Modern classic MP4 12C or old classic 67 E Type?

[Kitesurfer01]

Dear PH crew, hope everyone’s well?

Need your help as I’m totally confused in a humble way though. I have a 67 E Type series 1.5 and LHD that’s been rebuilt from bare metal to now near concourse. She’s had new Webber’s fitted and I’d planned to keep her a while but tbh I’m just not in love and at 6’3 find it a struggle to drive with my head on the roof.

Been considering to part x her for a McLaren MP4 / 2012 volcano red and the usual carbon...very well looked after.

Here’s the question, market has dropped out the bottom of classics so can only get around 60k for the e so running at a slight loss compared to build. Sooo thinking to swap for a more useable daily that may be at the bottom and will only perhaps go up again.... plus would be driven in all weathers as opposed to dry...

Noting I also have (luckily) a 2002 Mercialago that’s been in the workshop a while now so not regularly driven a while!

So what to do in your opinion?

A) Keep E and enjoy in fair weather and await until the market may / may not rise and get my money back in time

Or

B) Go for an almost same value MP 4??


Really appreciate your reading and input, I’m really lucky to have to have such options.

Best wishes
M

[RSTurboPaul]

What is it you aren't in love with on the E-Type? Certain aspects, like the seat? Or the overall package doesn't quite 'do it' for you?

If it's just the seat issue, can you get some side-mounted seats that make the seat a bit lower? If it's already on the floor, could you tilt it back and bring the steering wheel out further, so your head is lower but you can still reach the wheel?

Edited by RSTurboPaul on Monday 21st October 22:39

[Kitesurfer01]

Thanks RS, think tbh always hankered after an E with fully faired lights. The 1.5 is open so small aesthetics but just not as excited after the rebuild as I thought I would be.

Seat wise, yep as far back as it goes already, even shaved my head to get more room

M

[Kitesurfer01]

[Mr Tidy]

Just a thought, but if you aren't comfortable in the E how much are you likely to drive it if you keep it?

I would have thought that with it being LHD, given the current rate of exchange from the £ to the € there ought to be a market for it in Europe - if you have the patience to deal with potential buyers on a site like the bay of e!

[Kitesurfer01]

Hi MrTidy,

Thanks for the advice.

Have tried the European route and flat as well, maybe wrong time of year? But everyone I talk with market is flat / tanked other than supercars to some extent.

The car is advertised on here via a great consignment agent - nothing doing though.

Best
M

[aeropilot]

E looks lovely in Opalescent Blue with the DCOE's ... (open trumpets though )

Have you had 'old classics' before or are you of an age that is only used to newer gen cars, and you saw this as an investment rather than a car to enjoy? You seem to be more concerned with values than anything else?

I think, you either 'get' and enjoy old cars, warts and all, or err, don't.

LHD is going to be an issue to many, but to me its an ideal car to use for enjoying on european classic car road trips

I like old cars, as I'm old, and so I'd have the E over any modern (post 1985) supercar.

[Kitesurfer01]

Thanks Aero,

had a few classics in the past Alfa 200GTV (70's), Cobra (Magnum replica), Audi UR quattro (not really old old classic), Lotus Esprit HC (80's) and when was young VW split screens and bugs so do very much like the old cars and tend to buy to love and enjoy with somewhat an eye on the investment ideally.

With the E I'm just not that into it now its been completed, it its perhaps now too done and more garage queen as so much was spent on it to get to where it is now. Preferred it when was hand painted and rough looking tbh. That's why thinking something I don't mind so much and could get ore miles on 'may' be the McLaren?

The LHD part I'm ok with driving and don't mind at all btw.

Best wishes
Mark

[nav2014]

You sound like someone who could have both, so one of each is the answer.

[aeropilot]

Kitesurfer01 said:

Thanks Aero,

had a few classics in the past Alfa 200GTV (70's), Cobra (Magnum replica), Audi UR quattro (not really old old classic), Lotus Esprit HC (80's) and when was young VW split screens and bugs so do very much like the old cars and tend to buy to love and enjoy with somewhat an eye on the investment ideally.

With the E I'm just not that into it now its been completed, it its perhaps now too done and more garage queen as so much was spent on it to get to where it is now. Preferred it when was hand painted and rough looking tbh. That's why thinking something I don't mind so much and could get ore miles on 'may' be the McLaren?

You've got the right background then

You just need to purge this garage queen nonsense from your mind..

You've very wisely spent a considerable sum making it a nice useable car, it now needs to be used, and acquire some deserved patina.

That's what its for, its not a bloody ornament to go on a shelf. That's what you buy a 1:18 scale metal model for!
It can all be done again in 30 years time, and it will likely still be worth more than a well used McLaren by then

Go over to the Classic and Yesterday section of PH and read some of lowdrag's posts about his E-Type restorations and subsequent usage over the past decades.

[RSTurboPaul]

Perhaps you could go on an organised classic car event - a week of driving across Europe with like-minded types, perhaps?

Would mean you get to bond with it more and can get some stickers showing it's a 'working classic', therefore better

Mind you, if you're squashed in, you might be crippled by the end of day two! lol