Automatic to manual conversion - final car value

[Lorenzo]

I would like to know your opinion about the automatic to manual gearbox conversion.

From the technical point of view, and above all from the pleasure of driving, I think manual it's for sure the best choice (in my opinion), but what about the value of a today full matching number car compared with the same car, but with a new manual gearbox ?

The car will have less value after the conversion ?

I will spend a lot of money for the conversion an at the end I will have a less value car ?

[Heuer]

The E-Type is one of the few cars where changes to original specification do not affect values. A manual car will always have a wider appeal than an automatic so it is likely you will increase the value if you do the job correctly. Worth considering the MOD conversion as it is cheap and easy to do on a 2+2. One of our members, Simon Bolton, has recently done it and Pete Crespin is a great advocate.

[christopher storey]

In my opinion this is a question of supply and demand. The demand is for manual gearbox cars . It is only a very very small minority of potential E type drivers who actually want , as opposed to tolerating , an automatic gearbox . The demand is usually restricted to those who for whatever reason - usually a problem with the legs - cannot drive a manual gearbox car . Hence the fact that infinitely the least valuable of E types are automatic 2+2 cars , and even S3 OTS automatics are worth much less than manual cars . For this reason I do not think you will lose money by converting to a manual gearbox, particularly with overdrive

Incidentally, I have driven both types reasonably extensively ( a friend of mine had an automatic ) and I was quite happy driving the automatic 4.2 2+2, but it was a completely different , and rather "softer" experience from that of driving a manual gearbox car

[Lorenzo]

So in your opinion having a full matching number car is not so important, correct ?

And speaking about the different manual gearbox available on the market, which one could be the one to use, the one can be easier installed (considering that I will need to add also all the missing components) ?

What about the E-type Fabs 5 speeds (very expensive in my opinion) conversion kit ? They present it as the kit with every single item needed for the conversion.

I will looking for Simon Bolton conversion to understand something more.

[vee12eman]

Welcome Lorenzo,

With regard to an manual from auto conversion, like others, I believe the value of your car is more likely to appreciate than otherwise. I carried out this conversion to a Series 3, adding a 5-speed gearbox, it's quite difficult with the Series 3 due to availability of suitable bell housings., six cylinder conversions have far more available options.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about values and matching numbers. You should enjoy the car whilst you own it, if you want to keep matching numbers, keep the original components and you have the option of converting back, or selling the parts with the car if you ever sell. Jaguar auto gearboxes are common, so not worth much, I got 50 pounds for mine, whilst the conversion was a little more expensive! Because of that, it may be more sensible to hang on to the low value items to convert back later, as you will get so little for the parts. Still I think lots of people set out to do just that, but after a couple of years of the auto box sitting around, they get sick of it and sell or otherwise dispose of it. Also, by that time, arguably you will have gained enough enjoyment from the conversion to have made a possible devaluation worthwhile.

One small word of caution, there are several options for a manual conversion, some better than others. Different gearboxes can be used, with several companies offering 5-speed conversions. Most are pretty good, but I have seen cars with gear levers in the wrong place, poorly executed trim and other problems - this is what will devalue your car, more than the loss of matching numbers. You will have a little more trouble as you are converting from auto, because you have a different bell housing (I stand ready to be corrected on this - I am not a six cylinder expert), also the interior needs to be changed to do the job properly, as the radio facia plus centre console are different. As others have said, that the manual overdrive option is probably the best method and quite likely one of the more cost effective ways to go to really improve the car.

Regards,

Simon