Guy discovers unexpected secret hidden in classic Jaguar abandoned for over 30 years
- This abandoned Jaguar X-Type was listed on Facebook Marketplace
- What was found inside the 1964 model was pretty shocking
- However, it was well worth the hard work
Published on Oct 07, 2024 at 5:43 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Oct 08, 2024 at 3:27 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Finding an abandoned 1964 Jaguar X-Type on Facebook Marketplace meant it was no surprise that it needed a spruce up – but there was one surprise that was more shocking.
It had been left to rot since the 1990s.
Some original features, like the wooden dashboard, were preserved surprisingly well.
However, there was something unpleasant lurking in its exhaust.
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The abandoned Jaguar
YouTuber, Detail Dane, traveled an hour and a half from Traverse City, Michigan, in the US, to Petoskey.
The 1964 Jaguar X-Type had been abandoned and undriven since the 1990s before popping up on Facebook Marketplace.
It was listed by the Little Traverse Conservancy with proceeds supporting land protection in northern Michigan – and they needed help to find a buyer.
The team had to tow the car out of a barn due to flat tires and debris before putting in the grunt work to haul the car into a trailer.
Once back in the content creator’s shop, they were able to give the classic car the love, care, and detail it so ‘desperately’ needed.
In similar news, these explorers found an abandoned Jaguar at a derelict mansion.
The detail
The car’s interior and exterior have deteriorated over the past three decades.
It’s suffered dents, rust, ripped carpets, mold – and that’s not all.
After climbing under the car to fix it in place for transit, there’s a whole dead mouse found lodged in its exhaust.
There’s also a ‘neverending’ rats’ nest in the fender.
However, surviving original features including the wooden dashboard, trim, and fold-down tables mean it’s well worth the work.
In what makes for ASMR-worthy viewing, Dane uses iron remover to clean the exterior and thoroughly shampoos the interior to restore the car to its former glory.
Want more Jaguar facts? Jaguar made a car that debuted in 2010 that sounded like an actual big cat – it actually roared and had a top speed of 354km/h (220mph).
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
