Well-maintained and ready to drive, a show-quality Jaguar XKE doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg.
The Jaguar E-Type, or the XKE in the North American market, is arguably the most famous of the vintage Jags. In fact, the E-Type is likely one of the most sought-after British sports cars from the 1960s, but in flipping through Jaguar listings on BringATrailer.com, we came across a few examples of the legendary XKE – all of which show that you can get one of these cars in nice shape for less than $50,000.
The Legendary E-Type
The Jaguar E-Type and the XKE were first offered in 1961 and the sleek sports car would be sold through 1975. While there were changes throughout the years, the long bonnet with the unique forward-flip access to the engine, the 2-seat cockpit and the short rearend were key design features of every E-Type and XKE.
The E-Class was offered with three different engines – a pair of online-six mills measuring 3.8-liter and 4.2-liters and a later 5.3-liter V12. For the 1969 model year, the 4.2-liter I6 offered 246 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque, with the power being channeled to the rear wheels by means of a four-speed manual transmission.
On the inside, the XKE featured plush carpeting and soft leather, providing the type of luxurious feel that you would expect from one of Europe’s greatest luxury sports cars.
Well Maintained Machine
The biggest concern with British cars from the 1960s is reliability, so many people believe that buying a car like a Jaguar E-Type for a reasonable price will lead to a great deal of repair costs. However, the 1969 XKE that sold earlier this week on BringATrailer came with extensive maintenance records including a valve job, carb rebuild, a new-old fuel system, a master cylinder and all new hoses within the past year.
The fuel tank, the braking system and carpeting have been replaced and new wheels and tires have been mounted in place of the factory rollers.
Even with all of that work done over the past few years, this 1969 Jaguar XKE sold for just $48,000 and while it isn’t flawless, it is a turnkey driver that will turn heads at any car show.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
