is the whole rusty skill, reaction times, and condition.  Last time I raced the BlackJack after a few aggressive laps I had to pace myself to finish. 
       When Larry was helping me with the XJS I fully expected him to do most of the racing, qualifying, etc. I'd take maybe a lap or two at a track day. 
     

Apexcarver said:

So, here's one way to look at it. The xjs is probably the cheaper car in case of a "racing incident". The XKE will have a ton more value when/if you go to sell it. Will that value get in the way of you enjoying it? (I know you will launch into a story about the blackjack special, I know you have some experience on that front, but it's a realistic question) sometimes the financially more disposable car is more enjoyable.

 

Also, does the residual value when you are done racing factor into your decision?

 

Also, realistically, you have only so long left to get out there driving. Do you really want to trade racing time for building time at this point? (Really not meant to sound insulting, just, realistic)

 

Hell, I was working on building a sport bike powered, Miata suspended triumph spitfire. I had my first kid and realized I could either race or build with the limited free time I would have available. I sold off the parts and got my F500 that was pretty much ready to go. It's not just "old people problems"

Apex carver. 
    I raced the Black Jack for 30 years with one tiny incident that took only 15 minutes to repair. 
      I know accidents can happen but actually even in circle track racing starting when I was 14 I never hurt the car.  I won my share of events  and then did well in those I failed to win. 
   It's a combination off aggression and caution. 
   But  finished value?  The XJS  is a original nice car and would probably be worth  more than a Bitsa  XKE. 

 

  Then there is the whole rusty skill, reaction times, and condition.  Last time I raced the BlackJack after a few aggressive laps I had to pace myself to finish. 

This is a very honest and reasonable statement. 
Based on this I don't think I wouldn't worry about which one was faster. The only question is do you want a car you can drive or do you prefer the continued shop time? For me I would go with finish the one that is close but that's a you question. 

There is joy in going fast, look at Bonneville.  
  The XJS was the only Jaguar I could still afford ( frankly I hadn't thought of the XKE possibility  until way into the XJS  when I was moving that stuff around to make room for the XJS parts I had removed ) 

     But there is a great deal of truth in finish what I started. 

Don't leave a ton of half finished projects behind when your time comes. Finish the one that's already started. Once that's done, tackle another if you feel like it.

Pick the one you love working on. Sell the other and all its parts to fund the one you like. 
 

Resale value is meaningless. You will never sell it. 
 

Speed doesn't matter either. You may never drive it, but if you do it won't be a lot.

Build what you love building. 

STM317 said:

Don't leave a ton of half finished projects behind when your time comes. Finish the one that's already started. Once that's done, tackle another if you feel like it.

Boy do I agree with that statement.    That is my goal.  Finish 1 and diddle  with the rest of my fleet   In my last years. 

SV reX said:

Pick the one you love working on. Sell the other and all its parts to fund the one you like. 
 

Resale value is meaningless. You will never sell it. 
 

Speed doesn't matter either. You may never drive it, but if you do it won't be a lot.

Build what you love building. 

But the one I'd love hasn't been started yet. 
  If Larry wanted the XJS I'd give it to him free and everything required  to race it.    He put in at least as much work as I did.  I'd help him get it running etc. Maybe get a lap or two during the sorting process. 
 Otherwise I need to find a buyer. To clear it out just So I have some work space. It would be nice to get back at least some of money that has been spent so far.   The labor  wouldn't count. 
     
      The only reason I mentioned resale value is to show they both are worth about the same money.  

Woody (Forum Supportum) said:

Build what makes you happy. 

This.  I would go with the Group 44 car because I've always liked how it looks. 

frenchyd said:

STM317 said:

Don't leave a ton of half finished projects behind when your time comes. Finish the one that's already started. Once that's done, tackle another if you feel like it.

Boy do I agree with that statement.    That is my goal.  Finish 1 and diddle  with the rest of my fleet   In my last years. 

Sounds like XJS Frenchy. Build it and enjoy it as you tinker with the XKE. Kind of the best of both worlds.

From what I have read of the project you have put a lot of time, effort and soul into the Group 44 car. The finish is in sight and getting rid of before it is finished may be something you would regret later.