Trying to find the right car

[PhilP]

Hi All
This is my first post so please excuse the bad grammer I'm sure you've had this topic before but I'm intending to buy my first Etype. I have been in a series 2 FHC and found it a little tight (I'm 6'1"). I have looked at the 2+2 and tried one for size and found it a lot more comfortable. My only dilemma is on some photos the 2+2 looks out of proportion but then I see other 2+2s and they look great. Is there a difference in the roof line's on these cars or is it just seeing the car from different angles. Which car would you recommend I have a budget of between ?60/70k, I know this isn't a great amount for an Etype but this is all I can get past the wife. Any advice would be greatly recieved.

Thank for any input
Phil

[Gfhug]

Hi Phil, welcome to the forum.
There are several members who are very happy with their 2+2 and their advice will encourage you to go that route. The colour can make a big difference to how the shape looks compared to the FHC. Your budget should allow you to choose a decent one.

If you look at the threads on MX5 seats you'll see how taller drivers have been able to gain a bit of extra head and leg room. That may allow you to get a decent FHC or even an OTS, again within your budget.

Ask if someone with that conversion will take you for a run or even give you a drive.

Angus Moss http://www.mossjaguar.com/ is a good start point for guidance, there are others too.

Read all the information in the Knowledge base before buying and get some of the books, try to get a knowledgeable person to help inspect any cars you go to see.

Good hunting

Geoff

[PhilP]

Thanks for reply Geoff I'll certain take your advice I'm going to a car show tomorrow and I'm hoping they'll be some etypes parked next to each other so I can get a good perspective on the different models. I'll also have a look at the seats because ultimately what has attracted me to the Etype is the FHC. I drive an Aston Martin v8 vantage at the moment so I want the right car to change.
Thanks again

Phil

[rolando38]

hello Phil

I think that with you size you should go for the 2+2; it may look akward from some angles but all in all it's still got the mojo of the E-type

by my standards your budget would allow you to buy 2 e-types 2+2....don't follow silly price rise, there are still good cars for reasonable money, especially if you can bare with LHD

[PhilP]

Thanks for the info I presume yours is the series 2 in silver in the picture, this colour seems to suit the shape well

Thanks
Phil

[Gfhug]

Phil, remember to price in any conversions from LHD to RHD if you consider an imported car. The diff ratio is not ideal and the Stromberg carbs should ideally be changed, those plus the conversion costs can add quite a lot.

Also are you happy doing some work yourself?
Good bodywork with no rust is important but other work is well within most people's capability, have a look at some of the reports on the restoration section and consider what you are happy doing, but it all takes twice as long to do, so you'll be working not driving!

[christopher storey]

Phil : the roofline of the 2+2, and thus the actual shape of the metal, ( other than the windscreen surround for reasons which follow ) is the same in all models. What does differ, and makes a significant difference to the looks of the car, is the windscreen glass. That on S1 cars has the bottom touching the metal in the same position as that on the open cars and the FHC. The S2 and S3 cars has windscreen glass which has a bigger bow on it, with the bottom touching the scuttle in the centre only about 2 inches/5cms behind the bonnet line . Thus the rake of the screen on S2 and S3 models is considerably more swept back than on S1 cars, and this improves the looks a great deal, so that it is difficult to tell at a glance whether an S2 car is a FHC or a 2+2

[PhilP]

Thanks for the info that explains why some I've seen look out off proportion I think that rules out the series 1 I've seen a series 1.5 2+2 does this have the series 1 windscreen. Looking at the photos in the advert it has 3 windscreen wipers like the series 1

[mystery type]

I think that rules out the series 1

But i much prefer the looks of the S1. 2+2 compared to the S2 and S3 models.
as you also get the faired in headlamps and the much nicer indicator lamps above the bumpers front and back. you also have the twin exhausts feature of the earlier cars, the dash is also better with toggle switches etc.

can you guess which model i own :D

but as they say, there is no such thing as an ugly e type.
good luck and welcome philp

you can see the profile of the S1 and 2 windscreens using simons picture from the e type club weekend. (2nd and 4th car from the left)

[rolando38]

Thanks for the info I presume yours is the series 2 in silver in the picture, this colour seems to suit the shape well

Thanks
Phil

yes , you're right

[PhilP]

Thanks for the photo, you're right about the back end of the series 1 it's a much better shape than the 2 the front end I like both so that's not an issue. I'm going to a local show today so hopefully there will be a few there and instead off just admiring the car and can try and decide which car is best suited to me.
Thanks for all your replies

Phil

[David Oslo]

Another thing to have a look at is one particular model (say a S1 or S2) in different colours. Light colours and dark colours do different things to cars, I seem to recall someone saying that dark colours make cars look smaller than they are, and also disguise the size of the glass due to reflections. It's all 'optical illusion' as to how our brains read the signals the eyes send.

My money is (literally) on the S1 in a dark colour.

[rolando38]

all the more since , David, with a white car in Norway nobody would notice it during 6 months of snow...
:D