Six-Figure Potential: 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series I
Project cars with the potential to command solid six-figure values once restored don’t come along every day. That is what this 1965 Jaguar E-Type represents. A bonus is the fact that the buyer will be able to commence the restoration process with a car that only has some reasonably minor rust to address. It is still going to represent a significant undertaking, but the result should be well worth the effort. The Jaguar is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $8,988, but it is no surprise to learn that the reserve hasn’t been met.
The Cream E-Type has been sitting idle for many years. It was in its current state when it was purchased by its current owner around 15-years-ago, but he never managed to commence the restoration work. The previous owner had been in possession of the Jaguar for more than 40-years, and it was during this period that it was dismantled in what would appear to have been the beginnings of a restoration. Interestingly, this might not represent the first occasion that the Jaguar has undergone this process. There is some writing visible on the firewall behind the glove compartment. This writing suggests that it also might have been restored in the Summer of 1979. The body is complete, and the majority of the exterior trim and chrome also appears to be present in the supplied photos. The hood seems to be a bad fit in the pictures, but the owner states that it is only loosely bolted and that its fit is quite decent. The rear window and the door glass is gone, but the rest of the glass is visible in the supplied photos. The vast majority of Series I project cars that we see here at Barn Finds will have been afflicted with significant rust problems, but that isn’t the case with this classic. There is rust in the toe boards, and these will require replacement. Any other rust would appear to be little more than surface corrosion. The frame is solid, while prone areas like the trunk, rockers, and the battery tray, are all wearing surface corrosion only. The car is still going to require dismantling down to the last nut and bolt if it is to be restored to a high standard, but at least the next owner isn’t going to be facing a financial mountain replacing rusted steel.
It isn’t clear whether the E-Type is a numbers-matching car, but we do find the engine bay occupied by a 4,235cc DOHC six-cylinder engine. This engine is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission, which is standard E-Type fare for this model year. The engine would have delivered 266hp in its prime, allowing the Jaguar to cover the ¼ mile in 14.9 seconds. Ultimately, it would have been capable of winding its way to 149mph. It is probably no surprise to learn that this classic doesn’t currently run, although the owner does state that the engine turns freely. Examining the supplied photos reveals that some components are missing, but the Jaguar appears to be mostly complete mechanically.
I have to admit that I do have a soft spot for the E-Type. The very first one that I had the good fortune to drive was a fully restored Series I. I approached it with a level of cynicism because the interior ergonomics looked pretty awful from the outside. Slipping behind the wheel was a revelation because everything falls readily and naturally to hand. I also like the fact that the dash is festooned with toggle switches because these look and feel appropriate in a classic British sports car. With the interior of this E-Type, it is a case of getting what you see. The harsh reality is that some of the existing components will require replacing, meaning that the buyer is going to be commencing the process with a blank sheet of paper. There were only two available interior trim colors for a Cream E-Type in 1965, and these were Red or Black. It would appear that this car’s interior trim was Black, which would have provided a striking contrast to the exterior.
Restoring this 1965 Jaguar E-Type is not a project that should be tackled by anyone with a faint heart or a thin wallet. Returning the vehicle to its best is almost certainly going to be a relatively expensive process. However, the potential is there for this to be quite a valuable vehicle at the end of that process. How valuable? The Coupe version doesn’t tend to perform quite as well as the Roadster in the market, but you will face an enormous battle finding one in reasonable condition for $80,000. If you want an excellent example, then a figure of $130,000 is typical. From there, the sky is the limit. It isn’t unusual for pristine examples to sell for $200,000 or more. That is why I have said that this is a classic that deserves to be restored to the highest possible standard. Financially, it could be well worth the time and effort.
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Comments
I see this car and think of the cartoon on SNL of the two superheroes!
Hahaha. The ambiguous duo!!!
This will make 30k plus surely?
An excellent way to make a small fortune with this car is to buy it with your large fortune.
I had an acquaintance in aerospace engineering that had one for years, Series II but with intact interior and glass that he had taken in part settlement of a business liquidation. Didn’t run, was gray/silver instead of white as I recall. Messy title situation prevented an easy sale. He spent years hoping to trade it for either a Porsche 356C or a 1969 El Camino SS. Everyone in the business told him that was never gonna happen until he found the rare person that wanted to trade actual performance for “babe magnet appeal”–the women he dated all drooled at this car when they saw it in storage.
Last I heard, someone else had impounded the car, along with most of his other physical property, from a storage warehouse. Supposedly the only reason the warehouse owner let the stuff in was because he had his eye on the Jag. I spoke with a Jag restorer who knew the warehouse owner quite well, and he said, “Yeah, [name] keeps getting E-types and losing them somehow–if that one rolls in, it’ll be the fourth one I’ve worked on for him…… but I’m not touching it until he gets the title squared away, and that may take a court decision.” The three Karmann Ghias he had literally “returned to earth” in the same time frame; the Super Beetle race car got wrecked; they could never get the suspension right on that 500-hp Jeep CJ5; etc.
Six figure potential? Is that referring to the sale price when finished, or the actual cost of the restoration?
Both. I have loved Jaguars since the early 1950’s (XK 120). Fell in love with the E-Type in 1961 when they came out (I was in England at that period and saw them race several times). I worked at a Mercedes, Jaguar, Packard, Triumph garage in my college days. An E-Type in the shape of this one has to be restored by a top-notch Jag restoration service to surpass the six digit post restoration value. Or go buy a restored one now and not wait two years!
Looking at the photos on the ebay listing, I see conflicting paint color issues. Photos of the underside and the doors suggest the paint color was BR Green. while the sills and other inside panels that would have been covered in carpet or interior panels, suggest the car was White.
Comments?
I own the car that is currently for sale on EBay and believe it was originally white with black interior. It looks like it was going to be BRG but the prior owner had a stroke and the project was shelved.
Bill, I think the car was BRG (British Racing Green) or other green shade and someone really screwed this one up. One is North of $50,000.00 to get it right on the assumption that open heart surgery is not required. Yes, they are six figure cars, which is silly, but one needs to have a really immpecable
machine to reach that figure.
I own the car that is currently for sale on EBay and believe it was originally white with black interior. It looks like it was going to be BRG but the prior owner had a stroke and the project was shelved.
Only one way to be sure and that is to get a Heritage certificate thru jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust and it should show original color of chassis number as well as tranmision and engine! https://www.jaguarheritage.com/archive-services/certificates/
I tried to get a heritage certificate but they are closed due to covid 19…nobody wants to go back to work!
Sure sign of spend loads of money and time to possibly make a small amount! I sold parts and worked on these for years and to have it done right to get the top dollar it needs to go to a top Jaguar restoration shop. Also appears it was green as the engine frames are not white as would have been on an original car! Unless one is willing to put out a ton of money to have it redone or has the ability and the shop to do it in, go buy a restored one and enjoy as this is in for a long haul restoration and keep throwing money at it!
My sentiments exactly! Only an exceptional restoration business will do it correctly.
Jag parts aren’t cheap!! So I hope the car goes cheap so maybe after long hours and lots of parts they get there six figures!!
I have been in the restoration business for 40 years+. I could have bought many Ferrari 275 GTB, GTS, Lamborghini Miura V and countless others for outrageous prices…at that time…of less than $25,000.00. Same cars now sell in the millions. Would have, could have, should have. XKE’s used to be cheap and plentiful, I now have to shake the bushes pretty hard to get one to fall out and when they do they are usually rusted in half. Hardest part of a XKE restoration is the rust repair metal work, the rest is readily available. Why even restore it? Just put it away as-is.