I am interested in purchasing an E-type located in the Orlando, Florida area. Does anyone have the name of someone I can call to look at the car to see if there are any issues or problems with the car? Of course, I am willing to pay them for their time...

Thanks

Scott

 

bump

 

Hi Scott

As you've had nobody respond, maybe you need to take a little winter vacation to a warmer bit of the US and go see the car for yourself. However, you can do quite a bit by request of the vendor, like getting scans of restoration documents etc.

Tell us a bit more about the car, and some advice can be given. For a start is it a 6 or a 12 cylinder, OTS or Coupe ?
These cars were not particularly well made by modern standards, but all parts are available, even complete body shells. Current prices in Europe are sky-high, so its "millionaires only, need apply" over here ! All cars can rust badly, and this includes the main engine frame, made of Reynolds 531 square section tubing.

 

Hi Scott, and greetings from down under,

+1 on Fraser's comments but I hope I can add some practical help from so far away. My ever present standby was a book "Jaguar E-Type" by Paul Skilleter. While Paul was a most respected UK author (1 of 2 selected to write the "Sir William Lyons" authorized biography), he wrote "E-Type" as a much younger enthusiast owner - and produced an excellent warts and all analysis from an owner or prospective owner's perspective.
Great resource.
Few comments on your prices - read my thread "Christmas Update ... E-Type prices in Oz" - you blokes have no idea how stratospheric S1 values can reach. Mind you, values here ensure that most are restored to very high standards. Mine has gone to new owners after my 30+years - and they plan a $100,000 re-build.

The other aspect I believe is exceedingly under-valued is documented provenance and history - not just stamped log books and such, but original delivery docs, past owner stories, years of photo albums and an unbroken string of past plates that together, tells that car's unique and valuable story. I'm not saying that this level of documentation is mandatory - just that in our case, it added about 33% price premium - and that is a big wad of cash.

Having said that for all E-Types, but especially the most favoured S1, provenance and history is super-valuable, don't be too disheartened by absence. If it's any consolation, most 50 year old North American cars fall down in this area - no criticism, just an observation based on parts and body buying in US over many years.

Post details Scott, and best wishes ...

 

There are some other things you can do. If it is this car

red 1969 E-type in Orlando

you can look up the car using the VIN on XKE Data. Here is the link to that particular car.

XKE Data

There is a pretty complete ebay history on it which is rather eye opening.

If you're looking to spend $80k on a used car you might contact some of the e-type restoration shops and see if they'll take $5k to fly down and inspect it (that'd be a cheap investment if it turns out to be bondo covered rust in resale red paint).

Alternatively you could try North America Jaguar Clubs in the FL area and see if they have any ideas. Jaguar Club of Florida is the group based in Orlando.

You might do some Googling and see if you can figure out what the good restorations shops are in Orlando and see if they can do an inspection for you. Even if they aren't a Jag shop it'd be better than taking a blind leap of faith. I think tetanus is the leading cause of death amongst Jag enthusiasts.

Good luck.

 

I had a quick look and the pics show a nice looking car. The quoted mileage seems very low for such a car, so if genuine, the car would be worth a look. I have travelled in E-Types as a passenger, and it all looks good interior wise. Only thing is pics do NOT show the real state of the car and an inspection is essential, plus a test drive.

As I said before, virtually everything is available for E-Types, but at a price, so rebuilds and repairs are not all that difficult, but one doesn't want to buy an expensive pup and then spend a 1/4 million dollars fixing it.

 

Hi again Scott,

Looks neat, but I agree with Fraser and especially the advice and warnings from vrracing. There are several well known areas on the E-Type that warrant careful inspection - door and window seals, doors generally, sills, floor, boot (trunk) well, and especially the front muti-tubular frame. Of course, lots of money can fix almost anything, but corrosion traps on these 50yo cars can become structurally critical.

Call me cynical but, having owned and loved them for so long, the more perfect these cars look, when presented for sale, the more suspicious I get. By comparison, that vast 4 piece bonnet (hood) that all of us drool over, is non-structural. Be as informed as possible - hence the "bible" I recommended - twenty bucks seems sensible prior to such a substantial investment.

+1 on advice to contact local enthusiast group. Nearly 35 years ago, I did this, joined, befriended two of our national concourse judges, and enjoyed their advice prior to my purchase, then over many years.

Cheers.