New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

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WM86
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#1 New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by WM86 » Sat Nov 22, 2014 10:13 am

Hi all,

My name is Will, based in Dorset. Definitely an E-Type enthusiast, and have built the old Airfix kit and have enjoyed looking at an array E-Types at shows and car auctions alike! I currently own a classic Mini Cooper RSP (1990) and have been looking at E-Types to further augment my classic car collection! As a school teacher, a budget is somewhat of a problem, and obtaining an E-Type might be a stretch for me! I keep scouring eBay (not the best source perhaps) and keep seeing US import cars with low reserves which appear to need a lot of work in most cases. I've also seen specialists on there suggesting it can be done from ?15 - 25k, is this realistic?

Many thanks,
Will

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mgcjag
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#2

Post by mgcjag » Sat Nov 22, 2014 12:51 pm

Hi Will welcolm to the forum.......what model are you realisticaly looking for and what will be the budjet for the initial purchase.......as an example when I purchased my S2 2+2 approx 4 years ago in the Uk and Uk spec the bodywork, paint and interior were in great condition.....it needed new wheels and tyres, plus a conplete refurb of suspension, brakes, steering, hoses, rear irs unit carbs etc....all of which I done myself so no labour costs.......total cost of parts approx ?5-?6k......so the better the car to start with the less cost of refurb.......hope this helps Steve
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (just sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

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jeroenwohe
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#3

Post by jeroenwohe » Sun Nov 23, 2014 3:42 am

I think it should not be a problem unless you are looking for a series one show car.
If you go for a series 2 daily driver 15k should not be a problem. import one form the states and spend 10k in making is nice.
Just look for one with minimum rust like any e-type owner will tell you.
Most series 2 e-types from California should be in good condition and with the pound so strong compared to the dollar you buy a lot of car for very little $$

Good luck! it will be the most fun on 4 wheels you can buy.

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#4

Post by christopher storey » Sun Nov 23, 2014 11:44 am

I do not wish to disillusion you but ....... There is absolutely no guarantee at all that cars from California will be in sound condition . In the first place, they may in fact have been all over the US in their 40+ years life , and some of the locations ( Florida in particular which is very humid ) produce worse corrosion than we get in Europe . Secondly, even a car which has spent all its life on the Pacific coast will have been subjected to 40+ years of sea salt . So, my advice is never buy sight unseen

Also, where you will get a daily driver from for 15K is questionable except possibly a lhd automatic with steel wheels , but even these have become hard to find, and the costs of bringing such a car up to a decent European specification , let alone condition, will be very considerable

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#5

Post by Heuer » Sun Nov 23, 2014 12:03 pm

It is possible. This one was on eBay a few weeks back: http://tinyurl.com/kcz5kah
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red

Add your E-Type to our World Map: http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1810

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#6 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by WM86 » Wed Feb 08, 2017 9:57 pm

Many thanks for all of your replies and apologies for my very tardy reply!

I had the pleasure of driving a 1964 3.8 E Type courtesy of a birthday present for a few days and can safely say it was a wonderful experience. To have other road users wave and be courteous was a treat too.

It has not cured the itch of wishing to own an E Type, and although the Series 1 is probably out of reach, I would be happy with any Series E Type. There was a project 1.5 which went for £16k at an auction nearby, but it appeared to require a lot of work and I don't have access to my own garage at the moment.

Realistically, the initial purchase budget would be up to £20k although I'd need to save for restoration costs and it would very much be a labour of love over time.

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#7 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by cactusman » Wed Feb 08, 2017 11:04 pm

Firstly good luck with your quest.....your 64 drive...was it ADD103B by any chance?...I drove it to scratch the itch and then bought my own. :bigrin: :bigrin: :bigrin: :bigrin: best thing I ever did.

It is still possible to buy an e type for less than £20k but you will be looking at a series 2 and probably a 2+2 and she will need some work...how much work and what type of work is the key. If the body is essentially good then the mechanics can be restored piece by piece if needed. If you. are mechanically reasonably adept then much can be done at home saving vast amounts of money in Labour and you will enjoy every second of tinkering....i do!! However if the body is seriously corroded then expect major work and,unless you are an experienced welder, a very large bill if it is done correctly.

As I am sure all would agree the condition of the body is by far the most important thing to assess. If the tub has major structural rust then a proper restoration can easily swallow up £70k or more once you have painted and restored the mechanicals too and as most of the cost is labour it makes little difference what series or type you are buying..anyone who says you can restore a rusted heap for £25 k is to be avoided....you can't.

My advice would be to buy the very best you can afford and if you are on a tight budget try and focus on finding one with as little rust as possible. As you say...lots appear on eBay although, as other posts will confirm, there are scammers out there. Do not part with any cash until you have seen both the car and the documentation. Do your research and be cautious. Not everyone on eBay is honest.

Best of luck with your search. Do report back once you have one :bigrin:
Julian the E-type man
1962 FHC
1966 MGB....fab little car too

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#8 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by chrisfell » Thu Feb 09, 2017 9:09 am

Will,
£25k wont get you much. You might find a rough driver or a pile of trouble. In fact you'll have to spend more than double to get something that does not fall into either category.

A rough driver can be a car that's been in regular use, properly maintained, but with pitted chrome, chipped paint and the odd carpark ding, maybe a tired gearbox and a loose top end on the engine. A rough driver can be used while it is being fettled. Polish and wax applied to preserve the paint. Even quite heavily pitted chrome can cleaned up and made to shine. A good service to quieten (but not silence) the top end. Then each winter apply some savings to attack one or more issues. Overhaul the front brakes in the first year. Strip and clean and refresh the rear cage the next. etc.

The trouble with 50+ year old E-Types is that a pile of trouble can look a lot better than a rough driver. It can sound better, shine in the sun and feel like a million dollars. But there'll be body filler covering 'pigeon shit' where clean and dressed welds should have been, the 'recent new bonnet and doors' showing signs of ancient repairs, structural rust and a main bearing collapsing after less than 1,000 miles. And 28A alternator that cooked and died the first time the lights were used when the coolling fan was on, and brakes that made the car turn right when ever they were firmly applied. And cheap tyres that were just a little too low profile for the exhaust.

It could have been worse. Does anyone recall the builders foam and tea towel car?

I was lucky in that my £20k (this was in 2003 when E-Type prices were very much lower than they are today) bought me a very shiny pile of trouble but with a no quibble guarantee from the seller.

I quibbled.

A lot.

In the end I got a rebuilt engine (rebore and regrind) and gearbox, and a full brake overhaul. I still had to do a lot to the car and it did leave me on the side of the road once - seasoned listers will know all about poor quality rotor arms. But I persevered, and I was fortunate in that all the major faults (engine gearbox brakes) came to light within the guarantee period. Waxoyl has stopped the rust spreading. An insurance claim dealt with the bonnet, and I'm living with the doors and the pigeon shit welding. And since 2003 I have driven my car over 50,000 mostly trouble free miles. I dont intend to stop any time soon. And it still looks like a million dollars when the sun shines.

I think what I'm saying is, be prepared for the worst. And get lucky.
Chris '67 S1 2+2

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#9 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by mgcjag » Thu Feb 09, 2017 10:57 am

Hi Will.....great to see that you still fancy an E type....but over 2 years since you first first put up this post.....how much research have you done since then.........surely you know how much they sell for now and how much parts and restoration costs have risen in the last couple of years....and the £ $ rate means not good for importing....good luck with the search........ps lets not wait another 2 years for a reply :bigrin:
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (just sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

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#10 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by WM86 » Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:01 pm

Many thanks all for your responses.

Julian - how did you guess?! My partner was thinking much along the same lines, but fear she is regretting it! She has offered me the chance to drive it again so I might shut up for a while but will need to get it sorted out. I have followed a number of E Types on eBay but am steering well clear having read about the various experiences encountered on this forum. A 2+2 sounds ideal, and this is probably the route I would go down for practicality (and an easier sell to my partner). I admit to not being a dab hand at welding, but have learnt to do little jobs on my Mini.

Chris - many thanks. I had much the same experience with my Mini (rough driver until it failed the MOT) but having seen the level of expertise required to restore an E Type via Angus' website in particular as well as this forum, I can't use my Mini as much of a comparison!

Steve - I have spent time reading this forum particularly as well as looking at Angus' website as my main starting points. I have got some of the books as recommended in the knowledge base and have steadily worked my way through those. Are there any other books or sources of info you'd recommend?

Admittedly I'm mainly focusing on the £ to get over and above my initial budget, as well as trying to get on the housing ladder - not sure which is harder.

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#11 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by mgcjag » Wed Feb 15, 2017 9:10 pm

Hi Will......a really good book is this one by another forum member Chris Rooke:


Its his story of restoring an E type, he had some basic knowledge of a previous classic then purchased his E.....stripped it down and rebuilt it at home.....a really good guide with lots of pictures and detail
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (just sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

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#12 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by cactusman » Thu Feb 16, 2017 9:45 pm

Hi Will....lucky guess. ADD had her (very tired) moss box when I hired her....believe she has had a more recent box fitted....did not put me off though :bigrin:

The Chris Rooke book is great. Hope you get one very soon.....a car not the book :bigrin: :bigrin: :bigrin:
Julian the E-type man
1962 FHC
1966 MGB....fab little car too

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#13 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by WM86 » Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:16 pm

Steve/Julian,
Many thanks for this recommendation. Have since purchased the book, and have to say somewhat inspired by the fact he was a teacher and managed to do the restoration. I'm looking forward to reading it!
I am keeping my eyes open for a 2+2 in the hope something will come along!
Best Wishes to all,
Will

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#14 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by cactusman » Fri Feb 17, 2017 7:08 pm

No idea what sensible price means and she has some rather dubious wood veneer on the dash but on the plus side manual and triple SU's

http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C838722
Julian the E-type man
1962 FHC
1966 MGB....fab little car too

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#15 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by Nickleback » Fri Feb 17, 2017 9:43 pm

Found this one, it needs a lot of work but is a cheaper budget to purchase, but if you do it yourself it will keep the costs down ?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JAGUAR-E-TYPE ... 2419638289
Last edited by Nickleback on Sat Feb 18, 2017 6:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
Mike,
1970 S2 FHC 2R28165

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#16 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by cactusman » Fri Feb 17, 2017 10:34 pm

Good spot Mike :bigrin: :bigrin:
Julian the E-type man
1962 FHC
1966 MGB....fab little car too

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#17 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by politeperson » Sat Feb 18, 2017 8:32 am

This one looks interesting.

Not sure how much is missing though.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122355136186? ... EBIDX%3AIT
Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#18 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by mark10337 » Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:00 pm

strangely that one seems to have the later Strombergs and Ex-Em air intake from a late Series 2.
-Mark

1969 Series 2 OTS, Regency Red
'Life's to short to drive a boring car'

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#19 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by nefematic » Mon Feb 20, 2017 7:54 pm

"The trouble with 50+ year old E-Types is that a pile of trouble can look a lot better than a rough driver"

Great advice from Chris.
Martin Scherz
Late S2 1970 OTS US LHD

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#20 Re: New to the forum and looking (dreaming) of an E-Type

Post by dal2.0litrefrogeye » Wed Feb 22, 2017 11:16 pm

Hi Will . Just being nosey what is your skill set as far as restoration skills go ? Maybe just get one and slowly restore it . Remember ( the man maths part ) you won't loose out , and the most important equation!!!!!! You're only here once !!!
Go on you know it makes sence :drinkingcheers:
Ps I would always reconmened a quality whisky before trawling Ebay :twisted:
Its a way of life not a hobby
Darren . 64 4.2 modded 69 4.2

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