Advice on a car viewed today

PhilP · Post by **PhilP** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 9:42 pm

Hi, I've been looking for the correct car for some time now and still haven't found one. I'm in the market for a series 1 or series 2 2+2 unfortunately I'm too large for a FHC my ideal car. I have viewed a car today from a well known jaguar specialist it has been totally rebuilt so I was expecting a good car. The car is a series 1 in silver and looks great from a distance. It has had lots of mechanical upgrades including brakes and 5 speed gear box and looks mechanically perfect. My only concern is the fit of the doors. It has had a full bare metal re spray with photos to prove so I would expect the doors to fit perfectly. The dealer did say they would adjust the doors but I would have expected the dealer to have done this before anybody viewed the car. Do the doors adjust? the drivers door is about 5mm lower than the passangers and the bottom side doesn't line up with the body. Im begining to think that I'm being too critical as I know that the cars are 50 years old. Any advice would be welcome. The price of the car I am looking at is ?65k if this helps
Thanks Phil

christopher storey · Post by **christopher storey** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:25 am

I know I keep banging on about price, but ?65K for a 2+2 ? You would expect it to be gold plated throughout for that . Decent 2+2s generally speaking fetch in the range of ?25K for a reasonable one to ?35K for an absolute cracker . As far as doors are concerned, and particularly door fit ,on 2+2s there are a number of pitfalls to look out for . The first is that it may not be the door which is at fault , but the actual line of the sills. Until very recently, replacement sills have not been available, and restorers have had to make them up by elongating those for the swb cars. The potential for things to go wrong is clear. Furthermore, leading of the sill is often needed to get the horizontal line to match that of the door . The doors themselves are not easy to reskin accurately, and require skill and experience to make a really good job of it, with the same potential for things to go awry. Then there is the problem of hinges : these are often worn and allow the door to sag, which may indeed be the problem here, and as far as I know, new ones are not available, and the only recourse is to ream out the old holes and resleeve them . Again, this requires a good deal of skill to get a good result . Finally to get a good fit may require shimming on either the A post face or where the door meets the hinge, or both, and again this is not easy. There is then the problem of rubber seals causing the doors to stand proud.

PhilP · Post by **PhilP** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 8:18 am

Thanks for the reply but we're are these cars at 35k I've not been able to find any the only ones I've seen at that price look like they need a complete restoration.
Phil

Post by **mgcjag** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 8:28 am

Hi Phil. .....agree with Christopher ?65k for a 2+2 unless it was something special is way too high.....don't be in a rush to buy and have a good look around first....take someone who knows Es to look with you....you can ask here and someone local will go with you...also place an ad on our wanted section....also some of the well known so called Jaguar specialists are just sales men.....don't be fooled....Steve

David Oslo · Post by **David Oslo** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 8:48 am

Just did a quick search. Here's one in not too bad external condition (shines up well in Beverly Hills), but could do with a decent seat retrim or even just colour dying. Anyhow, this was just a quick stab to show prices. ?22 grand

Put this on a boat for a grand or so, pay 2-3 grand for a RHD conversion and you've got yourself a good 'drivers' car as the americans say. And unless you want to enter shows every Sunday this really what E-type is all about, a car that can be driven.

Worried about the automatic box, add another few grand to get a 5-speed manual.

All-in you're still sub ?30 ......

Even seems to have (almost) full service history, which is something I seldom see on E's.

http://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1968 ... c-4794.htm

PhilP · Post by **PhilP** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 9:32 am

Thanks for all your replys. I'm not in the market to import a car I'm probably too lazy I would rather buy a car completed and ready to drive. I'll take on board what you have said about the price especially the car at 65k My knowledge of etypes is still limited so if I can find faults its probably not the best car out there.

Durango2k · Post by **Durango2k** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 9:35 am

Twin carbs, auto slush box, and a right rear hit, and an S 1.5 late...

Carsten

Post by **mgcjag** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 10:40 am

Hi Phil...I think that we are all missing the point here......If it's a show winning concourse car that you are looking for then you will probably have to pay that sort of price...There was such a car not to long ago talked about here that went for ?85k......Steve

PhilP · Post by **PhilP** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 12:12 pm

Thanks Steve for the reply. i agree with you on this I am looking for a top quality car as its to replace my Aston Martin which cost 100k 7 years ago and is now worth ?35k so the 65k price tag is a free car to me after 7 years. I have done my time in the 80/90s with triumph stags and spitfires repairing and renovating cars and enjoyed every minute of it but now don't want to sound as if money is no issue but the right car is more important to me as I want to enjoy the experience of owning an Etype. The other post are correct though some of the cars I've seen are definable not worth the asking price just dealers speculating.
Thanks again
Phil

Post by **mgcjag** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 2:47 pm

Hi Phil....sent you a PM. . Private message.. Steve

mystery type · Post by **mystery type** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 6:28 pm

Aston Martin which cost 100k 7 years ago and is now worth ?35k

:o :o

As stated your budget should find you a really good car.

PhilP · Post by **PhilP** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:02 pm

And they still want to charge ?900 for a basic oil service at my local Aston dealer And ?800 to replace the rear shock not even a pair, don't get me started on the price of a rear brake light bulb. If you ask nicely I'm might tell you. Joking aside it is a great car. If it wasn't an Etype I don't think I change

vee eight · Post by **vee eight** » Sun Sep 27, 2015 9:59 am

PhilP wrote:Thanks Steve for the reply. i agree with you on this I am looking for a top quality car as its to replace my Aston Martin which cost 100k 7 years ago and is now worth ?35k so the 65k price tag is a free car to me after 7 years.

Does that mean you have lost ?65K in 7 years or am I missing something here? Or have you made ?65K?
Confused!!

PhilP · Post by **PhilP** » Sun Sep 27, 2015 10:12 am

Sorry if I wasn't clear but the car has lost 65k and this amount would have bought a car. No regrets though the car has been fantastic and if people don't by these cars new there won't be any future classics for us to buy.

vee eight · Post by **vee eight** » Sun Sep 27, 2015 4:36 pm

Which AM was it? DB9 or an other. Shame it was not a DB4 or 5 and then it would have made ?150K in 7 years.
Anyway good luck with your hunt for a nice E Type.
Phil

PhilP · Post by **PhilP** » Sun Sep 27, 2015 7:07 pm

It's a 4.3 v8 vantage with 26000 miles on it I'm glad I've done the new stuff but now I've passed 50 I'm after something more classy like me

cactusman · Post by **cactusman** » Sun Sep 27, 2015 7:39 pm

Well ?65k seems top dollar for a 2+2 as others have said. A lovely series 1 1962 FHC was sold at brightwells last week and reached ?108k so who knows. However for ?65k it should be A1 perfect I would say. Badly fitting doors ain't perfect so I would keep your cash and wait for a better car to come along. Just my two penny worth. When you do get the car it will be worth it. You will enjoy each and every second behind the wheel!!

PhilP · Post by **PhilP** » Sun Sep 27, 2015 8:45 pm

Thanks for the reply Julian. The advice from everybody is appreciated the best thing I've done is join this forum. The advice seems to be wait until the right car appears rather than just go for the first car at a dealers.
Thanks again
Phil

ralphr1780 · Post by **ralphr1780** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 7:05 am

Indeed, and given the fact that LHD to RHD conversion is no real issue you could consider also exploring opportunities on the continent. Good luck in your search.

johnben · Post by **johnben** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 6:46 pm

Hi Philip

One just gone through on eBay, looked OK, UK series 1 2+2 1966 ?45K
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301746508679? ... EBIDX%3AIT

John S1 2 + 2 1967

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