There was a bit of commentary recently in Sports Car Market wherein the editor indicated now’s a good time to sell your Jaguar E-Type. The reasoning was pretty simple, based in high production numbers, lots of undesirable configurations (like a late production 2+2) and the fact that it’s not a terribly comfortable car to drive. The XK series are arguably better driver’s cars but I’m mildly shocked at how many still turn up for sale as barn find. This is a genuine “SE” model that still wears its California black plates and is listed here on craigslist for $79,500.
While I am not at all saying these cars are not worth owning and restoring, I also consider quantity to be one of the biggest enemies of long term value. If you can always find one for sale, or always have good odds at digging one out of a Napa Valley garage, are they ever going to advance past their current high watermarks for sale prices? I’m not sure, but I suspect your odds are better if you find one like this with the rare “Special Equipment” package that added a higher lift camshaft and twin exhausts.
This particular car also sports a unique color combination, at least when it was new: it left the factory wearing Lavender Gray paint with a red leather interior. You can still see traces of the interior color but it appears to have been painted (badly) black at one point in time. The seller notes that the XK120 is also a numbers matching car and that the engine still turns freely by hand; he also has the JDHT certification paperwork as well. Presumably, it has been in California for many years, so hopefully most of the cosmetic damage has been caused by sun exposure.
There are some small areas of rust perforation but it does not appear to be significant. The XK120 is a gorgeous specimen whether it looks like this car or is fully restored, so you’re at least starting with a show stopper of a car. But like the E-Type, I wonder if there will be a point where the experts in the field start to sense a decline in enthusiasm for projects like these and start advising investor-grade enthusiasts to sell their cars. Vintage Jaguars are wonderful machines, but if you’re going to buy one, I recommend finding a unique model like this one with the SE box checked.
Reviewed by Michelle Rand 8/23/22…
Had a ’57 DHC SE OD would drive it from Sunnyvale to Valencia once a month to Valencia down I5 70 MPH in overdrive top down-ehaust note and wind noise…. Perfect!
I see this guy is still stuck on his price, ha ha!
$79.5K! What a joke!!! The amount of money to restore this Jag is astronomical! Drop the price to $10K and run to the bank ASAP!
It’s worth about 40k, max.
Yup, for that money I would expect a running, driving example with decent paint and upholstery albeit showing some wear. Trying to resurrect this poor thing would put you undrerwater big time.
It’s worth about 40k, max.
The reviewer has never driven an E-type. The amazing thing about them is how comfortable they are to drive, especially the V-12s. A super car in every respect, but still so comfortable on the road.
gotta agree Tompdx – If your over 6ft, the 2+2 is the most comfortable E Type – period (and to support your comment, all V-12’s were 2+2’s). My 69 2+2 was my daily driver for almost 15 years from when I got it in July of 75 till just after competition drivers school in April of 91 when the rings finally said I’m done and I tore it down to rebuild – after 268,000 miles. Someone has obviously never driven one…or bothered to drive a FHC and then a 2+2 then they’d know….
I’m 5’8”, have owned an E Type coupe and a 2+2. That extra headroom makes for a much more comfortable car. Probably the author’s issue is that the majority were automatics with Solex carbs. Mine was 4 speed and triple SU’ s and ate up highways of all descriptions
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225131813677
and thats BHCC so you know that price was at least 10% high
While it may bed a fun car to drive and desirable to own $79.5K
price tag is way overrated for this one. If the owner expects to get that kind of money for this one he needs to put about $70K into it first.
This one just sold today on BAT:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1957-jaguar-xk-140-dhc-mc/
Good comparison but different animal – DHC vs SE Roadster.
Here is an old car for sale. Someone always wanted one of these, but never got around to it. Now that they are pushing retirement, perhaps it is time to find a good, expensive hobby and snatch this one up and fix it up into a nice driver. I had a 54 drophead, and it rode like a brick truck and would help you develop your arm muscles. I was young, and it was a wonderful ride.