Anyone know much about Jag E types?
 

I sold off my 89 Coupe, still have the 88 Targa.

I have become infatuated with Jag E Types. It looks like the prices have had a silly run over the last 4 years or so. Specifically I am looking at series 1 and series 2 FHC's. I don't want a 2+2 but I would consider a cab.

The series 1 cars, at least to me are the most beautiful, but they are more expensive and they have more potential for issues. The series II is probably what I am zeroing in on. Has to be a manual. Color is not important. Decent driver quality.

Talk me out of it? Talk me into it? I was thinking a total budget of $70k. So that means car, taxes and some cash on the side to address immediate needs. My mechanical skills are reasonable.

How do these things drive? If its set up well will it be a fun?

Anyone know a forum as good at Pelican for the Jags? I know thats a tall request, this place has been invaluable for me over the last 15 or so years.

All opinions welcome

Thanks.

Would you prefer an ugly car that drove like a tractor or a tractor that drove like a sports car?

I would choose the latter if those were the only options.

If it is an investment, then you need one of the PPOT forum experts to educate you. I would guess they have peaked in value, but I could be way wrong.

the coupe is the desirable one. just like a Porsche.
potentially a monstrous can of worms, imho.
sweet to look at. no doubt.

Do it. Biggest mistake in my car world was selling my '62 roadster in the early '80's for a mere $8,500:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1468341189.jpg

Nice one on BAT right now:

1967 Jaguar XKE Series I Roadster | Bring a Trailer

Never driven one, only tried to fit into an early car once. No dice. Make sure you fit in one before you really get the itch.

Good luck, always loved the way they look.

None other than Henry Manny of R&T called the E type the greatest crumpet collector of all time. Simply gorgeous machines. The reputation of reliability isn't great, but that's not why you want one, right?

There are no crystal balls on where collector car values will go...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1468341627.jpg

Odd that people on Porsche forums say this^^^^ Go price a 356 cab vs couple. Do the same for mid-year vets, early Ferrari's, 40's Buick Roadmaster, Early Lincolns...You name it. Older classic cars are almost always worth more in soft tops.

Sexy but for crap electrical systems.....

Its not an investment.... I don't look at cars as investments. If in the end you made money thats great but its very rare.

I need to drive one for sure.

There are two on BAT right now. The one you linked to is already past my budget. The other is not but its a convertible. I am a big fan of BAT too. Thanks!

My biggest mistake in selling any of my cars is a pick em.... e30 M3 I sold for $16,500 with 43k, 93 RSA I sold for $36k with 42K, 89 Ruf Modded 930 with 53k for something like $36. My 94 Speedster was stolen and I passed on another after the settlement. The list goes on and on. Not worth choosing which was the biggest mistake.

Funny story....A friend of mine called me one day to go look at a "sports car" that was fairly local for both of us. We showed up at this old shed style barn out in the country and met the owner. He took us inside the barn, and started pulling off old blankets a 1963 Jag E-type that had been sitting untouched for 20 years. What a beautiful car, but started adding up the restoration/rebuild costs in our heads to determine that the only thing that WE could afford to do is to pull it out of the barn, clean it up a bit, and re-sell it.

We asked the price, and the owner replied twenty five ! We both assumed that the price was $25,000 and therefore eliminated us as players on a car that wouldn't bring much profit. We thanked him for showing it to us, and said that we would let some other freinds know about it.

On the way home, I asked my friend if there was the outside chance that the owner had meant only $2500 or $25,000. We didn't want to offend the seller, so we didn't ask....probably should have.

i stand corrected. old heaps are desirable, as convertibles. :)
Porsches? other than the 356? coupes reign supreme in the marketplace.

If an early 60's Jag doesn't define "old heap" I don't know what does.

here's me in my E-type. I made a killing off this car last year...but it was an absolute cream puff. perfect in every way. I do kind of miss it, but I threw the proceeds into better investments.

some things are easy to work on, others are a pain. for example...you're looking at a huge job for a rear main seal.

all in all, they are classy and a ton of fun to drive. getting in and out is kind of bear...was worse than getting in and out of my TR4. you have to crawl over the door sills to get in.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1468351287.jpg

i agree, as in "i stand corrected". SmileWavy

One of my all time favorite cars!
Seeing as I struggled keeping up maintenance on a 944 I don't see a E type in my future unless I hit the lotto.

I'm 6' 2", and either too tall, or too old. I went modern instead. :\

I'm still a little too tall for an XK8, but you'd get a car that is just as gorgeous, but probably a lot better driver.

For less than your $70k, you could have a darn perfect condition Jaguar XK8.

I have the same bug. Owned an XJS (V12) in the early 80s and my motto was better to have owned a Jaguar and lost money than to have never owned one at all. With a five speed that car would owned a 928 and was just as reliable if not more so.

Check out the updated E's at Eagle in the UK.

Whenever I see an E type it reminds me of this scene in Mad Men...
TSG Single

My dad had one when I was a kid. Hit a deer with it. Damm shame.
Beautiful car, but I don't have deep enough pockets to own one.

I know this has been touted as one of the most beautiful cars ever. I guess it just doesn't do it for me. Ok maybe the roadster is nice.

Here is a good resource to check out E Type serial numbers:

XKE Data - Search Results - Jaguar E-Type (XKE) information, articles, photos and register

They record 18,351 individual Jaguar E-Types.

BEWARE some of the 'history' is rubbish.

On my old car, a complete racing history of lies was concocted.

Check out car number 860166 for this fanciful history

Jaguar reliability
 

Don't worry about reliability. Just tuck a couple of $100 bills in your wallet somewhere to pay the tow truck. An XKE is one of the all time great cars that everyone should own at least once! If I ever sell my 911 the money is going straight into an E Type! For a forum, try Jag-lovers.org.

E type
 

Hi trader 220, dont be put off , go for it , If you get a good example ,and good model
you will never regret it. $70 grand will get you a nice example.Here is my opinion
i have owned two years ago both in California,one a 1963 coupe,and the other later on
a 1966 coupe, both series one, the differents is in the driving,the 66 was far better car
to drive ,although it has the bigger 4.2 engine,was still better than the older 3.8,because
it has a better gearbox, synchro in first es well.Did not feel any faster than the 63, but
was better all round.Dont be put off about how reliable they are , the lucas electrics
can be a problem,but that is only about $300 to change out.Fantastic to drive,alot of
power ,and can really handle, as they have inboard rear brakes,the strongest diff made
thats why hot rodders fit them, the engine is terrific easy to service .Probably the most critical item to check when buying, is the body and rust,like most cars, inner sills ,rear
under by gas tank,etc,etc, repairs to chassis any where. good luck.

These cars look & feel great. Get a good example.

"THE VERY FIRST JAGUAR E-TYPE right-hand drive production Fixed Head Coupe was chassis 860001. With such provenance and age, you’d think it would deserve to be treated with kid gloves, especially when so many of its less illustrious successors live out their lives in pampered and cocooned luxury.

However, Chassis 860001 restored by UK restorers Classic Motor Cars Ltd has been taken to Germany and driven at 146mph (235km/h) on an autobahn.

David Franklin was attempting to match the 150mph reached by an E-Type along a Belgian motorway in 1961. He came tantalizingly close.

David said: “I saw 146mph and it was still accelerating when I had to back off because of cars and lorries in the distance. When you’re travelling at that speed you have to err on the side of caution. You’re catching other traffic up quite quickly and you have to remember that there’s no ABS, although the brakes felt strong and progressive. It would comfortably have reached 150mph. Of that, I have absolutely no doubt.”

See some good pics at:

https://practicalmotoring.com.au/car-news/historic-jaguar-e-type-maxed-out-in-germany/

Climbing in, out and on things is fun when you are ten. But not so fun when you get older. So if you don't fit comfortably what good is it to you?

True - but could be a Fountain of Youth experience!!

Girls in those days had a demure way of getting into & out of Jag E Types.

English actress Joanna Lumley (Avengers) said she learnt how to get in and out of an E-type Jaguar, without flashing her panties, at modelling school. ;)

When I got mine, the seller said he had a stick under the seat to beat off the ugly girls. I am glad I fell for his sales pitch.

I currently have an 1968 Series 1.5 E type Fixed Head Coupe (FHC) ,XKE for the USA market.....Both Porsches and Jags are completely different. If you seriously want an E type, GO FOR IT!!!!!

The OTS (Open two seater) AKA Convertibles esp Series 1cars 1962-1968 will always demand more $$$ than the coupe, but stay away from automatic and 2+2 series. I prefer the Coupes and in my opinion the lines flow well in a E type FHC rather than a OTS

Here is my car ....video was produced by the PO when he was selling it. Pale Primerose Yellow is the "official color name"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC95iKn1nNY

Gordon, stunning car.

Thanks! I was fortunate to be at the right place and right time with luck thrown in there!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1468770939.jpg


I love them. This is my Moms 68 BRG FHC. This picture is from the late 80s. I drove it to my prom in 1985.

Note the 69 GTO in the garage, and you can't see my dads 71 911..... My parents ruined me from an early age.....

Have owned two Jags in my past life, a XK120 OTS & a XK150 DHC. Regret selling both cars but the military career got in the way. Now that I'm retired an XKE might satisfy a need that Gordons stunning coupe created in the lustful part of my soul.

Someone runs an E Type at the local PCA LPR Autocross. He ran yesterday. Once the results are posted, you would probably find his times here: Autocross 2016 Season « Loma Prieta Region – Porsche Club of America

local. currency: Canadian pesos.
Jaguar E-Type - Castanet Classifieds

That's awesome!

Xke
 

Hi Trader 220,
I say go for it they are great cars. I presently own a 1968 FHC that I have owned since 1981, and previously owned a 1968 convertible. Last year of the series 1 cars although many call them series 1.5 because of the transition between the series 1 and series 2.
Personally I prefer the coupe as with my Porsches.
For $70K you should be able to get a very nice series 1 and an even better series 2.
Just like with Porsche there are some very expensive parts, and some of the service is costly Ex: changing a clutch requires engine removal.
Check for rust as you would with any old car but with an E-Type look very closely at the front subframe tubes. Costly to replace but all parts are available.
Contrary to popular perception, I have never had electrical problems with 68Coupe. The roadster... yes.
The problem is that the cars were originally very inexpensive to buy, but the servicing was very expensive. So many people decided to do the repairs themselves and improve on the lucas electrical on their own. Luckily no one messed with my car 's electric prior to me buying it.
I purchase the car in 1981, did a rolling restoration on it, and my wife and I put 60,000 miles on it. She drove it to college, and then I drove it to work every day for 3 years 45 miles each way. Always reliable. The car is in storage now and we don't drive it as much. Needs new tires and a tune up.
The E-Types are fast, smooth, and handle well ( a little nose heavy with a bit of understeer), and they look great.
When the E-Type was first introduced Enzo Ferrari said that this was the most beautiful car in the world. Go for it and enjoy. Good luck with your search and please post a photo when you get one.

+1

Not a lot I can add here other than check to see you actually fit one. I had a '61 flat floor roadster up until last year and at 6' my line of sight was right at the top of the windshield. Any taller and you are looking over the windshield. Early Moss gearboxes have an action akin to a Lee Enfield .303 and nothing can be rushed about changes but it's such a great motor that you don't need to use the box that often. Early brakes are poopy so I fitted wilwoods. And obviously it's probably the most beautiful car ever made especially in coupe form. Don't die without owning one if you can afford the scratch.