Javelin values

[Chris Spencer]

I also post on 'Practically Classics' (forum of the magazine Practical Classics) - I was recently asked when posting a picture of my Javelin what it was worth - my words are in black text whilst other forum members comments are in red

What value would a Jowett in that condition fetch?

£7 - £8 k - although I seen one fetch £10k + - good running cars requiring cosmetic improvement can be had for about £4k + and restoration cars can be anything from £0 - £3k

I think that an awful lot of people would assume they'd need to spend more, me included.

At these values, the Javelin is a massive bargain. It's such a shame that these very special cars aren't more readily available.

yep, surprised me too, great value eh!

Obviously non Jowett owners believe that the Javelin is way undervalued

[Andy Stevens]

Worth THIS much???

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1953-Jowett-J ... 20e7d5ff1f

[Keith Clements]

Yes I think so, if the new paint is not on top of filler and rust, and it may be worth more if the mechanicals are in good condition and have been refurbished.

Javelins are expensive to get into good condition, so one that is, is worth as much as any rare interesting car.

Last week I went around JD Classics where they are now doing up cars like the Jav and Jup, not just the supercars. If someone commissions them to do up either expect to see it being sold for £60000+.

I think we may see a large rise in prices as the Jowett marque gets more worldwide publicity.

In 4 years Jupiter prices have doubled, I expect to see the same for the Javelin. Indeed if this does sell at that price, they have already.

It only needs two collectors who like the Javelin and want the best example on the planet to send prices rocketing.

[robert lintott]

This looks a good Javelin . The advert is odd in that it quotes two different registration dates 16/12/52 and 17/1/53 and two different number of owners 2 and 5. It also describes it as a "standard" car whereas it is clearly a deluxe . For one of these dates there is a gold Javelin deluxe in the 2008 register, which must have been made in 1952 . Since they have obscured the number I refrain from disclosing it here but anyone with a register can see the details and the owner in 2008, as they say, it is in the Bristol area .

As for the price ; it is clearly ahead of the current market . Some apparently very good ones have been seen and sold by Dealers under £10k. The sellers may well have done work on the car , does anyone know it pre sale ? . A full body rebuild , paint and upholstery plus new parts and at least some mechanicals could cost ca £10k on a car bought for say £4k plus a margin for profit getting on towards the asking . However cost plus is not the market as many of us have found . But over a long enough period ,perhaps forgetting running repair costs , many of todays classics have shown a good return . How many times do we say " I wish i had kept that one " Bob

[Jack]

Ultimately it is going to be at least a couple of years before a Javelin sells for anywhere close to £18K. It would have to be the uncontested best car in the country and meticulously maintained to get over £10K at current prices, and we can assume that prices are unlikely to almost double in the short term. A 1952 car with 5 owners from new, even freshly restored, is not currently worth £18K, and I think they will struggle to get more than £10K for that particular car.

The cost of restoration, as we know, is often more than the value of a vehicle. But the cost of restoration does not determine the ultimate value - just look at anyone restoring most of the 1990s classics, many are available for £1-2K but the cost of restoring one would be £10K+, as it would for commercial restoration of almost any car. Otherwise the cost of any restored classic vehicle would be £10K, which we know is not the case.

The route to increased prices is through increased awareness, perceived enjoyment gained from ownership and rarity - we have at least one of those three nailed, but there is still a whole lot more we could do on the

The real question is not perhaps whether we could, but whether we should work to increase the price of vehicles - without doubt higher value keeps wrecks from being scrapped, but at the same time affordability is one of the big selling points of the Javelin particularly (as well as perhaps Bradfords) as almost anyone could save up and buy one.

Jack.

[Chris Spencer]

I have to agree with Jack - the car in question looks sound with an original interior and straight panel work - but not that much of shine to it - having said that gold is very difficult colour to get any depth of shine to anyway - I would value the car exactly where Jack has at no more than £10k - in fact Peter Rodgers sold a better car than this a few months ago for £8,500 - the dealer with the gold car is chancing the market and it would be a complete fluke if he drew anymore than £12k for the car. Now full bare metal restoration of a Javelin for £10k ? would be a steal - a full professional restoration would cost a minimum of three times that - with parts & materials costing £10 - £15k and most restoration companies charging £50 + per hour - it's very easy to achieve costs running into tens of £k rather than several £k - I still believe that the better way providing you have the time, skill & patience is do as much as you can yourself - far more rewarding from both a work satisfaction and saving yourself money point of view

[Jack]

The other fundamental problem that any buyer will run into is that the quality of restoration done by the seller, or by companies instructed by the seller, could be very variable. In many cases it could be very difficult for a seller to know if the work they had paid for was done to the highest standard. If they have chucked filler over rust the first you might get to find out about it is 5 years down the line. Unless you have seen the restoration done it is very difficult to buy a car knowing it will be perfect.

As a result the only way to get a car whch is absolutely perfect is to either do it yourself, or to buy a car which you have seen restored and know the seller very well - buying from club members should result in a more honest appraisal than buying from a dealer, but there are no guarantees.

And for £18K I'd expect every aspect of it to be perfect. From the photos it is a nice car, but it is not perfect.

Jack.

[Keith Clements]

Many restorers these days provide a dosier of the rebuild with pictures taken at stages. Also the reputation of the top restorers is on the line. If I was going to pay that sort of money I would want such an assurance.

There is always the magnet test or the option of employing a specialist to examine the car. If I was offered a road test, a look under the car and underseal, and was able to look under the carpets etc, I would have a pretty good idea of the quality of the rebuild. But I would not be certain, so then we get into having a contract or comeback if something should be found to be wrong. For £20k it would probably not be worth the effort of employing a lawyer, but for £60k?

[Nick Webster]

The gold car in question was in the rally display at the Bowes Museum. Evidently it has lost its original registration which, it is said, affects value. Perhaps this is happening to so many classics these days that people have given up bothering. What a pity.

Nick

[robert lintott]

If it is the car I think it is , the original registration would be JMR 466, but it is just speculation . I was looking at an MG Magnette yesterday , a Varitone model which I think spoils the lines, but was surprised to see they are selling, in good order , well above £10k with asking prices nearer £20k so perhaps Javelins have some way to go ! Bob

[Nick Webster]

Yes, JMR 466, currently sporting the rather curious registration TJZ 1075.

Nick

[ian Howell]

TJZ 1075?

'Tis Oirish to be sure - isn't it? That might make it 'interesting' when applying for a licence.

[robert lintott]

May not be a problem, JZ is Co Down in Northern Ireland where the car lived presumably when the Reg No was transferred. Bob

[Andy Stevens]

JMR 466 now on a Porsche 911

Chassis no. for this car is 22158

[robert lintott]

E2 PD 22158 was JMR according to the Register , so no speculation ! Apart from quoting two different registration dates the dealer describes it as a 1953 model year Javelin , however if Jowett produced cars more or less in the order of their numbers 22158 was made in mid 1952 and stayed in a dealer showroom for up to 6 months which was not unusual at the time .

To be a 1953 model year car it should be a PE. !953 models made in late 1952 should be E2 PE changing on the production line to E3 PE on January 1st . Whether the factory stuck to this system is not certain . Also the Register which lists many Javelins registered throughout 1953 as E2 cars may be incorrect . Certainly one car listed as E2 PE 24373 registered in July 1953 is actually E3 PE but not now on its original number plate .

Perhaps one of our posters on this page could say whether his Javelin is correctly listed as E2 PE 23293, registered on 11/ 06/ 53 ?