The test drive sealed it. We were going to build a Nostalgia Classic 120. The decision to build a 120 variant rather than the 140 was that the only real difference between the two models was in the  bright work  and we preferred the look of the 120.  I had been monitoring  the XJ6 market for about  4 months. Regularly scanning the local newspaper, Autotrader, and Findit on the Web to gauge prices. After the test drive I started looking in earnest and found a promising XJ6 donor on  "Findit".

Much of the above is unimportant but at that sort of mileage it had got to be worth a look.  The car was in East Sussex We contacted the seller and arranged to go an see it.  The car was parked outside and showing signs of having been there for some time. The body work was not bad but showing some rust around the headlights and the driver  side front door pillar. It was 20 years old and built in the era when rust was an accepted hazard.  The condition of the bodywork was not important. The engine compartment was dirty  but  in line with age, lack of use and exterior storage.

The engine started first time. Looking at the exhaust emissions it did not appear to be burning oil. One of the rear exhaust pipes was broken.  Oil pressure was 40 psi. The temperature gauge was suspect since it quickly reached fsd but the engine didn't seem to be overheating The car was not taxed and the MOT had expired in February 2002, so test driving was limited to around the grounds and drive of the house. The automatic transmission changed smoothly. The brakes were spongy but I suspected from lack of use All the electrics worked except the windscreen wipers did not self park. It had 5 good tyres all legal.  The engine mileage as recorded was the big attraction.  From discussions with the seller the mileage seemed genuine.

 The seller was selling the car on behalf of his Father in Law. The previous owner was an accountant - now retired and had owned the car for the last 16 years. Though advertised as not having FSH he produced a folder with Tax discs and MOT certificates going back to the beginning along with some servicing and repair bills, particularly those associated repairing faults in order to pass the MOT test.  I made him an offer of £650 and it was accepted.  I judged that the engine alone was probably worth £650.