When the Jaguar E-Type was unveiled in 1961, Enzo Ferrari described it as “the most beautiful car ever made.” I agree with that assessment, especially of the early Roadster version such as our feature car. While it is going to require some work to restore its former beauty, there appears to be solid foundations to build upon. You will find this Jaguar listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, it is being offered with a clear title. Bidding on this classic opened at $100, but it has already reached $20,300 and the reserve has not been met.
The early 3.8 liter versions of this car have become the most desirable and most sought-after in the past few years. This particular car is essentially solid, with some minor rust issues in the front floor and the rear quarter panel. The seller does provide a shot of the underside of the car, but there isn’t much information that can be gained from it. The external panels are going to have to be stripped back as someone has done a pretty ordinary job of painting over the original white. The other problem that the new owner is going to face is that a large amount of the external trim and chrome is either damaged or missing. Much of this is beyond restoration, so replacement parts will need to be sourced. Thankfully virtually all of these parts are still available either as OEM or quality reproduction parts.
Once upon a time, this was a beautiful red leather interior, but time hasn’t been kind to it. Apart from the seat frames and possibly the gauges and switches, there appears to be very little that can be salvaged from here. It is possible that a highly-skilled craftsman may be able to restore the steering wheel, but otherwise, it will be pretty much a case of starting from scratch on this one.
As with the rest of the car, the drive-train will require a full restoration. Thankfully it is complete, and the 3.8 liter engine does turn freely. It is also a good thing that this is a numbers matching car as this will have a huge impact on the value of this Jaguar once it is restored. The car has been sitting in storage since 1975 so you can guarantee that there will be a lot of parts that will require replacement. Once again thankfully virtually every part required is still available, but it won’t be a cheap undertaking.
So, is this major restoration project worth the price of admission? I would say that it may well be. Looking at the market I located a number of 1963 Jaguar E-Type Roadsters for sale, and one that had undergone a light cosmetic restoration was priced at $129,500, and that was the cheapest example that I could locate from that year. Full concourse restorations are commanding prices in excess of $230,000. This E-Type represents a lot of work for the new owner, but when it’s complete not only will it be a valuable machine but they will own a car that was acknowledged as the most beautiful car ever made.
Having worked on E-Types back when they were fairly new, I always preferred the 3.8 over the 4.2 models, in spite of the non-synchro-first-gear Moss gearboxes.
If there is rust in the floors and trunk, I would suggest that any prospective buyer needs to look at the monocoque to ensure there’s no structural rot, which these cars are prone to.
Seems like a lot of money for what will need a total restoration, but as always, I am happy to be corrected on this.
“Poor, poor puddy tat.” Said Tweety Bird.
Beatnik is right–check for ironworms especially with the new yawk tag showing. up to 55 large already, reserve not met. Ambitious restoration needed!!!
Roadsters generally bring the most money at auctions, but at Monterey recently, a ’63 E type coupe brought $700K. Now realize that 50K for a restoration project doesn’t seem that bad.
Oh can we please give that enzo quote a rest. It is probably as accurate as GW chopping down a cherry tree.
The guy who says he said it originally was an English writer who spoke no Italian and enzo didn’t speak English. Enzo was a bit of an a$$ and if he did say it was to either PO pinifarina or taken out of context ie he could have added “for an English car” which would have been a very backhanded compliment.
He also supposedly said it of a convertible and not a coupe, and the coupe is just better looking.
I like e-types and Jags in general
They are good looking cars and priced well, but to be honest they do have flaws even in their appearance. The windscreen is to upright, the track is too narrow for the length and the tail lights look like an afterthought. There were several cars that frankly just looked better in period. The 250swb comes to mind and the GTO was just going into production. Earlier cars from Delehaye, Bugatti and Alfa Romeo were also much better proportioned.
The e-type is a nice looking car, and built at an astonishing price but every time I hear that quote it sounds like they are compensating for short comings.
Enzo was a bit of a jerk, and you never know what he was trying to instigate, but one quote that he made several times was “the car that comes in first is the most beautiful” which leads me to believe he was much more interested in the car being fast than pretty.
Interesting points Kevin. Although we don’t know if he in fact said it, because none of us were there, he had 27 years before his death to say he didn’t say it.
Were there more beautiful cars? Of course. But in very very limited production numbers, and at quite a bit more money. Total production of all the different variants of the 250’s was in the low thousands. Over 70,000 E-types were built.
Bugatti, Delahaye, Talbot, etc. Absolutely the most beautiful cars ever built (in my opinion), but production numbers and price put them in a different league with a more production line mass produced car.
I can’t think of another car from the 60’s with the E-type’s production numbers, price, and styling that was a better looking car. I’m sure some would argue the Corvette’s of that era.
If I were standing there in 1961 when they pulled the cover off that car, most of us probably would have said the same thing. Maybe Enzo really did say the quote as it’s been published. It’s just his opinion anyways. We will never know…….
Hey Skid
He also had 27 years to confirm and he never did. The quote that is supposedly said says ” the most beautiful car” with no qualifiers.
He was around exotic cars and some of the best looking racing cars ever. So upon first seeing the E type and knowing that Enzo was a racer and had the 250 gto in the works. He probably didn’t give it a second look.
On pure aesthetics Jags own C type and XK 120 look better.
Make no mistake the E type is a pretty car and this is like choosing the prettiest girl at a beauty pageant. They are all good looking.
I was there. He said it.
I must have really poor taste because I consider these one of the ugliest cars ever made, right up there with the aztek. If I was given a choice of one with conditions I couldn’t sell it I would take something along the lines of a citation x-11 or a dodge omni over this provided they were manual.
NEVER thought someone would compare a Citation or Dodge Omni to Jaguar XKE or ANY Jaguar! WOW! Be glad your taste are manageable as I see Citation/Omni less than $500.00 running! I don’t think ANY part on an XKE would be that cheap!
i’m afraid i have to agree with you, you have poor taste.
I honestly like Azteks, X-11s, and this Jaguar so….not sure what that says about me.
Both Enzo and JFK likened the E-type to the Aztek as “most beautiful” and stunning performers, both as LeMans racers AND artifacts of automotive design. Everyone knows that !
Kevin really knows his Jags….o f f
Lino, trying to figure out your comment. Yeah I know jags pretty well. The picture is a XJ6 that I am adjusting the valves on right now. I have another that I just did a front suspension build on. I did a XJ8 timing chains 2 weeks ago. I own a xk8 and xjs. And I have 2 E types scheduled to come in. So yes I know Jags pretty well.
Excellent!! I also make a very good living restoring these cats. Over the past years have done a few xk and 2 e types. I luv these cars
Excellent, what shop? I own BIF motors, which is easily searchable on the web, though I really need to work on the web site. BIF stands for British Italian and French. I enjoy the shop but if I really wanted to make money I would have continued working as a PE
I always post my full name on sites like this, because I am proud of my work and a lot of people recognize me. We will have cars at the “Euro Festival” in Greenville SC on Oct 20th, a Jag xj6 and two lancia’s a fulvia zagato and Aurelia spider. After that I’m off to Italy in Padua for another show.
So why don’t you post your full name and shop on this web site instead of hiding behind a pseudonym. And please explain what you meant by your earlier comment as it sounded as if it was a personal attack.
Thanks
Kevin
BIF motors
Check this one out .. looks stunning:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-Jaguar-XK-Coupe-/263999553264?oid=223183187688