Hoovie Scores an Amazing Jaguar E-Type Survivor
Not only did the YouTube star score this E-Type for a great price, the documentation it came with is incredible.
On YouTube, Hoovie from Hoovies Garage is known for buying the cheapest examples of exotic and classic cars he can find. As you can imagine, this often ends badly for him. So generally, the funniest parts of any of his videos are the sections where his buddy the Car Wizard gives him the rundown on exactly what his latest bargain is going to cost to put right. But sometimes, he gets lucky, and the purchase of this 1966 Jaguar E-Type — for just $67,000 — is one of those times.
Not only is this an E-Type, which has long been regarded as one of the most beautiful cars ever made, it’s a 1966 Series 1. Along with the larger 4.2-liter straight six engine (which was introduced for 1964), this vintage Jag also lost the aluminum-topped center console. Now, I wasn’t aware that was a feature of the early cars, and as someone who lives in SoCal, just seeing at the still of that setup made me recoil. Because in my driveway? That bit of trim would instantly turn into a griddle.
But the coolest thing about this E-Type is that while it was repainted at some point, it’s never been properly restored. This is a proper survivor car, which was maintained so it could actually be driven — and not just rubbed with a diaper like so many of its kin. Apparently, the viewer that sold him the car bought it from a gentleman who owner it for a whopping 50 years! And while that’s the kind of story everyone wants to believe about a classic like this, a look into the boot basically confirmed it.
In there, Hoovie found a treasure trove of documents, including a pair of period shop manuals, a wood and cooper Thor-branded hammer (for the factory knock-off wheels), and a huge stack of receipts. Most importantly, he also found a hand-written log of everything that was done to the car between 1972 and 2015. Talk about a pedigree! That said, this isn’t a perfect car, and Hoovie gives a full accounting of the flaws during his walkaround. But wow, what an amazing find. Watch the video and see if you don’t agree!
Photos: YouTube