No Reserve Project: 1967 Jaguar E-Type Roadster
Update 10/11/21 – We featured this Jaguar back in 2019. The seller has relisted it, but they’ve done some additional work to the car over the past 2 years, plus they’ve taken additional photos of it. If you’ve been on the hunt for an E-Type project, this one can be found here on eBay with a current bid of $16,800 and no reserve.
Update 3/4/20 – This E-Type has been relisted here on eBay with no reserve!
From 7/8/19 – With some very obvious body damage, not to mention some less obvious rust, this 1967 Jaguar E-Type is a vehicle that is in need of complete restoration. Given the fact that nice examples of the Series 1 Roadster are now attracting solid six-figure sums, it is worth having a look at this particular car and seeing how it stacks up as a restoration project. The Jaguar is located in Charleston, South Carolina, and is listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $10,000, but the reserve hasn’t been met. Those who are truly serious about the Jaguar could also exercise the BIN option at $64,990.
Without going any further, a good look at the E-Type reveals that the only way to approach returning the car to its former glory is going to be by undertaking a full nut-and-bolt restoration. There is rust visible in some areas of the floor, the forward end of the chassis, and the rear valance. There is also some evidence of what looks like previous repairs in the radiator support. In addition, there is some damage to the enormous hood, along with the quarter panel and rocker on the driver’s side. All of that would seem to justify the sort of restoration that I have suggested if the next owner is serious about achieving a six-figure value for the car.
The news doesn’t get much better with the E-Type once we delve inside it. There are quite a few trim pieces missing, and what is present looks like it will also require plenty of restoration work. The dash looks to be complete, but it is hard to ascertain its condition. The seats also appear to be present. However, the condition of the rest of the interior would suggest that, at the minimum, these will require some serious cleaning, but they may also need new covers. Add in new doors trims and the replacement of every other piece of upholstery, and bringing the interior up to standard is also going to require some work.
Under the hood is the beautiful 4.2-liter straight-six engine that not only endows an E-Type with impressive performance but produces that magic exhaust growl that these cars are so famous for. The engine block in this car is original, but the cylinder head has been replaced at some point. Backing the 4.2 is a manual transmission, while the 4-wheel independent suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes ensure that the E-Type was a sure-footed performer. In addition to the replacement head, the car also wears a replacement aluminum radiator, and while this would undoubtedly control engine temperatures extremely well, it does look very out of character under the hood. What I find unusual is that the owner mentions the fact that the Jaguar is fitted with triple carburetors, which would be correct, but I can only see twin carburetors, which would have been consistent with the setup being from a Series 1½ car. The same is true of the cam covers, so there are some parts that will need to be replaced to ensure the authenticity of the car.
Restoring this 1967 E-Type is not going to be a job for the faint-hearted, because it is going to be a major undertaking. If it is restored back to original, it has the potential to be a pretty amazing car. However, this is not the type of restoration that could be tackled in the average home workshop, and the process is going to be an expensive one. Therefore, it will take a pretty dedicated and special individual with plenty of money to return this car to its best.
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Comments
Lot of metal work to do there but at least there is pretty complete car there that gives you something to work with.
Another mega bucks restore project! Not only that, remember the old LUCAS REEFER joke? Why do British like warm beer? Because they have LUCAS REFRIGERATORS!
LUCAS = The Prince of Darkness…
Non- correct engine swap. It should be a brushed alum valve covers with 4.2 – 3 SU carbed motor.
My 59 650cc Triumph motorcycle when thru many electrical Lucas parts and bike batteries.
Why do the British not have the death penalty. Lucas electric chairs.
We used to hang people instead.
I like the Riley Elf behind it better, and less money too!!
Not sure I see a way not to get under water at that BIN price.
Sarcasm – the language of my people. Maybe the comma is in the wrong place or the BIN is listed in Zimbabwe dollars?
That is one mangy kitty. It’s not dead yet though. I think restoration is definitely in its future.
Me, I’ll take the Riley.
Non- correct engine swap. It should have the brushed alum valve covers and 4.2 l with 3 SU carbs, not 2 Strombergs.
This appears to be a Series 1 car with a replacement Series 2 engine, not a Series 1.5 as suggested. All Series 1 covered headlamp models had triple SU’s and smooth cam covers.
Right, what are the numbers on the engine block
Not correct
The number on the head doesn’t match ID Plate. In fact it looks like it’s been ground off and re-stamped at least one time
Cost to restore will exceed 125,000 plus initial 64,990. Buy one done for 140,000 and you wont have to wait 3 years to drive it – save a few Rubles too
How did you arrive at $125,000? Numbers of similar magnitude are casually tossed around fairly often in the context of vintage sports car restorations. As someone with experience with E-Types, I believe a full restoration could be down for significantly less, perhaps 2/3 of that amount. I would be interested to see your calculations
This car needs $150k plus just to make it correct according to the data plate.
The cars a winner the bin price a loser before you start. People need to go these classic car auctions to see for themselves. These 100k cars can be 150k 180k to restore their better than new. Lots of time , talent, cash.
The gearbox is not attached to the engine! there are pictures of two different vin tags!
I bought a 62 back in the late 70’s from a repo auction for $1500 to flip. I took one look at those skinny tires and “this thing is a death trap”, boy was I in for a pleasant surprise. It held the road better than any car I had previously owned. Talk about inflation though, Look at that price increase!
Lots of money for a car in that condition!! Really it needs to be taken completely apart a put back together after every nut and bolt was cleaned or replaced!!
I have restored an XK 150 DHC and I know what it takes to put one of these cats back in shape. This one would be marginally worth the cost and effort for a shade tree mechanic. It’s not a number matching car, when it’s done it might fetch $60k.
so two vin tags pictured with different engine and vin numbers, delivered yellow, now maroon, can anyone see any yellow paint anywhere? wrong engine, restamped engine number on head, no picture of stamped body vin or stamped block vin…………… what we call a ringer in the UK……
they are called door panels , not door trims
Back again. Agree with the original comments above but nobody mentioned that other than the big Healeys the XKEs are the most complicated automobiles on the planet and take hours of work and tons of money to restore. Did one ground up on a ’65 coupe and never touched one after that. Just no fun due to the feeling you aren’t ever going to get it finished.
In the July photo, the motor appears to be the correct triple SU version. fast forward to March and the triple SUs have suddenly become dual Solexes. Are we sure this is the same car? It seems strange that someone would have swapped an engine (head?) without addressing any of the rest of the car’s needs. Especially so, given the complexity of an E-Type motor installation..
John,
Dual Zenith-Strombergs, not Solexes.
Current ebay listing shows correct cam covers and triple SU setup but lacks loads of needed pics! What is actual damage to where front frame rail connects and just the little pic of rockers tells me walk away from this at this price unless you have very deep pockets and/or have restored several of these! This car is not for the casual home restoration as everything I see this needs a complete nuts and bolt proper resto on a jig with many need body and structure panels! Something doesn’t add up, too few pictures for such a complicated restoration for anyone to purchase without an up close and personal hands on look! Caveat emptor.
Pat and John: Seller notes that the current listing does not include pictures of two different cars, as the earlier listing did.
SOLD for $37,602.
Still for sale according to eBay link. Currently $19,600.
No inspection though! Quite a gamble with $20K. Another thought…don’t go for full blown restoration at $100K. For half that, you could fix it up nice and just drive it!
An H2 GMC diesel with Alison Auto-transmission is only $50k Canadian so it’s cheaper in the USA.
You could buy an H2 brand new with dealer warranty and have enough money left over for a holiday abroad for the price of this junker Jag with the worst electronics ever manufactured by an electrical engineering nitwit out of Limey land UK in the entire history of car making.
Bob
That’s a lot of dollars for a car with rust around the hand brake and on the steering wheel adjuster. I’ll stick with my above words on being a very long and tedious rebuild. Hope the buyer has lots of talent or a ton of money.
You don’t list a car for sale but then forbid an inspection. Pass.
Something REALLY stinks here, no title! No more photos? No inspection possible? Pay within 1 week but can’t get the car for 2 weeks!
Run away as fast as you can!
My first impression was the BIN was optimistic, but considered bidding, until I saw the non-original power train swap. Assuming the engine will need at the least a teardown, even if you hung a set of triple SU’s on it and the polished cam covers, you’ll be very deep into an incorrect car just to get to driver status.
Nope.