Jaguar restoration: which cars, which approach?
Jaguar restoration covers cars that could hardly be more different underneath. An XK120 sits on a separate chassis; the Mark 2, the E-type, the XJ6 and the XJ-S have a monocoque bodyshell that is both structure and coachwork. Before anything is dismantled, the workshop therefore assesses the whole car: structure, numbers, mechanicals, electrics, trim and paperwork.
That assessment forms the basis of an estimate itemised line by line, and of the approach agreed with you: a faithful return to factory specification, or a personal interpretation in the spirit of the car, such as an XJ-S reworked as a restomod. Our general method is set out on the classic car restoration page.
What each Jaguar asks for
The method is the same for all of them, but the priorities shift from one model to the next:
- XK120, XK140 and XK150: a separate chassis to be inspected along its full length; steel bodywork, except on the earliest XK120s, whose aluminium panels sit on an ash frame;
- Mark 2: a monocoque prone to rust in the sills, jacking points, wheel arches and front chassis legs; generous woodwork inside;
- E-type: central tub and tubular front subframe, with a long one-piece tilting bonnet; see our Jaguar E-type page;
- XJ6, XJ12 and XJ-C: bodyshell to be checked around the glass, at the wheel arches and along the sills; on the XJ-C, the vinyl roof comes off so the steel beneath can be judged;
- XJ-S: a dense structure to be checked at the sills, the chassis legs and the suspension mounting points, with a V12 packed into a tight engine bay.
Rust and panel work: taking the shell back to bare metal
On Jaguars of this period, rust often spreads where it cannot be seen: inside box-section sills, beneath the floors, behind the trim and where reinforcements meet. A serious restoration begins by stripping the shell, so that the real metal is judged rather than the paint covering it.
Affected panels are repaired or remade, respecting the original assembly sequence and dimensions, and the shell is then protected before primer and paint. On a monocoque, alignment is checked throughout the metalwork: a door that no longer shuts cleanly or a bonnet that will not sit flush betrays a tired structure. The detail of this work is on our bodywork and paint page.
XK straight-six and V12: restoring the mechanicals
The twin-cam XK straight-six powers most classic Jaguars, as a 3.4, 3.8 or 4.2. Its restoration follows a simple rule: strip, measure, decide. Cylinder head, valves and guides, two-stage chains and their tensioners, crankshaft, oil pump and carburettors are judged on their actual condition; valve clearances are set with shims.
The 5.3-litre V12 of the Series 3 E-type, the XJ12 and the XJ-S calls for the same method, with particular attention to cooling, ignition and fuelling. Engine and gearbox numbers matter to the value of a classic Jaguar: the workshop rebuilds the original units rather than replacing them, whenever their condition allows.
Brakes, manual or automatic gearbox, suspension and the independent rear end, with its discs mounted inboard beside the differential, complete the mechanical work.
Woodwork, leather and carpets: inside a classic Jaguar
The cabin matters as much as the mechanicals. Burr walnut dashboard and cappings, leather seats, carpets and headlining form a coherent whole that ages as one: a cracked veneer, dulled lacquer, crazed leather or faded carpet is enough to break the harmony.
All Jaguar upholstery is made in the workshop: leather chosen from samples, stitching, piping, foams and seat frames. The woodwork is refurbished alongside the trim, with veneer repaired and lacquer renewed. Original leather that is still sound is cleaned and fed, keeping a patina nothing else can replace.
Following the restoration from a distance
A single team looks after the car, from dismantling to the final road test. You receive photographs of the key stages, no additional work is undertaken without your approval, and the detailed invoice records every operation. Parts are original, equivalent quality or reconditioned, with their origin stated.
The Mougins workshop welcomes Jaguars from all over Europe. A first opinion can be given from photos and videos, and transport is arranged on request. The marque’s other models are presented on our Jaguar page.