The 'E' Type Forum

Hi everyone

I'm a new member looking for advice please. After years of other classic ownerships I am finally in a position to get the car I dreamed about as a kid - an E Type. I have seen two very nice Series 2 Roadsters from a well-established E Type dealer but I and am struggling with the decision and would appreciate any advice.

The first is British Racing Green with a tan (or Oatmeal?) interior. Its a US import that had a conversion done in the 90's - a very good one, with all details covered, triple carbs etc. Matching numbers, great shut lines and well detailed everywhere, under the bonnet and underneath with lots of cash obviously lavished on it and many new parts.

The second is an original UK car, matching numbers in primrose with black interior. Also matching numbers, very good condition but the shut lines, under bonnet detailing etc aren't quite as good as the BRG one. The prices of both are the same, which I guess reflects the fact that the BRG is in better overall condition but has had the conversion. I'm not in love with primrose but I don't dislike it either and I think it looks great with the black interior, although it has a "summer car" feel about it.

My head tells me the BRG car will be more usable due to the amount of work done in the past and the new parts everywhere, but I'd really appreciate views on whether the value will always be impaired by the conversion. On the flip side, will there be a limited demand for the primrose one going forward because of the colour? Whilst I hope to keep whichever one I buy for a good while, at today's prices I have to consider it as an investment as well as a hobby.

Appreciate any advice and points of view.

Many thanks

Colin

hi
without pics nor prices, it's very difficult to give any advice
and colors are mainly a matter of taste

Thanks, I appreciate that, I would still be interested in views on RHD conversions though.

Conversion to RHD does not really affect the value except, perhaps, on very early or concours cars. Easy enough to convert back to LHD should you ever want to do so - there will be people queuing up wanting to exchange parts! From what you have told us the BRG seems to be the one to go for because poor shut lines could mean it has been bodged. Strongly suggest you contact Angus Moss, our resident S2 expert, and get him to check the cars over for you: www.mossjaguar.com

Hi Colin.....just on what you have said the BRG sounds the best option...With money spent on it and good shut lines....personally originality re value is more concerned with early cars. ....but don't get caught out....take someone with you who knows Es to have a look.
My main concern is buying it as an investment.....don't do it....get it because you want one and if the price goes up its a bonus......don't be afraid to post details here of the cars your looking at and the price...you will get some good honest views of what we think......and maybe save you some future problems....All the best Steve

Thanks Steve and David, really helpful. Ironically I'll be part exchanging my much loved '69 MGC Roadster Steve!
The car is on here.
http://www.cms-gb.com/cars.php
He's an E type specialist and I liked the guy, met lots of dealers in the past and he definitely knows his stuff.

Hi Colin.....I sold my MGC roadster on ebay about 4 weeks ago....It was a classified add and sold in two days....prices are up and they are in demand... you will be in a much better barganing position without a trade in...

Just lookes up the BRG one here http://www.xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=1R12563

Good site to search for info.... Steve

Hi Steve
That's interesting, thanks. I knew prices were rising but I've been offered ?20k for it which I thought was reasonable for a trade in. Now that you've said that I might try it on eBay first!
Regards
Colin

Brilliant, very reassuring. Appreciate your help and advice.
Colin

My 5-pence worth, after having looked through the pictures of both cars, the details of the finish set off the green car. I'd go for that one without a second of doubt, especially when they're at the same price.

In terms of colour, it's all personal taste. I never liked primrose when on (say) MG's but somehow it fits a E better. Mine is (was) primrose, and to be honest, 50% of the time I liked it, nice shade and stands out of the crowd. The other 50% I didn't like it, too flowery for the car. End result is I'm just finishing a bare metal respray.....

Thanks David, honesty appreciated!

It is very expensive for an S2 in my view

I have been looking for a long while now and the only S2 Roadsters I have seen cheaper seem to be LHD or they need a fair bit of work - or have no history.

welcome to the world of etypes! One thing you can almost guarantee, is they will almost all need work of some sort - all depending on the level of car you want.

So many of us, end up doing improvements here and there, replacing original bits that have become worn or gone missing, it is never ending. Always budget for work to be done.

I recently bought a 65K Series 2 and have ended up putting another 30K into it, and it is by no means pristine. Bad purchase decision? Possibly. Have I got a more reliable car out of it? Definitely. Would I have wanted to do all the things as I progressed over the years - very likely. I've just done it all in one go at the start and it will be worth it.

The parallel of buying a fixer upper house comes to mind. Living in it whilst you do it up, takes ages, or do you bite the bullet and get the builders in to rip it apart and do it right before you move in.

There's a car for everyone out there. If you want a new car, you have to pay the top end, even for Series 2. A nut and bolt restoration will be over the 100K mark I expect.

Thanks Mark, I agree with you. I have had classics for years (currently an MGC Roadster and a 280SL Pagoda) and I've always spent on them and improved them - its a labour of love. My comment about price was in answer to the chap who thought ?70K for a good S2 Roadster was expensive - you get what you par for.

christopher storey wrote:It is very expensive for an S2 in my view

Christopher, can you point us towards lower priced cars then?

Not necessarily in a dealer's. But at auction there is a plentiful supply of cars coming through and for example, only yesterday a quite nice S3 roadster went for ? 40,000 at Brightwells. It is not the asking price which counts - it is the selling price - and there are a lot of dealers trying it on at the moment, - not just with Jaguars of course - with cars sold at auction for , let us say ?45,000 immediately being retailed at an asking price of ? 75,000 . You tell me which is the true value , because I don't know ( and this is why I am so fearful of the present market ) - but I do pose this question : if you wanted to make an investment would you do it with an object which had sold on the open market for barely more than half of the "investment" price only days before ?

Hi Colin,

If you're considering converted examples have you also considered importing one yourself ? It's a fairly simple process and would give you a wider market to choose from. Some examples I've seen have been a lot more structurally sound than their UK equivalents and conversion is relatively easy.

Regards,

Hi Neil

Thanks for that, I'll certainly bear it mind.

The quite nice S3 roadster that went for ?40k at Brightwell was not as good as it looked in the photos....I looked over it needed a good re paint and rhd conversion, plus plenty of tidying/ refurb work, was also fitted with SUs....so with buyers premium ?44k .... S1 3.8 that needed work went for ?108k plus premium.....and a S2 2+2 that needed an enormous amount of work ?18k...can't see how you would ever break even on the one.....Steve