My Jaguar Story - Louis Marafioti My first interest in Jaguars was in 1990 when a workmate bought a XJ6 Series 2. He asked me to drive it from Elizabeth to the city to have it serviced by a Jaguar specialist, and he would follow and pick me up. The ride was so comfortable and quiet that I thought I was sitting in my lounge chair. My main concern was that I might fall, asleep. My other concern was that he- paid $30,000 for the Jaguar. This was more than our yearly wage. At the time my daily driver was a 1972 Cadillac that I paid $6,100 at auction and spent less than $5,000 to restore. This included new upholstery and a complete repaint. Two and a half Cadillacs equals one Jaguar. (Pricewise). My interest in Jaguars was ignited again in 2011 when I saw an advertisement in ‘Unique Cars’ at Lorbek Luxury Cars, Port Melbourne Victoria. The car was a 1985 Jaguar XJ6 4.2 litre for $9,900. By the time I decided to go to Melbourne the price was $7,000. My son-in-law and I decided to go and have a look at the car and 2 other Jaguars that I found for sale in Melbourne. One was a 1977 Daimler in St. Kilda for $9.500 and the second a 1983 Series 3 Sovereign for $6,990 in Ringwood.
The ex Louis & Nella Marafioti’s 1985 4.2 litre XJ6 (now with Daphne and Bob Charman)
I informed all three owners that we would inspect the cars on the Saturday. By now you realize my budget was less than $10,000. We arrived at Tullamarine Airport and picked up our hire car and proceeded to Lorbek Motors. On the way my son-in-law’s phone rang and my wife in Adelaide informed us that the 1983 car from Ringwood would not start and the owner suggested we give it a miss. Good because Ringwood was a long way out.
We arrived at Lorbek Motors and there were many luxury cars (about 30); Ferraris, Porsches, Masseratis, and Jaguars, but the 85 Jaguar was not on display. All cars were undercover. The salesman said the Jaguar was around the corner at the mechanics to have the fuel injectors replaced. Around the corner was about 3 kilometres away, but the salesman gave us a map. When we got there the workshop was closed. We rang the owner and he said he did not work on Saturdays. My son-in-law told him that Lorbek Motors knew we were coming from Adelaide to inspect, but he would not open up. I spoke to him nicely and he said, providing we were there at 12 noon he would open the workshop. So, we proceeded to St. Kilda to inspect the 1977 Daimler. It was not in good condition as mentioned in the advertisement and would not start. From memory I think it was a V12. Back to the workshop by 12 noon. The 1985 XJ6 was on top of the hoist but the owner would not lift it because of Occupational Health and Safety (we left our hard hats in Adelaide). The car could not be started because he was working on the injectors. We inspected the car as best we could and bought it.
Louis & Nella Marafioti’s cherished 1958 365 cubic inch Pink Cadillac.
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Back to Lorbek Motors to organise transport, then back to Tullamarine and then Adelaide, in time for dinner.
THE OFFICIAL MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE JAGUAR DRIVERS CLUB OF SA
