Need some advice and help. I've am a Corvette C! and C2 hobbyist and am thinking about an XKE roadster ever since the car in the movie The Mechanic with Jason Statham. That said I know very little and am asking what is the preferred year concerning reliability, performance, value, etc. My use will be a driver but as with my Corvettes I will do what it takes to make it "show" quality. I reside in Southern California so maybe there are shops or specialists in the Los Angeles or San Fernando Valley areas that can assist?

Thanks in advance

 

Welcome!! I’m new to e types as well and have been pouring over everything I can read about desirability.. that said I’m sure someone else will have some more info on the subject.

From my research it seems that either you want desirability or driveability. The series 1 cars (pre September 67) are the more desirable models, however from a users standpoint the series two (which is considerably more affordable) is a MUCH better driver.

Modern technology what it is I’m sure modifications could be made to the early cars to get them up to date as far as handling but I havnt read much on that yet. Looking forward to seeing what kind of discussion you drum up here!!

 

The first thing to be aware of is that the E-type Jaguar was an all-steel car, unlike your Corvettes with a steel chassis and fibreglass body. The second thing is that they were not made in huge quantities like the Corvettes.
Having said that, an E-type in good condition is like no other car. The shape is justification itself to want to own one, but the car was also very advanced when it came on sale in 1961. Virtually any spare part you need is available, such is the number still on the road, and now fetching very high prices here in the UK. A friend of mine had three in tthe 70s, a coupe, a roadster, then another coupe; they all ran well, and he had no really big problems with any of them.

Like all Jaguars at that time they were not a high-price car, but were also built down to a cost, (Jaguar had to make profits !!), and this means the body shells were not very well prepared and can rust badly. This bodyshell is about half the car, the other half forward of the bulkhead consists of the hood, (a real work of art !), and the engine/suspension cradles made of square section tubing. Suspension is all-independent with the front using torsion bars, the rear suspension was used on all Jaguars until 1986 except the Mark 2 saloons.
I suspect that with the Corvettes, you have gotten used to quite cheap parts. Well, you'll have to get used to E-type parts being quite a bit more expensive ! Having said that, at least you can still get them for a car that left production in 1975.

The last E-type was the Series 3 and was fitted with the 5.3 litre V12 engine. Early 60s cars were 3.8s then later the 4.2 litre straight six XK engine. If this is your first E-type, then the V12 is probably not the best model to start with. Try to get a late Series 2 car, but anyway, with cars this old, condition is everything so if you find a really nice V12 then it could well be the car for you.

 

Thank you all