This E-Type is quite a love machine, but the seller’s mother-in-law wants it out of here garage. I guess I can’t really blame her, considering her son-in-law parked it in her garage 28 years ago and hasn’t driven it since! Seeing that the car has been in the family for the past 47 years and that it was given to the seller as a wedding present from their father, you would think the seller would try to find a new place to store the car, but they haven’t used it in years so perhaps they have decided it’s time to let it go. You can find it here on eBay in Allendale, New Jersey with bidding at $42k!
Overall, this Jag looks to be in fantastic condition. The paint looks brilliant and is the original color, but was touched up. No word if it was a full respray or just a touch up of bad spots, but whichever it was, it looks very well done. The seller claims the original owner was a young lady who sold it to his father when she got engaged in the late ’60s. His father used it for a few years while he lived in California. It went into storage for the next 15 years when his dad moved to Oklahoma. When the seller married his wife, his dad gave it to them as their wedding present. They drove it cross country without any issues and used it occasionally, that was 29 years ago. That means they only used it for about a year and then it went into mother-in-law’s garage.
I’d love to hear how that conversation went: “hi mother-in-law, I just took your daughter from you. Do you mind if I park this sports car my dad gave us in your garage? When will I come get it? I don’t know, how about 28 years from now?” That actually leaves me wondering what motivating force pushed him to even ask. Did his new wife not like it? Could he not afford to make it pass emissions? Or did he just want to give his mother-in-law something to pester him about?
I sure wish I would have been given an E-Type as a wedding present! I would have even been happy with a poster of an E-Type. I know they have their shortcomings, but they sure are beautiful to look at! The seller hasn’t tried to start it, but hopefully it doesn’t have any mechanical issues. I’d like to know more about the engine’s condition, but I’m glad they haven’t tried to start it without properly going over it first. They did clean the dust and grime off of it! It doesn’t take much to clean a car up, but boy can it sure add value. If you are in the market for a lovely E-Type drop top, this one might be worth bidding on! What do you think?
I would have taken any car as a wedding present :)
6 figures
What a beautiful example. No matter what it takes to get it running you’d be far ahead with this versus buying a cheap one that needed total restoration…….it’s a Jag :). As the seller is obviously a knowledgeable car guy, I am surprised he wouldn’t sort it out and get it running. But he must figure it will sell no matter what so why go to the trouble!
I guess son in law wasn’t much of a car guy.
Trade in the wife, mother in law and whoever else gets in the way and keep the car.
I’m 1000% in your court Nessy. What a nice car. I’d make sure (where it my M in Law) to make room in my garage for it – that would get it out of hers.
Too bad not a covered headlight, but what a nice piece. I’m with you Nessy. No matter……, ah forget the smart ass comment that I’ll keep to myself.
Very nice E Type. I’d say the seller is very lucky that small creatures didn’t get inside during those near-3 decades the car sat under a tarp in that garage, even with the top up—at least there are no rodent holes that you can see in the photos. Same with critters eating the wiring, but it looks like that will have to be determined when the buyer fires it up.
And I think I would have at least taken some photos of the car before polishing the paint if I was going to sell it as a barn find.
I think the seller could have been helped if he had made contact with someone who was familiar with vintage cars and gotten advice about how to proceed, like the importance of having a clear answer ready for the question whether the engine turns. Better still to pay someone familiar with these to make sure the engine is free and ready to run, service the fuel system if necessary, and try to start the engine.
A low mile original E-Type like this is about a $90K car, maybe more, and a small outlay before listing it for sale could go a long way to putting a good deal together for both parties.
And then make sure to advertise it in Europe, where the big $$$ is for these.
The term “a hole” comes to mind.
Couple gets jag, neither one drives jag.
Mother in law is gracious enough to store the car but hasn’t the guts to demand the keys.
I’d gladly store your Jag and keep insurance on it and I wouldn’t find every opportunity to drive it, honest, I wouldn’t take it on vacation, or go for a drive in the mountains.
I would put it on jack stands and run it up in the air for 3-5000 miles per year.
Let me know when you are stopping by and I’ll clean the fast food rappers you left again.
My family sucks. Not even a K car for our wedding. Dolphin is right, I think. This seller would have been wise to reach out to people who know these cars. Getting it running, and finding the bigger dollars would likely be worth the money spent. Beautiful car.
I see a much sinister scenario. “Mom, I just lost the Jag in a poker game, can I keep the car by you until the heat is off”? Cars stories are as varied as the owners life. One usually involves the other. I’m sure it’s more like life got in the way of the Jag, and who knows, maybe the guy didn’t like it, after all, it was a gift. I just love the way the British designers think. Take the ash tray, for example. It’s placed just so, that you could rest your arm on the armrest and the cigarette would be directly over the ash tray. Not like the “long reach, make a mess, take your eyes off the road American car”. ( I’m not a smoker, but stuff like that I love about British cars) Sure is nice. I didn’t even look at the price, why bother. For most of us, the coveted E-Type will be nothing more than our dream going back to childhood.
Not quite a “barn find” if you left it in your MIL’s garage for 29 years… For a 68 to pass emissions, it should have only required a tune-up.
Been looking to trade my 1966 S1 FHC for an S2 OTS, and I’m in NJ! This car is not as nice as mine, but close (mine is a driver)…wonder what his reserve is?
This is an interesting variant. It’s a Series 1 1/2 with sealed beam uncovered headlights, but small taillights above the bumper. It also has 2 Stromberg carbs. In 1967 (I believe) the same car would have had a triple SU HD8 setup. Pollution issues for the US models required the Strombergs for 1968. 1969 saw the first of the Series II cars with larger taillights below the bumper.
I doubt that this original car reaches $100K at auction. I’d guess somewhere in the mid to high $60Ks. Yes, it’s very nice and low mileage, but not pristine. But who knows if you get 2 people vying for it.
Even the original knockoff protector and hammer for those wire wheels…..
:-)