62k Original Miles: 1969 Jaguar XKE 2+2 Series II
For the past 33-years, the current owner of this 1969 Jaguar XKE 2+2 has kept the vehicle garaged and covered, and it has only had some pretty sparing use. With this in mind, it is entirely feasible that the odometer reading of 62,177 miles, as stated by the owner, is accurate and original. It is a British classic that is ready to be driven and enjoyed, and it appears as though it would be nicely suited to the person who is searching for an XKE that is of driver-quality but still presents exceptionally well. Located in North Las Vegas, Nevada, you will find the XKE listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set an asking price of $58,750 for this beautiful British classic.
Regency Red is one of the most striking colors to have ever graced an XKE, and the paint on this car looks to be extremely nice. The owner states that the car received a bare-metal repaint at some point in the past, but it isn’t clear when this occurred. It’s pretty hard to find anything much to be critical of with the quality of the finish, with no signs of any dings or marks to be seen anywhere. Generally speaking, the exterior trim and chrome appear to be in good condition, but interestingly, the chrome on the rear bumper doesn’t appear to demonstrate the same sort of shine as the rest of the trim. The beautiful wire wheels present perfectly, and these have been wrapped in a fresh new set of Fuzion Touring tires. A real bonus with this car is that recently it has been fitted with a full set of new body and window seal rubbers. The owner states that the vehicle is rust-free, and there is certainly nothing visible in any of the comprehensive set of photos that he has provided. In addition, it appears that the XKE has spent the majority of its life in drier climates, which would certainly have assisted it to remain nice and solid.
In a bid to diversify and attract additional potential owners, Jaguar chose to include a 3-speed automatic transmission into their range with the introduction of the 2+2 in 1966. This carried over to the Series II range when it was released in 1968, and is what we find bolted behind the 4,235cc DOHC six-cylinder engine in this particular car. When you combine this feature with the inherent loss of engine performance as emission regulations tightened, this left the XKE with the ability to accelerate from 0-60mph in 8.1 seconds, and the ability to cover the ¼ mile in 16.5 seconds. These figures were noticeably slower than those that the XKE had been able to produce only a few years earlier, but the car actually tended to feel faster than that thanks to the illusion provided by the low seating position. After having had little use over the past 33-years, this particular XKE has received a significant amount of work in recent times to ensure that it is in a roadworthy and reliable state. This has included a rebuild for the front end, new brakes, all new fluids, along with new wheel bearings. The owner says that the Jaguar now feels tight on the road, and that it runs and drives very nicely.
Generally speaking, the interior of this XKE presents quite well. I get the impression that the vast majority of the interior trim might be original, although the front seats have received new covers. It all looks a bit deceptive because it looks like the entire interior might be wearing a reasonable coating of dust. I think that it would benefit from a good clean, while the rear seat should also present better after the application of a quality conditioner. One of the changes that evolved inside the XKE that I never really liked was the eventual phasing-out of the toggle switches on the dash in favor of rocker switches. I am aware that this was a legislative requirement, but it did destroy some of the sporty character of the interior. The interior of this car remains largely original, except that it has been fitted with an aftermarket radio/cassette player and speakers. One real positive, especially if the next owner happens to live in a warmer area, is the fact that this is a Jag that has been fitted with factory air conditioning.
There will be plenty of purists that will argue that the introduction of the 2+2, and the resultant physical changes that were required to accommodate the extra seating, had a negative impact upon the styling of the XKE. Others will argue that the introduction of an automatic transmission also hurt the car’s sporting image. While the 2+2 is not my personal favorite in the XKE range, it is still a handsome looking car. Those who criticize the 2+2 in automatic form are always welcome to express their opinion, and it is this diversity of opinion that is one of the greatest strengths of the classic car scene. What cars like this managed to achieve was to open the XKE range up to people who had previously ruled it out as a viable alternative to them for various practical reasons. One thing is certain, and that is that regardless of what configuration an XKE might be, values have been increasing on a very consistent basis, and have generally improved by in excess of 30% in the last 3-years alone. This is a trend that is showing no sign of easing, so buying a good example now might be a pretty smart move. This one would appear to be quite realistically priced, so it could potentially represent a situation where the next owner will secure themselves a nice classic that could also be a solid long-term investment.
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Comments
I personally prefer the 2+2 body style, and the automatic wouldn’t bother me one bit.
I like the 2+2 but I admit I like the convertible a tad more. The older I get the more I like to see having an automatic in my vehicles.
Thanks BF, for bringing an interesting lot of cars this year, for all of us to express our opinions over. I like this site, because of the variety of cars in various states, from rusted to death to pristine.
Any version of an E-Type is beautiful, but as people get fatter and lazier they demand bigger cars or trucks that require less physical and mental interactions with the driver. It seems every good design starts off right then gets bloated.
Miles have to be original for two reasons 1) Jaguar “reliability” would preclude more miles than that, and 2) with the automatic, you wouldn’t enjoy it enough to endure any more miles than it’s already got! (I don’t have strong opinions, do I??)
Looks like a real creampuff !
Beautiful car! While not as desirable as a drop top with a stick shift, this example will appeal to many. It’s cheaper than a convertible with a standard shift, though $58k isn’t exactly chump change. Some may actually prefer an automatic, especially the older crowd with knees that can’t handle a clutch anymore. I think the writer is correct, these sporty Jags will continue to appreciate; they’ll always be a good investment. This looks like a nice one so maybe grab it while you can still find one for under six figures.
I have a 62 OTS, 1970 Coupe and a 1969 2+2. Actually having owned these cars for many years, the 2+2 is as much a Jaguar as the others. It just has an automatic and is a stretched coupe. I see NO other differences. It is almost as fun to drive as the Coupe (because of the auto). I do NOT understand the belittling of the 2+2! Jaguar released it for guys who had families. It sold extraordinarily well when new!
This reminds me of the Jag . That sat for years in plain sight in Summersville,W.Va.. One night I mentioned it to a friend who lives in Summersville. He said he had never seen it. I then told him the last time I saw it was on the road behind the Pizza Hut and the next time I was their. I was gonna take down the road and see if it still their. He said he was down it yesterday and never saw it. Thaw was back in the mid-60.s Who knows,maybe Buck didn,t notice it. Wednesday I,ll drive down it and see if it is their or gone.It had the same body style as this one and someone told me it was a XKE. It was red too.