The 'E' Type Forum

Hello everyone :)

I'm Jay, I've just signed up to the forum as my Dad is looking to buy an E-Type, and I'm wanting to do as much research as possible on the subject.

I've always been into my classics, and have a late 90's Toyota Supra and a VW Corrado VR6 of my own at the moment, but my Dad has just started a small collection, which currently consists of a couple of very low mileage, immaculate cars, namely a 1984 Mercedes R107 280SL, and a 1997 Jaguar XK8 Convertible.

He's always loved E-Types, and has decided now is the time to get one, before they become unaffordable. The criteria is either a series one or series two open top, in good, usable condition, in either red, white, black or BRG.

We've been to see this example recently:

https://www.petervardy.com/item/17244/J ... dster.html#

Is anyone familiar with it?

He's left a small holding deposit on the car, and while it did look in great condition overall, we're going back in a couple of weeks to have a good poke around underneath it, up on a ramp.

I'll be researching into the general problem areas on the cars before I go, and make myself a check list. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated though.

Hello and welcome :D

Regarding the car, it might be worth asking why, if it purports to have had a "comprehensive bare metal body shell restoration", its bulkhead and engine frames are not the same colour as the body.

The car looks nice and shiny, but as ever if in reality all it's had is an external respray, then even if it's been subjected to "wax-oiling all cavities and door shells" you will want to check the internal structure as far as possible: simply waxoyling over existing rot might slow its onward march but not kill it altogether.

Also this is a good resource for any car: https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/ On this particular car you cna see it needed quite a lot of remedial work a year ago and it's been off the road quite a bit over the last 10 years.

HTH

Simon

PS At the risk of massaging someone's ego, it's worth arming yourself with one of these if you're planning on going and looking at E-types for sale:

Actually....

There's a bit on the car and its history here:

http://www.xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=1R1201

Looks like the dealer bought it at auction only a few weeks ago and has added a reasonable margin to what they paid....

(And the car was originally Primrose Yellow so it's obviously undergone at least one previous respray (the dark engine bay) before its current reincarnation in red.)

Simon

I echo the previous comments. Bulk head looks black to me. At least I can see an SU? If the restoration was done well and the waxoyl thorough then there should be no serious corrosion. Good places to look are the door bottoms, spare type well/boot floor, around the rear arches, where the radius arms secure to the rear of the floor pan, A posts, foot wells and the fuel filler cavity to start. I am sure others will suggest other good places but these are common areas where the tin worm attacks. Any rot anywhere here and I would walk away at the price being asked. The bonnet is not structural but again if it was a new bonnet and was treated properly at installation there should be no rust along the chrome trims, the roll overs around the arches and edges, behind and around the lights or front air intake. Peer carefully at the engine frames and the extension that hold the bonnet for signs of corrosion or repair (repairs must be brazed not welded!) or damage due to incorrect jacking. At this price it should be perfect. at ?85 K it is not cheap so you need tyo be sure it is right. They have obviously bolted on some shiney bits but worth seeing too if all the numbers on the chassis plate check out - engine, gear box etc. Also, if Peter Vardy has not already done so get an HPI check or similar to make sure it is not stolen or has finance outstanding!

Thanks for the informative replies guys

If you know of any nice 6 cylinder, RHD E type OTC's, at somewhere around the 100k ballpark, please let me know.

I had noticed about the bulkhead and frames being painted black, and I'm pretty clued up when it comes to the tricks some unscrupulous traders try and get away with. Certainly if there's a load of thick stonechip underneath, we'll walk straight away.

Crikey, £85k for a 1969. Prices are going crazy!
Best of luck with the search.

Just been to visit this one today

http://www.coys.co.uk/cars/1968-jaguar- ... 2-roadster

Which we're going to go ahead with in place of the other. It's flawless (other than the US spec carbs :D). It is LHD, but we're going to look into getting it converted at some point.

The first car we viewed was nice, but this is just in a different league, and was actually a bit cheaper. All being well we'll collect it in a couple of weeks, he'll get some enjoyment out of it for the rest of the summer, then have some upgrades done during the winter :)

Thanks again for all the pointers :)

Very wise. Looks like a lovely car although get those stranglebergs replaced with a set of SU carbs. More power and they look so much better. A diy job if you fancy it although very not cheap for a new set plus manifold I am afraid!

Unless I'm mistaken that chassis number belongs to a FHC !

neil4444 wrote:Unless I'm mistaken that chassis number belongs to a FHC !

I think you maybe correct on the header search page on XKE where it shows initially as a FHC, but drill to the actual car page and it's an OTS.

http://www.xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=1R27509

Strange ?

Hi Jay,

Best advice I can give you is:

1. Do as much research as possible on the subject - i.e. the point you made in your first post
2. Take your time to understand the market, what's avaialable, what to buy, what not to buy, where to buy, where not to buy, etc
3. Look at LOTS of cars
4. Post photos of potential options on this forum - we're always interested & will give good feedback
5. Once you're close to a deal get it inspected - Angus (1954Etype) on this forum offers this service and comes highly recommended.

Hopefully this will lead to you (your Dad) getting the car of his dreams.

ATB !