About to sign for my first S1 FHC

[Lual]

Hi all

Despite I am a member of the forum only for few weeks, I fall in love long time ago with these cars.

I am about to pull the trigger and sign for an S1 from Dec 1964. I will have tons of questions, as I know little about them, and also because mechanically speaking, I am unfortunatly very green.

I didn’t find it yet in XKEdata.

Below some pics,
Thanks
Lual

[mgcjag]

Hi Lual.......have you actually been and looked at this car.......dont be in too much of a rush to buy and try to look at quite a few befor you buy......the door and bonnet do not look a very good fit in the photos......Steve

[Moeregaard]

Steve has good advice. I would never buy an E-Type (or any car) unless I had a couple of days to look it over--and this includes spending a good deal of time under the car. An E-Type is one of those cars that can seriously bite an unwary buyer. If you can take along someone who is intimately familiar with E-Types--and one who can talk you out of making a mistake--please do so. These cars are not rare, so it's worth examining several before making a decision.

[Lual]

Thanks to both of you for your advices. Yes, I have had somebody knowledgeable looking into the car. This person, who took the picture told me door was not properly closed, but was presenting no issues .

Regarding the bonnet, apparently this was replaced by a fiber one to improve handling. But here I cannot judge if this is normal or if this was due to any damage into the original one.

[mgcjag]

Hi Lual......replaceing the bonnet for a fibre to improve handling does not sound right.....aluninium bonnets are used for a lighter weight for race cars but then other modifications to the handling would also be made.....the car needs a good inspection for other damage if the original bonnet was damaged......a fibre bonnet will seriously decrease the value of the car....but it still does not look like it fits properly......Steve

[malcolm]

It's fitted with non-standard Weber carbs. Not necessarily an issue I suppose, but may prove problematic? Not something you fiddle with yourself unless you're an expert I'm led to believe.

[politeperson]

Whether it is good or bad depends on the price. How much is it?

[Heuer]

I would run a mile from that car - it is a disaster waiting to happen. If someone has bodged the bonnet with a fibreglass one then expect the same dismal and cheating ("fibre glass bonnet fitted to improve handling" ) approach to be used elsewhere.

[christopher storey]

[Lual]

Thanks for all wise comments / advises.

Based on them, it is clear I need the car to be inspected by an independent classic car dealer with a mechanic. Seller still keeps the original bonnet which goes with the car. I think it is worth to do so, rather than taking a final conclusion based on a couple of pictures and a comment (fiber bonnet) that may be totally wrong (aluminium instead), as it was not coming from the seller.

Will update,

Lual

[Moeregaard]

I'd look at few more cars before settling on this one. I'm just seeing too many red flags here--the fibreglass bonnet, etc. Even if the seller is asking for a ridiculously low price, keep in mind that a cheap E-Type can be one of the most expensive decisions you ever make. Find a clean original car, or one that has a well documented restoration.