Good E-type buying guide?

[1969fastback]

After looking around a few of these at the various classic car shows over summer, I am considering buying a classic E type, can anyone recommend where to get some good advice about them? It will be a FHC I am after, would love a roadster but funds wouldn't allow me to get a good one.

Any advice or info is appreciated.

[cardigankid]

If you can't afford a good one don't bother. A cheap one isn't simply a good one that's a bit dirty. It has got every fking thing wrong with it, which you will have to fix. It will break you financially.

[mph]

cardigankid said:

If you can't afford a good one don't bother. A cheap one isn't simply a good one that's a bit dirty. It has got every fking thing wrong with it, which you will have to fix. It will break you financially.

I read it to mean he couldn't afford a good roadster, that's why he was getting a (good) fixed head.

[1969fastback]

mph said:

I read it to mean he couldn't afford a good roadster, that's why he was getting a (good) fixed head.

Yea that is what I meant, I have seen some roadsters under £30k but think they will need a lot of work, where as I would like to think that sort of money could get a "good" FHC, not a perfect one but a good usable one, is this assumption correct?

[Candellara]

1969fastback said:

Yea that is what I meant, I have seen some roadsters under £30k but think they will need a lot of work, where as I would like to think that sort of money could get a "good" FHC, not a perfect one but a good usable one, is this assumption correct?

I would say no - unless you fancy a Series Two 2+2 Automatic. The chap that replied earlier in the thread is correct IMO - unless you buy a restored car, E-Types are time consuming and expensive to make good - hence values for restored cars are high. Decent FHC's are all £50k / 60k upwards

Although LHD, this is a "driveable" FHC at £50k

http://www.arunltd.com/cardesc/jaguar-e-type-serie...

[1969fastback]

Thanks for the input, I could not stretch to that much, even though to me the one posted above looks much better than my idea of "good" I noticed they also have one in yellow for 10k less, http://www.arunltd.com/cardesc/jaguar-e-type-serie... that also looks in very good order to me.

I would not expect to be able to afford a series 1, as from what I gather they are most sought after, would prefer a S2 but an S3 would be cool if the right one came up. Other things such as auto vs manual, or LHD vs RHD dont bother me, my other classic(s) include a Mustang Fastback and a Chevy Camaro (both LHD Auto) so more than happy to have that combo (relaxed cruising).

What I wouldn't want is a bodged up, rotten pile of nightmares, so if thats all you can get for £30k then I will stick with my muscle cars instead. Thanks for the input so far

[Vipers]

Rather than start another thread, thought I would add it on here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29249023

[cardigankid]

1969fastback said:

What I wouldn't want is a bodged up, rotten pile of nightmares, so if thats all you can get for £30k then I will stick with my muscle cars instead. Thanks for the input so far

I think that's the correct conclusion. A car that has had a lot of care lavished on it is going to be expensive. Anything else is a money pit. There is no such thing as a cheap classic, unless you are a good mechanic.