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Dusty E-Type: 1965 Jaguar XKE Roadster

1965 Jaguar E-Type

Up for sale is a number matching 1965 Jaguar E-Type. It does need some attention to get it into better shape, but it would be a great project. It is located in Bradenton, Florida and has a clean title, but no miles or VIN. At the time of writing, bidding has reached $36,100 here on eBay and the reserve has still not yet been met. Thanks go to Patrick S. for the tip!

1965 Jaguar E-Type

Again, the seller claims the car to be numbers matching, so the 4.2 liter inline 6 engine is true to what it left the factory with. That is connected to a 4-speed manual transmission. The car does start, run, and drive. In the listing, the sellers provide undercarriage photos. This car has been cared for and the photos are evidence of that. Everything on the underside is aged but nothing looks alarming or detrimental.

1965 Jaguar E-Type

Inside is a stunning white interior. While the car is numbers matching, it might have been restored at one point, or at least the interior might have been, it is hard to tell. With some cleaning and detailing, the car could quickly be worthy of attending shows, even though the season is starting to wind down, especially for a convertible. Although, for some of us, there isn’t any weather we wouldn’t drive our cars in.

1965 Jaguar E-Type

One of the more unappealing modifications to the car is that someone painted the car black sometime in the 1980s. It was originally painted Opalescent Green, which I think is the best green for a Jaguar. I think that if you’re going to put the money into restoring it, you might as well put it back to the original color. Side note, I know the car is named after a cat, but the main photo in the listing makes it look like a fish.

Comments

  1. Avatar OIL SLICK

    Pretty cool car but repaint and body work will cost you.

    Like 3
    • Avatar ccrvtt

      It’s an E-type, for pete’s sake! It will undoubtedly sell for stupid money and cost a small fortune (“paint and body work will cost you”) to restore, but it will be worth every penny to preserve one of the most iconic machines (“pretty cool car”) of all time.

      Brought to you by Captain Obvious’s nephew Lieutenant Understatement.

      Like 16
  2. Avatar BillieG

    “even though the season is starting to wind down, especially for a convertible”

    Well, the car is in Fl. and yes, the weather is winding down to the mid 80’s to 90*.
    A bit chilly but bearable….

    Like 9
    • Avatar Steven Ligac

      Ain’t that just SO!

      Like 3
  3. Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

    I like E types, though you never see them around here. One thing I never understood was the hood hitting the ground when lifted? Car could be fun but it depends on what it takes plus purchase price to get it back on the road.
    The only one I’ve seen around here was a right hand drive at a car show this year, otherwise they don’t exist.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Dean

      If the bonnet is hitting the ground, the suspension is sagging.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Greg Millard

    Adjusted properly E-Type hood when open,
    just barely clears the ground.

    Like 10
    • Avatar Jim

      In fact, on the cars with front plates, the license plate is on a swivel so that when you open the bonnet, the plate will not scrape the pavement.

      Like 3
  5. Avatar scottymac

    Understand I’m running against the crowd, but never found these appealing. The prices they bring in the marketplace also say I’m wrong. Oh well, not the first time. If I had the money to buy an expensive British car, it would be one of these:

    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/TVRCerbera4.5.jpg

    Like 0
    • Avatar robert kirk

      Scotty,
      At least you are aware you’re taste runs against the grain.
      No less than Enzio Ferrari acclaimed the E type’s design.

      On its release in March 1961 Enzo Ferrari called it “the most beautiful car ever made”.
      Classic Car Review 1964, articolo di Sean Curtis

      That’s a rather heady endorsement from a rather heavy hitter in the sports car world.

      Like 10
      • Avatar KEVIN L HARPER

        The jag boys love to throw this out. I think it helps them compensate for jags deficiency.
        The quote would have happened right around the palace revolt, and it was completely out of character for enzo who was into racing. One of his quotes that examplifies his philosophy was “a winning car is a beautiful car”.
        Also enzo was a bit of a jerk and didn’t like the brits.
        The e type is a pretty car but it has visual flaws. Track is to narrow, windshield is to upright and tail lights are an afterthought.
        Sorry but that quote is just a joke.

        Like 0
  6. Avatar bobhess Member

    Did a total rebuild on a coupe for a customer. It’s got to be the most complicated car to work on ever built. Everything but the battery is hard to get to and working the wiring harness should still give me nightmares. Beautiful car but I almost wish the Japanese had made it. Still high on my list of a chair and a beer in the garage and just sit and look at it.

    Like 8
  7. Avatar Jake Loring

    Well for one E types never had a white interior orginally, so that’s been replaced. Engine compartment doesn’t look much like it has been “cared for” as lots to tidy and redo there. Have the brakes been checked out as I wouldn’t want to drive it more than couple feet and who knows about engine, drive components, cooling system, clutch, brakes and myriad other things before attempting to actually Drive. That said looks to be all there and these are stunning cars once restored, but better have deep pockets to do correctly!

    Like 0
  8. Avatar TimM

    Seems like it’s all there and hasn’t been molested!! Clean it check the mechanicals and drive the snot out of it!!!

    Like 2
  9. Avatar peterk

    take that junk 4.2 out of it and put a Chevy 350 in it. Then run the snot out of it and have a car that is, at least, reliable…

    Like 0
    • Avatar robert kirk

      Peterk,
      You may wish to elucidate yourself about the XK motor and its venerable history. Nothing against small block Chebbys, but the XK has main bearings akin to a 427 and twin overheads long before any serious engine maker here or there ever thought of that power producing solution…FWIW, XK power swept Lemans 1951, 1953, 1955–1957. That trifecta of wins was a first ever in that brutal race. And the ONLY US brand to win at Lemans was Ford in the GT40 era, 1966–1969.
      So much for “reliable”. ; ^)

      Like 2
  10. Avatar bog

    Enzo absolutely gave these his approval. Perhaps while gritting his teeth. The beautiful race cars that evolved into the “E” were the “C” and “D” versions and won a ton of races against Ferrari and others, including those Le Mans victories. Enough of my friends have owned them (all convertibles) that I’ve ridden in them and driven them. Oh, yeah, and helped them work on ’em. I think the earlier ones are the prettiest, especially with covered headlights and very thin taillights and bumpers. Yes, they can be a pain in the butt about various things…usually electrical or cam chains, however, what fun to drive (and be seen in !)

    Like 0

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