We see a reasonable selection of E-Type Jaguars coming across our desks here at Barn Finds, and they seem to largely fall into two distinct categories. They are either vehicles that are going to need massive and financially crippling restoration, or they are really beautiful examples that come with a financially crippling asking price. This 1968 model seems to walk a rather nice middle ground. It is a solid car that is ready to be driven and enjoyed immediately, and bidding to this point means that it also remains in a very competitive zone for an E-Type Roadster. Located in Fort Gratiot, Michigan, you will find the Jaguar listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has made its way to $48,100, and at that price, the reserve has been met.

This Jaguar has been in dry storage since 1987, and as you will see as we work through it, this appears to have helped the car remain in quite impressive condition. When it comes to the E-type, I am a bit of a traditionalist and have always felt that they present at their very best finished in either Carmen Red or as is the case with this one, in British Racing Green. The owner holds all of the appropriate documentation to confirm that this color is original, although the Jag did receive a repaint back in 1987. It would seem that this was performed to a very high standard because the paint still holds a nice shine today. The panels look to be very straight, and the owner is of the belief that all of the steel in the car is original. He also states that the doors, trunk, and the enormous hood, all open and shut exactly as they should. One of the greatest fears for any potential E-Type owner is the possibility of finding rust in their classic. The E-Type has always tended to have issues in this area, but the photos supplied by the owner indicate that this is a very solid and clean car, with little more than a few spots of surface corrosion. It is fitted with a black top, and while the fit on this is not perfect, I suspect that it has remained folded for quite some time. It might be possible to sit the car in a sunny spot for a few hours with the top up because this may assist it to stretch, which could improve the fit. The glass all looks good, as does the majority of the trim and chrome. There are a couple of issues here that might need some attention. The first is the fact that the bar is missing across the center of the grille opening. Secondly, I did notice some surface corrosion and pitting appearing on some of the wheel nuts. This is something that should definitely be attended to before it deteriorates too far.

Under the hood of the Jaguar, you will find the beautiful 4,235cc DOHC 6-cylinder engine, which sends its power to the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission. The 1968 model year marked one of change under the hood of the E-type. Previously, the engine wore a trio of carburetors and produced 265hp. From 1968, the beginnings of tighter emission regulations saw the engine detuned slightly by fitting it with a pair of Zenith-Stromberg carburetors. This also served to reduce engine power to 246hp. This particular Jag is a numbers-matching vehicle, and even better news comes in the form of it seeming to be in sound mechanical health. The only issue that the owner identifies is the fact that the tires are very old, and they should be replaced before any significant driving is considered. After decades in storage, the owner subjected the car to some pretty thorough maintenance before he took it out on the road for the first time. All of the fluids have been flushed and replaced, including the entire fuel system. The carburetors have been treated to a full rebuild, the original alternator was rebuilt, and a new battery was fitted. The braking system has been checked, flushed, and bled, the front end has been serviced, and an entire new exhaust has been fitted. One of the areas that can be particularly trouble-prone in an E-Type is the electrical system. However, this has been checked right through, a few questionable components have been replaced, and everything works as it should. Since being returned to active duty, the owner has clocked around 900 miles in the Jag, and he says that it runs and drives perfectly, with no signs of leaks, overheating, or other issues. He also claims that this vehicle has only accumulated 21,500 genuine miles since new, but doesn’t indicate whether he holds documentation to verify this. Of course, if it really has been in storage since 1987, this claim is certainly plausible.

Overall, the interior of the E-Type isn’t bad and is certainly serviceable as it is. Being such an iconic classic, there are one or two things that should probably be addressed to really make the interior sparkle. The foam on the driver’s seat appears to be collapsing, giving the seat a sagging appearance. In addition, the leather upholstery on the seats is very dry. The owner has tried conditioning them, but I suspect that the leather has probably deteriorated to the point where it might be beyond simple conditioning. I would be very inclined to replace both covers, and since the foam on the driver’s seat has deteriorated, I would treat both seats to fresh foam. The center armrest is also showing some wear, and while it might be able to be restored, it may also need to be replaced. For me, the interesting one is the way that the finish on the rocker switches in the dash has deteriorated. They have now developed a very grey/white look to them, which is pretty unattractive. Having said that, I have seen these restored quite successfully, so replacement may not be required in this case. Beyond those few issues, the rest of the interior presents very nicely and also remains original.

Right at the start, I talked about how we normally see two types of E-Type here at Barn Finds, and how this one is a bit different. Generally speaking, a solid, numbers-matching project car that doesn’t run, and is in need of restoration, will be priced around the $50,000 mark. From there, finding a running and roadworthy example sees prices pushing closer to $70,000…and that’s just the starting point. Six-figure values aren’t out of the question for pristine examples, so if this car stays anywhere close to its current bid price, then it could represent a really good buy.