The 'E' Type Forum

After many years of looking I think I have now found a genuine 3.8 FHC RHD project. I have been specifically looking for a RHD car and whilst it is a fairly rottend old girl its complete as far as i can see, shows minimal mileage and supposedly has only 3 owners from new! Not been on the road for 35 years, I now have to give the owner a bid! Whats it worth then? any ideas would be much appreciated.

What's the number? I've had 860320 for the past 35 years.

andrewh wrote:After many years of looking I think I have now found a genuine 3.8 FHC RHD project. I have been specifically looking for a RHD car and whilst it is a fairly rottend old girl its complete as far as i can see, shows minimal mileage and supposedly has only 3 owners from new! Not been on the road for 35 years, I now have to give the owner a bid! Whats it worth then? any ideas would be much appreciated.

Andrew,

How long is a length of string? If you want to turn a profit and it's completely rotten then it's worth about minus ?10k. There are better scenarios, tell us more.

Dave

well I dont want to give out the number just yet as I have not secured the car for myself. The car is all complete and sitting on its wheels. There are no obvious rot holes as it has been stored inside most of the time it has been off the road. But knowing what you find when you undress an E type I would be budgetting for a full rebuild and possibly a bonnet. The attractive thing for me, is that it is one of a relatively rare series, being RHD genuine series one. And that it is complete. I realise that I could go and buy a car that is driving and running for a lot less that it will cost me to restore this car, but I will get a lot of enjoyement and satisfaction from carrying out a restoration.

Hi Andrew,

So you want us to tell you what it's worth when you've got no pictures to share nor are you willing to post the vin so that we can make the effort to look it up?

I'd say you should be grateful to spend at least 200,000 quid and try for more!

Larry

well thats a pathetic response. I have been collecting cars for 35 years and I dont deserve that sort of ridiculous childish reaction. I have looked the car up, I know its history and I was simply trying to get a ball park figure for unrestored 3.8 FHCs If thats what this forum is like, frankly I wont bother

Andrew, from what I can make out with project S1 FHC cars, a pile of bits with a rusty tub is about ?5k, if it's all together with rot in the normal places it's ?10k - ?15k, maybe a bit more depending on the condition of all the trim, chrome and mechanical bits. These two categories are for cars that need completely pulling apart to the last nut and bolt, and the extra for the one that's together is for the peace of mind that it's complete....and of course, you can check out how things fit, and the condition of the bits in the context of the whole project.

What you're describing is something that may look better that the ?10k project, but in reality, it may not be any better. If it has a rot-free tub, the panel clearances are perfect and it's complete, then as a RHD car it's either an incredibly rare survivor or it's had a body restoration at some stage. Remember that most of these cars used to end up in the scrapyard well before their 10th birthday!

If it's the rare survivor, but needs mechanical and cosmetic restoration, then it could be ?25k or even more. If it's had a body restoration, then you'll need to see invoices and 'before' and 'during' pictures to be assured that it was done properly. If it has, then it may be heading up towards ?25k...if not, then head back down towards ?10k....it's probably a 1970s filler and chicken wire restoration.

The middle ground is always the most difficult to judge, as painted filler can look good for a long time, and it's hard to look at an E Type anyway without putting on the rose-tinted glasses. After 15 years, my rose-tints are still to hand!!

I do agree with you that completing a full restoration to your standards is hugely satisfying, but don't under-estimate just how expensive the bodywork is to complete and with most cars, no matter how good it looks from the outside, it will need a considerable amount of bodywork.

thankyou Mark. That was just the sort of reply I had hoped for. I have owned a number of E Types as well as Astons over the years, and like you my rose tinted spectacles went in the bin a long while ago. What I like about the car, is that it is complete and relatively unmolested. By which I mean, that it has never been apart in its entirety and has had sills fitted probably in the early 70's. I know that these cars were pretty much rotten within 3 to 4 years of coming out of Coventry having spoken to many people who owned them new so even a car puporting to be a survivor in RHD form would raise an eyebrow or two. The car is likely to need a lot of work to the tub, just because I am aware they all do,but I love finding lost works of art and thats half the interest to me. I am thinking its somewhere around the ?15k mark, just because it is so complete. I willi of course post some photos when and if I am able to secure the car. I am surprised that the other poster expected me to disclose its identity when I have not even purchased the car as yet. thankyou mark, very comprehensive and very helpful.

Andrew

I think Larry (who is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful in these matters) and Dave (ditto) were speaking out of sheer frustration at being asked to value a car on three lines of text!

I was speaking to Harry (E Type UK) the other day and he was saying he only wished he could find a basket case S1 OTS for under ?25k such is the competition for restoration projects, both commercial and private. So a S1 3.8 FHC in restorable form could bid to a similar figure less 20%. Your first post says it all though - "After many years of looking I think I have now found a genuine 3.8 FHC RHD project." - grab it if you can at a price which makes the vendor think twice about the hassle of going to auction.

thankyou for the response David. Yes it has been many years looking, as I have wanted a genuine RHD car with UK history. I feel I have an idea on where I need to be price wise now and will endeavour to progress to a purchase. As is the case so often, the vendor needs to be caressed if you get what I mean. I am not looking to beg the car at all, but naturally people take some time to decided eventually to sell these things. I will report back as and when I have done the deed. thx for the constructive comments and advice.

Well thank you to all those that advised me on values. I am happy to say that after a long while searching I have now managed to find a suitable car and collected it today. Its chassis number 860897 and has had one owner since 1965 when he bought it from the first owner. Supplied new in 1962 via Henleys to Coombe Bridge Garage in Surrey it has not been on the road since 1973. It reads 24,000 miles which I am told is likely to be correct. Looking at the pedal rubbers and the wear on the seats it is a plausible story. here is a photo or two and a link to an photo allbum. Now for the long hard and expensive road back to they way she should be.






http://s714.photobucket.com/albums/ww14 ... 0E%20type/

Well done Andrew !!

Looks like an excellent project,and importantly complete and with all the right original bits----even the tripod lamps,

Steve 3.8

I think that I'm in love, Andrew! To find an original RHD car in that condition with that provenance is quite exceptional. After standing for so long I would imagine that any rust in the car is showing and obvious, and that looks like a very straightforward restoration.

The only advice I would offer at this stage is to give the car a good clean .....bodywork, interior, under the bonnet, wheel arches, and soak all the metal bits in WD40. Then take hundreds of photographs of every seam, bracket and component as the car looks to be in a very original state.

Does the engine turn by hand? Don't try and get it started as the oilways could well be gummed up solid (mine were) , but it may be worth while draining the old oil and pouring redex / diesel down the bores.

I'm looking forward to a lot more photos on here or your photo album.

By the way, that car comes at the very top of my range of guesstimates! Well done.

Nice one Andrew...Pleased you got there in the end.

Sound similar to mine though in better condition. Let me know when you're home and I can come and have a look.

By the way...mine has been off the road since 77 and the car came apart so easily. Even the clutch fork pin simply fell out....Harry loves a struggle with these, he was gutted. Head off and in superb condition with no corrosion in the water ways etc.

Enjoy yourself and savour the moment

Guys! thank you for all the words of encouragement . I am absolutely delighted because as you say Mark, to find a UK car in this condition is a rare find nowadays. I bought one in 1979 which was all complete but even then was not in this condition. Dont be fooled its got all the rot in the usual places, but its honest as the day and has not been got at. I havent seen anything bar the tool kit that is missing as yet, but I am sure there will be the odd item. Sadly one of the A post chrome trims has been popriveted in position but I am sure that the hole could be welded up pre rechroming. I think they are the correct flat profile trims. The engine does run as the chap who I bought it off was an interim owner but not registered and he got the engine running. I have not attempted to start it having only got her home today, and to be honest it doesnt serve much purpose. Its my all time favorite colour scheme as my best friends dad had one exactly the same in 1965 and it has stuck with me all these years. I love finding hidden gems, and the fact that it has been off the radar is big plus for me. I will take your advice and the photographic record will be very detailed and I will soak all the nuts bolts and fixings in WD. Its even on its original painted wire with Dunlop X Plys! Its quite a moment for me, and one I am so glad to share and thankyou for enthusing, it softens the financial pain! Great to see these are still out there though, and I think it bears testimony to the original design that very few were scrapped. This chap just put it in his mothers garage when he stopped using it and thats where it stayed! Lee, of course you and Harry are most welcome anytime . Lets sort out a beer one evening and a viewing. thx :D

Fantastic find! Congratulations and we look forward to following you through the restoration. An early car so try and preserve as much as possible.

I do not want to put a downer on your find, but I think the tax and MOT may have run out and need renewing. Only a guess though.




Nice find and have lots of fun.

Funnily enough the chap couldnt find the current MOT and said he would post it! :D

I will indeed post restoration progress. I have learnt not to start a new project until I have finished another, and I am currently working on another non Jaguar machine but hope to have that finished this summer. I am wondering whether anyone can tell me whether any of the so called restoration books, are worth buying for detail infomation. I do have a lot of E type books and of course the wonderful Philip Porter "Original E Type", a collectors guide . I suppose I am just interested in the little details such as what is plated , where and what finish etc. I am sure I can find out most of that on this forum, but a book is always nice to read when its too cold to go outside in the garage! I wonder how old I will be when this is finished!

Buy yourself a copy of 'Jaguar E-Type Restoration and Originality Guide' by Dr Thomas Haddock. Watch out though original copies can sell for ?250 but there is a reprint available for about ?70 from SNG. Incredible detail.

andrewh wrote:Funnily enough the chap couldnt find the current MOT and said he would post it! :D

I will indeed post restoration progress. I have learnt not to start a new project until I have finished another, and I am currently working on another non Jaguar machine but hope to have that finished this summer. I am wondering whether anyone can tell me whether any of the so called restoration books, are worth buying for detail infomation. I do have a lot of E type books and of course the wonderful Philip Porter "Original E Type", a collectors guide . I suppose I am just interested in the little details such as what is plated , where and what finish etc. I am sure I can find out most of that on this forum, but a book is always nice to read when its too cold to go outside in the garage! I wonder how old I will be when this is finished!

Andrew, fantastic find. If the car is as original as it looks, it will really be worthwhile taking the approach that CMC took with 9600HP. Conserve and only replace where absolutely necessary. If you can do this, you will create a truly unique car. I would only replace trim panels, for example, if the original has disintegrated - where possible, I would replace the cardboard and use the original vynil wherever possible. Videoing the car with a high quality camera prior to taking it apart will also yield a good source of reference material in the future. One of the problems in the past was the cars were ripped apart to be either repaired and kept on the road or stripped down to their component parts in order to 'restore' them. As I said earlier, this could be a very important reference car. PLease keep us informed as you progress.