It is said that fortune favors the brave, but are you brave enough to take on this 1963 Jaguar E-Type that’s listed here on Hemmings Motor News in Tampa, Florida? The seller states that the car has been off the road since 1972 and that he had begun the process of disassembling it, presumably for restoration.
Jaguar E-Type values have risen steadily over the past several years with some reaching mid six figures for cars with a significant history. This particular car, with an asking price of $50,000 OBO, may not be one of them.
The ad says that the, “body (is) rusted out, needs body tub and bonnet, the bulkhead might be salvageable.” While those pieces can be found, they certainly won’t be cheap to purchase. Mechanically, E-Types are fairly straightforward cars to work on, but body and trim pieces can be a bit tricky to deal with.
I bought a complete 1969 E-Type that had been under saltwater (twice) in 2009 for $1,000 that could have been restored, but I chose to part it out. It is likely that the best and highest use for this particular car would be as a donor for another, more viable project.
As one Harry Francis Callahan asked, “Do you feel lucky?”
I think I’d want to buy this just to pile it in my back yard and stare at it while I sip my Four Roses. I certainly can’t afford $50K for yard art, nor do I have any of the requisite skills to make it work again.
I guess it’s just a morbid fascination to experience this decaying hulk. Sort of like how people are attracted to natural disasters and Taylor Swift concerts.
I agree ccrvtt on the morbid fascination thing. Natural disasters and Taylor Swift concerts go hand and hand. 50 large has got to be some kind of joke eh? I do not think you have to be Mr Obvious to tell this rig has been off the road since 72. I just got done watching Svengoolie and this ad is way more entertaining. I see no process of disassembling it, presumably for restoration in the ad. I do see Mother Nature doing some disassembling. Seller is down to stems and seeds again.
That’s a bin job. Probably £500 – worth of bits, though. Manual, too.
Bin job: if you buy this pile of scrap metal, then you “bin” had!
50k?
I think you will see Paul Lynde reading Playboy first.
Another crack pipe price guide car.
“But, Honey, I put the ad up and I’ve had no bites.”
50 LARGE????
This earns you the fully extended middle finger-
The owner should be shot with a ball of his own sh*t for treating an iconic car like this.
Having restored 4 of these in much better condition I’d say it’s real value is $1.
50k should get you s crusty driver in today’s market. 10 years ago it would get you a really nice series one coupe. I’m done with these. While pretty they are not all that.
I’m guessing a NO SALE
50k I’m thinking u could buy one that at least looks like a e type maybe even one u could push on a trailer.
Restored a coupe for a customer years ago. Two of us working full time took over a year. It’s a complicated piece. This one would outlive me and most others trying to do anything with it other than strip it for parts… and that takes some doing in itself.
I’d rather see a TS concert than a bunch of crusty old dudes nearing 80 singing “Satifaction”.
Glad somebody else sees the Rolling Stones in this light these days- or AC/DC for that matter.
The shark has been jumped. There is a time & place, and both are done & gone.
Taylor Swift is the Debbie Gibson of this period. She is sweet, clean, and very sharp. We have never seen, nor will ever see, her crotch. She has no visible tatoos. She does not use foul language. Her behavior, both on and off stage, is exemplary for young people (any people, for that matter).
Her accomplishments are breathtaking. I admire her.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Swift
Oh, yeah; this Jag breaks my heart, and the owner should be on a poster in the United States Post Office. It reminds me of those A.S.P.C.A. commercials on television. You just ask, “What kind of a person would…”
Hey, the Stones are writing new material…their new one is “HEY, YOU, GET OFF OF MY LAWN !”
That was pretty funny as a Mad Magazine song spoof 30 years ago.
https://goo.gl/images/UQMmMV
This brave’s thoughts.
Link shows a picture of Iron Eyes Cody – born Espera DeCorti to Italian immigrant parents. Call him a “brave” if you wish, but I’m just sayin’…
At least 3 too many zero’s in the asking price…..what a shame.
I’m in Tampa, so I could take a test drive for anyone interested.
@Rex Kahrs – I am smiling hugely, because of your comment.
How much to just walk your dog on his front lawn?
“$50,000 project with the potential for $300,000.”
No. From what I could find the high auction for a ’63 roadster in the past 15 years was ~$289k in 2016. That car came from the factory in slight race prep form. Lacking any history like that this car – even if finished to a sparkling shine – would not approach 300 large bills.
I hate to be thinking about nefarious deeds but what is the possibility that the primary value of this vehicle is in the vin and build plate? Under this scenario the vin and build plate are applied to a coupe that is then transformed into a roadster?
My neighbor has one of these in his garage rotting away , due to a hole in the garage roof .
I know it’s an E type , is there and engine ?
Is there an interior yes .
Hardtop however .
White exterior.
My neighbor is very recluse, kinda looks like the character who sells Christine to Cunninham in the movie Christine.
God I’m old! When my ’63 Healey was in for service the parts manager would let me borrow his ’61 E-Type. He wanted to sell it because his feet wouldn’t fit under the dash with his wingtips on! Wouldn’t sell it to me because “I couldn’t afford to maintain it properly.
@A.J. – AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuGGGGGGGGGGGggggggggggggggggggggggHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Seller states “Started disassembly and have all parts” I think nature has already beat him to it on the disassembly and “all parts” will have to be found by shoveling dirt through a screen. Dumping the rear axle in the interior doesn’t help either unless it punched through the body when it rusted.
I would like to see the end results! I know that some people have more money than they deserve, but 50,000?
one word….
sad
Greetings All,
It’s always a bad sign when the flatbed guy has to charge you three times his quote because the “car” takes three times the work to haul it and more to get the “car” off and delivered.
The seller should be sent to jail for criminal classic car abuse.
I’m no expert, but is that the going rate for an E-type VIN tag? That’s all I’m seeing here. Sure, these E-type drop tops bring triple digit returns in pristine condition, but you’ll spend triple digits in restoration costs to get this heap moving under it’s own power. It’s barely worth the cost of removing it from it’s current gravesite. Pull the engine, and leave the rest