The 'E' Type Forum

Afternoon chaps, I've a feeling I'll already know a few of you/or your cars from meeting you at shows.

In a nutshell, I've been in to my cars for 30+ years now, mainly Caterham,Lotus with the odd TVR/TR4/6 and all the usual others we've all probably played with.

In the middle of a big change around now, one of my cars is sold and another is on a "SOR" with a specialist and so the garage is empty.

Wife keeps on about investments and in fact with the way things are now that is a very difficult subject. Yes, we've just tried the house renovation thing, bought a lovely rural place we thought would fly out. Nope, 4 years later it's just sold and paying 150% rates and all the other grief associated with unoccupied property I won't be going there again.

So I come back to cars again, something I can both enjoy and not lose/maybe make return in the future.
Caterham/Lotus are now or at least for the time being have run their course for me, and coupled with the fact the wife simply hates them I suppose it's not a bad thing.

Therefore I'm after a replenishing the garage with a nice classic or two but more "wife friendly". She's in agreement with this because as I say what else can you do with your money that also brings both kinds of interest?

An E Type is a car I've never owned but have fond memories of, I remember back in the late 60's when I was a child my two cousins having a primrose and white car each, I have yet to aspire.

Anyway I'm playing catch up with the marque and on a steep learning curve. I will not be wasting peoples time viewing cars just yet until I know what's what............plus the fact the mrs always says "you're like a dog with 2 willies when you want something", so this time I'll be sensible. :D

I've put the feelers out to a couple of classic/specialist guys I know very well and I've had a flavour of what's on offer. I'd love your thoughts guys please.

For my first car I've set a frugal budget of 40k

One chap out of the car club I'm in knows of a V12 2+2, apparently very nice, correct and driving very well. It's RHD and surprise, surprise it's 40k and never been advertised as of yet, I would have first refusal.

I thought that was fair. However, I've just spoken with another good contact who imports classics back here and he says 25-30k will see me in an equally good car, if of course I can cope with LHD. That is not an issue for me at all.
I'd also assume when time comes to sell the audience for LHD is larger.

I may be waffling here, I don't know. As I say I will be buying one and if 40k doesn't get me a good usable car then I will have to rethink what I'm allowing on one.

Many thanks chaps, I'm glued to the forum at present trying to take in as much as I can.

All the best.
Kenny

PS If the chap with the lovely usable 4.2 in maroon with the knock on minilites who I met at The Cornerhouse meeting reads this............it's all your fault :D

What a cracking Etype you have there for the money, exactly what I want.

It would have to be a really top rate V12 2+2 to justify 40K. You can still buy really good 6 cylinder 2+2s ( which are more expensive ) for 30K or sometimes less . It is worth going to a few auctions just to see what attracts interest and, perhaps more importantly, what does not . For you, H&H at Buxton and Brightwells at Leominster are the easiest to get to . Neither of late have had any particularly nice cars, but of the two Brightwells tends these days to have a better selection

Thanks for that Christopher, appreciated.

I've not been to the Buxton auction for years now, I should get myself over there, especially as I've an Aunt who lives in the town.

Again thank you for the useful info. re. prices etc.

Christopher, that 40k V12, I just happened to mention I wanted to spend 40k before I knew its price...........own goal!!!!

Welcome to the Forum Kenny. There lots of information here and I suggest you start with our Knowledge Base to get up to speed about the different series and models. All E-Type's whent down the line as hermaphrodites - they could be LHD or RHD depending on orders. Swapping them from LHD to RHD is relatively easy (full guides in our KB) and inexpensive. As others will no doubt remind you buy the best car you can afford and fixate on the bodywork. A rust free LHD car with clapped out mechanicals beats just about everything for value. S1 cars are now very expensive but the S2's are more affordable. Although they lack the cowled headlights they were better developed and make a more sensible driving proposition. Check out Angus' site: www.mossjaguar.com and it is always worth giving him a call to discuss your requirements and see if he can source a car for you in the US.

David, many thanks for the reply and also for the great info and advice.
Also the link you attached is appreciated.
It's superb getting well meant and really informative advice from actual owners rather than relying on people who think they know everything about everything and feel obliged to talk rubbish about whatever car they have never owned!

This is a great forum and thanks once more David.
Some good blokes on here I'm finding.

Thanks
Kenny

Hi and welcome from a series 2 2+2 owner.

welcome from another 2+2 S2 owner
I've not been able to use it a lot yet, but I really enjoy every bit and part I refurbish and every angle view
its Californian origin has kept it away from any single square cm of rust, so I would definitely recommend for a given budget a rustfree LHD calif import rather than a rusty RHD

now if you can beat the price with a rustfree RHD,..

Fourthousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire....

So, do avoid a rusty E-Type - even those four guys made a songline on this !

(And though the holes were rather small,
They had to count them all,

Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall)


Carsten, wo still could write down this song from memory alone ...

As Christopher said, I believe ?40k is a lot for a series 3 2+2 unless it's special.

I have a series 2 2+2, and paid ?32k for it 18 months ago. It's now valued for insurance at ?35k, so that's presumably what you could buy it for. This is what it's like for that money:











I know, every one will now say I was ripped off, but basically you can still get a good car for reasonable money.

By the way, the engine and mechanics are about perfect

Malcolm, car looks great. You weren't ripped off if you were happy with the deal! ☺

wonderful one Malcolm !

Thank you very much guys, really appreciated.
Also many thanks for the pics Malcolm, your car looks superb and I'd be happy to own it.

The honest comments on here and the advice I've had from an importer I'm speaking to don't seem to tie in with some prices bandied around on sales sites.

The RHD UK 40k car is now 35k, however I'm really leaning towards an import LHD 2+2 (auto) (steel wheels/hubcaps) at 28k. If the car is as good as a report on it from 4 years back implied I think I'll buy it, it's done nothing since.

Car is a month away from arrival to UK but it will be the first one that I'll view.

As I said, I don't want to go around viewing loads.........I just need one that is honest and from a seller I get on with and deal will be done, maybe this is it, maybe not. Comfort zone is not E Types.

Again, top blokes. Super info and very, very helpful.

Many thanks
Kenny

malcolm wrote:As Christopher said, I believe ?40k is a lot for a series 3 2+2 unless it's special.

I have a series 2 2+2, and paid ?32k for it 18 months ago. It's now valued for insurance at ?35k, so that's presumably what you could buy it for. This is what it's like for that money:

Your car always look in fine fettle to me Malcolm. It certainly did when I saw you last at the club weekend. At the end of the day, it's an E-type, it'll be a joy to drive and it'll still go like a scolded cat. (and it's more than I own!)

Apologies for the thread resurrection chaps, Jeez 4 years ago now, where the heck did that go?

In a nutshell a quick report on what happened in that time and what I'm after now.

After joining the forum I'd lined up a US import LHD V12 in supposedly excellent condition which I fully intended buying, in fact I couldn't wait to hand over the cash, I was raring to get on to the forum with pics of her and join in the fun. Sadly I was badly let down and the weeks of swotting, wasting money on V12 books etc. came to nothing, I was upset and very angry about that for weeks to be honest. I also annoyingly sold the 2 other classics/sports I had to make way in my garage for it....that hurt too.

I regrouped and went to see a couple of cars local to me as we were coming in to winter and neither were as described by a long way, both cars in the 30-40k bracket by the way. I'd heeded advice on here that a 4.2 was within budget for what I may spend on a V12 and one was indeed an S2 2+2

I half heartedly continued the hunt, speaking to a dealer mentioned on here too, he had nothing in my price bracket but said he may have soon, I have not been back in touch.
Anyway a month or two later whilst in Cheshire I popped in to Oakmere, the Lotus/Morgan/Caterham dealers as I'd been a long term owner of both 7's and Lotus..........Mrs was having a good day , and I came away having paid the deposit on the then new Lotus Elise S Cup, a Motorsport road going version of the model, totally genuinely spur of the moment "oh sod it" type of thing. I still have the car now and love it to bits even though I seldom use it. In between I bought a new Morgan off them as well which to the dismay of the Morgan club I thought was shocking and sold them it back at a big loss, and also had a few other cheaper classics to play with. The Jag idea by then had gone cold obviously.

In recent months I've now got the Etype thoughts back and this time I'll not give up/be put off by being messed around or viewing the odd crapper, it will now happen. Everything gone now apart from the Lotus

I will now let this Lotus go I think sadly (may even end up p/xing it if the right car came along and the seller wanted a rare Lotus) and start the hunt in earnest.

The chancellor has agreed to the EType proposal too so a budget more healthy than the first one would be available.

I've sworn to having only one toy in the garage so the Lotus will give me 36k towards the Jag.

I will be looking at a very wide spectrum of price 30-70k...........being scared to avoid looking at cheapies in case a bit of elbow grease and cash may transform the car.

There is a lovely series 1 local to me now for sale but never advertised, just a word of mouth car from one of the gents at our local classic meets. A stunning rebuilt coupe, chap says it may be up my street but I'm guessing it'll be a bit rich so we'll see.

I'd now love a coupe, either S1 or more likely S2 and have made initial calls on 2 cars. I will not view to waste my time and others if the first call does not go to plan. Both these cars I fear were "dealers" passing off as private. Phone went quiet twice when I asked "how long have you owned it?"......again not for me.

In essence my dream deal now is a deal with someone like myself ie, a polisher, tart,garage queen,stickler amongst other names I've been called lol, and to strike a deal with a true enthusiast who does not need to rip a fellow enthusiast for a few measly quid.

I would also deal with genuine dealers this forum and owners suggest, we have a couple of none franchised dealers in the Lotus world who are trusted and respected fellow enthusiasts.

So the hunt, 4 years later is now seriously back on.

Any suggestions or tips and leads will be more than welcome and thanks very much guys, hope to stick around a bit longer this time.
Cheers
Kenny

PS A nice 2+2 from a nice genuine guy would also get my attention.

Hi Kenny...post an ad in our wanted section....Steve

I will do at some point Steve, and thanks for that, appreciate the idea.
It'd also be nice to have a quick chat with any owners who live in the Lancs area (I'm in Upholland area) to maybe pick up a few more tips on the subject and to maybe cast an opinion should a car come up.

Cheers

Hi Kenny

It may be worth dropping Paul Brown (of Paul Brown Classic Jaguar, Ripley, Derbyshire) a line if you're on the hunt for cars. He occasionally helps to sell cars on behalf of his customers. For example, I'm sure he has a V12 OTS for sale at present (which needs a little work but is a good useable car) - not what you're after but he could always help to keep an eye out.

PM me if you're interested and I'll give you his details.

Cheers

Simon

Simon, thank you very much for that, exactly what I'm after. I'll get in touch.

Hi Kenny, I’m not too far away from you and I own a S3 2+2. I occasionally take it to the Corner House and The Scotch. Let me me know when your going and I’ll meet you there and we can talk E Types.
Simon