Love Affair

[wcarter@medeserv.com.au (Warwick Carter)]

A Love Affair

The picture was on the front of a classic car magazine. An immaculate two
tone dark green and grey Mark V Jaguar. It was love at first site, as I
felt this was the most beautiful car I had ever seen (if you don't know
what I am talking about, now is the time to pull out that illustrated
history of Jaguar that every one of you should have, and check it out!).
That magazine, and many more afterwards that had any reference to classic
Jaguars, were purchased and collected.
At that stage my daily driver was a Range Rover, but soon afterwards I took
the plunge and purchased my first classic (a 1970 MGB Mark 2). I had always
loved and owned British cars, and two years ago purchased my first Jaguar,
a new XJ6-X300. A stunning car to view and drive, that was in its element
on a long winding road, and we have lots of those on the east coast of
Australia.
The interest in Mark V Jaguars continued. Only two or three were offered
for sale in Australia each year (only just over 7000 were ever made), and I
began to learn the prices and market forces, but they were still too
expensive for me to justify as a second classic.
I had not even seen one in the flesh until I went to a classic car day to
which all car clubs had been invited. I am not a member of any club, but
drove to the display in my less than perfect (but still very good) MGB. For
some reason the local MG Club had boycotted the day, and so as I tried to
drive into the public car park, a marshal directed me down a side road, and
before I knew it I was part of the display, the only MGB there.
Jaguars were present in force, and then I saw it. Parked at the end of a
long row of Mark II Jaguars was the first Mark V I had ever seen in the
flesh. Burgundy in colour, and in reasonable (but not good) condition, it
was already attracting numerous admirers. I joined them, and then
unsuccessfully sought the owner. In the end I sat on a bank fifty metres
away and watched. Eventually a man opened the boot and displayed the
complete tool kit to another person. This must be the owner, and I
introduced myself.
No, he was not interested in selling, and never would be. He had owned the
car for 23 years, and his eldest daughter had been conceived in the back
seat (or so the story went!). It was part of the family. Never the less, I
gave him my name and phone number, and he just happened to keep it.
In October 1996 my wife and I travelled from Brisbane to Perth (rather like
going from Miami to Los Angeles) on business, and by coincidence came
across the launch of the XK8 in Australia in Kings Park, which is a huge
green area in the centre of the city. A dozen or more XK8s were on display
(I think they look superb, but totally impractical at the Australian price
of A$208,000 - US$158,000), and they were supported by the local Jaguar
club with an almost complete selection of post war Jaguars, including a
Mark V - the second one I was to see. This one was in a rather ghastly two
tone red and yellow colour scheme, but even so I convinced my wife that
this was indeed an very attractive car.
A couple of days after we returned home I had a phone call from the owner
of the burgundy Mark V that I had seen many months earlier. Was I still
interested in buying? The price was two-thirds that which I would have
expected to pay for such a vehicle, but he had fallen on hard times
suddenly, had lost his business and house, and needed money fast. We met
and I inspected the car. On a nearby freeway I took it to 70mph, and she
performed beautifully. In 1973 she (like ships, all cars are female, so
that guys can have love affairs with them) had won several concourse
events, but since then she had deteriorated somewhat.
The owner knew the true value of the car, but also knew that to get it
could take some months. I was in the right spot at the very right time. I
said I would buy it, he looked relieved and said that this extra money
would solve his problems, and his wife started crying. I didn't know
whether to feel a heel, or elated that I had obtained my dream car far
earlier than expected.
A week later after paper work had been completed, I picked it up, and drove
it the 40km. across the city to home. The back seat and boot were stuffed
with spare parts, and the car was rather sluggish, but as I was unfamiliar
with its handling, I took no particular notice. Once home I started
unloading the back seat. Complete sets of chrome, spare dashboard, and
innumerable unidentifiable bits emerged. Then came the boot. After the
first layer of crankshafts, headlights and body panels were removed, the
treasure revealed itself - a complete spare engine! He and his two sons
(whose place of conception were not revealed to me) had loaded it into the
boot, but I and my two daughters had to get it out, and with a boot lid
that opens down rather than up, it was a rather difficult task.
On the back lawn I sat down and admired my new toy (the epitomy of space,
pace and grace) and all its bits. Now to make it as good as new.

To be continued.....................

Warwick Carter
HOME: 18 Pullenvale Rd., Pullenvale  4069
OFFICE: 50 Sumners Rd., Sumner 4074
Queensland, Australia.
FAX:
Home: +61 7 3878 3808       Office: +61 7 3376 3652
PHONE:
Home: +61 7 3378 8559       Office: +61 7 3376 3600

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