Picture stepping into an abandoned, dusty chip shop, anticipating nothing more than piles of forgotten furniture, only to realize an automotive legend is resting quietly right beneath your boots. Every single day, treasure hunters walk right past incredible opportunities, completely missing out on discoveries worth a small fortune. Let’s dive into how a seasoned antiquities dealer stumbled upon a Jaguar Type S concealed for five decades, proving once again that genuine historical gems are still hiding in the most unexpected locations.
Jens Rentmeesters makes his living as a professional antiquarian, so he is certainly no stranger to unusual finds. However, nothing could have prepared him for this particular appraisal job at a former Belgian fries establishment. Up to that point, the assignment seemed perfectly ordinary—after all, fry shops are essentially cultural institutions in that region. Truthfully, absolutely nobody anticipated that an antique Jaguar Type S was lurking beneath the floorboards, tucked away in a pit like an ancient ruler inside a hidden crypt.
A Secret Hidden Right Underfoot
Working primarily out of Leuven, Jens had seen quite a bit throughout his career of clearing out old estates for the real estate market. Yet, unearthing a vintage automobile was a completely unprecedented experience for him. In his own words, this was the absolute peak of his career. The shock factor played a massive role; while he had previously uncovered gold jewelry and vintage love letters, this specific discovery carried a massive amount of both emotional weight and financial value.
The property in question didn’t just feature the main building and restaurant fixtures; it also included a detached garage. At first glance, the space seemed to hold nothing but a messy collection of miniature motorcycles and random boat components. He assumed that was the extent of the inventory. It wasn’t until he began meticulously clearing out the cluttered structure that he spotted a concealed void beneath the garage floor. The sight that awaited him down there completely shattered his wildest expectations.
Property Appraisal Pro Tip
When evaluating or clearing out historical real estate, it is always crucial to inspect the cavities beneath wooden floorboards or unusual depressions in garage foundations. Historically, property owners constructed these “camouflaged” compartments to shield their valuables from thieves or tax authorities—making them prime locations for discovering highly valuable assets.
Trapped in a Concrete Time Capsule
Resting peacefully inside a rectangular trench that appeared custom-built for this exact purpose was a 1964 Jaguar Type S 3.8. The premium British classic looked as though it was patiently waiting to be freed from its cement prison. The exact circumstances of how it ended up down there remain a complete mystery to this day. Perhaps the original owner was attempting to hide it from government tax collectors, maybe keeping it a secret from a spouse, or perhaps it was simply an abandoned restoration project. Fascinatingly, even the closest residents living nearby had no memory of ever seeing the vehicle driven on the local streets.
Before the antiquarian could truly dive into the vehicle’s unique past, he faced a massive logistical hurdle: safely extracting the vintage machine without causing further damage. The team initially considered removing the garage roof entirely to hoist it out with a crane, but ultimately decided to rely on a far more traditional technique. They constructed an improvised ramp utilizing heavy-duty wooden planks.
Slowly but surely, a standard transport van pulled the heavy classic car up the makeshift wooden incline, which sat at an incredibly steep angle of roughly 40 degrees. Although the recovery operation required extreme precision and care, the timber supported the weight perfectly, allowing the vintage ride to reach the surface entirely intact. In fact, its overall condition was remarkably solid for a complex machine that had been locked inside a sealed mausoleum for more than half a century.
Restoring a Rescued Legend
This newly liberated Jaguar Type S currently showcases the classic patina you would expect from a legendary barn find. Unfortunately, it is currently missing its front hood, as well as its original 3.8-liter inline-six engine that once produced 220 horsepower. Despite these missing components, the dusty exterior shell appears exceptionally well-preserved, sparking genuine optimism for a comprehensive future restoration.
Based on initial professional appraisals, the vehicle in its current untouched state is valued somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 euros. However, if the classic car were to undergo a full professional restoration and be reunited with an authentic period-correct engine, its potential auction price could easily skyrocket up to 60,000 euros. Jens has already announced his intentions to personally oversee the restoration project, noting that the thrill of the discovery far outweighs any potential financial payout. Keep these property exploration insights in mind for your future historical hunts.
