There’s something to be said for do-it-yourself. You know, you want a convertible, but you can’t either find the one of your dreams or the one that you can afford. No problem, the wind through your hair is just a Sawzall away. Now, I don’t recommend this approach as I know a couple of fellas that tried it on a ’78 Camaro and the results were a lot less than ideal. But, if you know what you’re doing, it can be accomplished effectively. Take this 1972 Jaguar E-Type, it has undergone a topectomy and the results look positively stellar – let’s investigate further. This Jaguar is located in Eureka, California and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $39,300, reserve not yet met.
As the story goes, this Jaguar is a series III and started life as a 2+2. In 1986, the seller’s father decided it was time for surgery. He further adds, “My father was an experienced sheet metal fabricator and restoration professional and competed in car shows most his life, winning many awards. In 1990 my father purchased a full coupe to convertible conversion kit from England. All parts were manufactured on original Jaguar tooling purchased from the former Jaguar company“. So, a convertible conversion kit existed, who knew? Well, obviously the seller’s father did but that’s a new one on me. Based on other Jaguar E-Type posts that have been written, the 2+2 seems to be less favored due to its more awkward roofline. I think they look fine but yes, I prefer the lines of the convertible and the coupe.
No doubt about it, the work appears to have been executed perfectly – this is a magnificent looking car. The original hue was maroon but it was refinished in what else but British Racing Green. I suppose one could try to nitpick the exterior but I can’t – there’s nothing wrong with it, it looks like new. There are an enormous amount of details in the listing, enough to the point of being peripatetic, but it’s the images that speak for this E-type and they do it forcefully but quietly, and with dignity.
The 272 HP, 5.3-liter V-12 powerplant under the runway length bonnet was rebuilt and reinstalled with its original three-speed automatic gearbox. Before long, however, the slushbox quit. No worries, the seller pulled another conversion and installed a Japanese W58 five-speed manual close-ratio transmission with a new heavy-duty clutch – smart move! The seller describes his Jag by stating, “It is a beautiful running, driving example of this epic car“.
The newer tan leather interior is certainly up to the task of matching the quality of the exterior – every aspect of it. With the possible exception of the aftermarket gear shifter, it appears as it would have a half-century ago. It’s safe to say that the upholstery has neither seen much seat time nor spent a lot of outside time in top-down mode. The seller does mention that the speedometer isn’t working properly, the A/C is on the fritz and the power steering has been disconnected but only because he didn’t like it.
When one encounters a car like this there may be a tendency to worry about how effectively, and safely, the major conversion has been facilitated. I probably wouldn’t want to take a chance on a car like this Jaguar without an on-site inspection, but if interested, I would definitely go to the trouble of physically checking it out, it just seems too nice to take a pass. What do you think, worth consideration?
All I can say is EUREKA!
Personally I don’t think a vintage jaguar should be any other color.
Overall I like what I am seeing in the pictures, but of course, an on-site inspection and test drive are a must.
In the 1980s there used to be ads by two companies in the U.S. that did the V-12 coupe to roadster conversion. I even remember one of them advertising in magazines: “Turn your 2+2 coupe into the roadster it should have always been”. However, I don’t know whether they made their own body parts, or also bought them from England.
The 2+2 to open two seater conversion brings up the value to approximately half way between the values of both variants. As far as the Japanese five speed goes, I have some reservations. I know that the tendency is to say that it is more modern than the factory four speed, and more fun than the three speed automatic…but when dealing with an increasingly valuable classic exotic, and looking into the future, “originality”, “originality” is a whisper that gets louder and louder… Would you put a modern Nissan six speed gearbox into a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO or a Lambo Miura?…
The Series III E Type, in my opinion, be it roadster or 2+2 coupe, is a nice looking sports car. I know, next to a six cylinder roadster or coupe it looks a bit middle-aged with the 2+2 extra nine inches and more sheet metal in the back, and the flared, re-radiused wheel arches. However, a Series III, despite having no more power that a six cylinder roadster or coupe (because the bit of extra power and torque gets gobbled up by the extra weight and having to displace more air when in motion), the Series III has one big emotional advantage over its slightly prettier and more supple Series I and II brethren: it has a V-12. Never mind that the V-12 isn’t more powerful… Classic sports cars aren’t about sanity or rationality. They are about pure emotion…and a V-12 E Type roadster is the only V-12 roadster that 99.9% of us will ever be able to afford. The front-engined Ferrari V-12s–that went away forever in the early seventies–sell for multiple millions… If this big cat checks out well and the price is fair, then cheers to both parties.
I like originality too, but that went out the window when they cut the roof off. That shifter is godawful though.
When dealing with these sorts of cars, Grant, the originality out the window comment…while valid…is debatable. Why? Because Ferrari 365 “Daytona” GTB coupes being converted to Spyders (convertibles) correctly, doesn’t hurt their values. Au contraire, it brings them up by quite a bit.
As for the shifter boot, yes, it is awful. It looks like a seven dollar made-in-China rubber contraption from WalMart. It would be truly worth it for the new owner to custom-fabricate something very similar-looking to the original console, and graft on to the car a real Jaguar shifter and boot. That way it would be almost impossible to tell the difference.
Yessir Laurence
Classic sports cars aren’t about sanity or rationality. They are about pure emotion…or any 2 seater convertible that you can toss around in twisties !
I recall John’s Cars (a TX company famous for Jag to V8 conversion kits) advertised a roadster conversion kit for the Ser III 2+2 back in the late ‘80s in Hemings Motor News. That was when, if you can believe it, the V12 convertibles were fetching 120,000 -150,000, and the 2+2s could be had for about 40k. I suppose it could be that John’s was re-selling the same British kit …?
If you enjoy conversions, I have an 87 944. porsche that was made into a cabriolet in 91. It was likely a wreck but the title is clean. It was done by a shop owner for himself. It may have been a kit, but I can’t find any kits available. The panel between the interior and the trunk lid is fiberglass. The trunk spears to be adapted from some prior use. The top is unique. It folds down, has two trunk (storage) type fasteners that make a good deal to the windscreen frame. The doors are customized to remove the frame. There is 1” square tube down each side to keep it stiff. It had 40,000 miles in 97. I put 40,000 more on it. I drove it daily. I drove it Pennsylvania to Florida loaded with stuff. It looks great. It is a blast to drive, and it cost a lot less than a real Cabriolet that they manufactured later. Snobs Pooh Pooh it, but it is fast, smooth, and a joy to those who aren’t concerned with originality. Also, with 4 snow tires it was unstoppable in the snow. A bit noisy in Florida.
I am close and have owned a 61 Coupe and 74 Coupe and am thinking about going and seeing this one. My only question for the seller, and I am going to ask, has the tub has stiffened.
Very nice conversion ,BRG is the only true color, Im originally from England & have heard about these conversions,& yes they did come with Tub streanghteners & as far as i can remember door pillars as well.
Price seems low – no?
$42,300 now, but reserve still not met.
Wow. If this was a 2+2 that was kit-converted to a roadster by the owner’s hand, that guy had mad skillz. The son seems to be pretty handy as well with the trans conversion.
Fortunately the coupe and roadster are exactly the same cars from the door handles down, so the conversion is very simple (in relative terms). Use all the stock roadster parts and you’re off to the races. Very happy the auto box has been binned, any the supra box is very nice – but that horrible shift boot needs to go!
pass!
Made it to $59,450, but ended with Reserve Not Met.
I’m not sure that a hybrid like this would get any more than that.
Wow
Do we call this one a hybrid or bipolar ?
The nicer the car
The more original the car
The more expensive the car
Are all reasons to NOT drive the car
So , i would toss this bipolar green machine on any twistie i could find and even take it to the supermarket and enjoy it
Seriously, how many lives do we get ?