The Jaguar E-Type has consistently found itself on various lists of the one hundred most beautiful production cars ever built. It is easy to see why, because the design, penned by Malcolm Sayer, is stunning from any angle. This 1973 example is the OTS (Open Two Seater) variant and requires restoration. However, it is essentially complete and features the desirable manual transmission. The seller has listed the E-Type here on eBay in Hanover, Massachusetts. They set their BIN at $27,500 with the option to make an offer.
Introduced in 1961 to rave reviews, Jaguar’s E-type remained in production until 1974. The car grew heavier and less lively towards the end of its production life, but, particularly in Roadster or OTS form, it remained visually stunning. The seller includes a Jaguar Heritage Certificate, confirming the authenticity of this classic. Its Heather paint, a shade only available in 1973 and 1974, exhibits significant deterioration. With evidence of lifting, the buyer will undoubtedly strip the panels to bare metal to achieve a high-end result. There are no substantial bumps or bruises, but rust is the mortal enemy of the E-Type. Typically prone areas such as the rockers, lower rear quarter panels, and rear pan look promising. The state of the floors is a mystery, and getting this classic up on a lift would be wise. The soft-top is shredded, and many trim pieces require restoration or replacement. However, the wire wheels appear to be in good condition.
Jaguar utilized three engines during the E-Type’s production life. Initially featuring a 3.8-liter DOHC six, the motor’s capacity grew to 4.2-liters in 1964. It pushed the boat out in 1971, adopting the 5.3-liter V12 in the refreshed Series III. This car features the V12, teamed with the desirable four-speed manual transmission. That year’s Sales Brochure quotes power and torque figures of 241hp and 285 ft/lbs, and while the E-Type wasn’t as fast as it had been previously, it was still a pretty handy weapon with excellent handling and braking. The seller confirms that this Jag is numbers-matching and provides no information on the mechanical condition. If the V12 turns freely, revival may be straightforward. However, bracing for the cost of a rebuild would be a smart strategy.
This Jaguar’s interior is missing its radio and a few small components, but otherwise appears complete. The first owner combined the Heather paint with Maroon leather upholstery, creating a stunning visual package. Unsurprisingly, the new owner faces a complete retrim to recapture the car’s glory days. Kits to achieve a factory look are readily available, but will add at least $5,000 to the restoration budget. That’s a significant sum, but it represents an excellent long-term investment. When treated respectfully, a retrimmed interior should remain impressive for many decades.
Some classics make an immediate impact, and I admit that it was love at first sight when I spied my first E-Type Roadster. I considered it beautiful, but pondered whether it might be a triumph of style over substance. However, a friend had recently restored a Series I and threw me the keys so I could experience the car firsthand. Four decades have passed since that day, and I still vividly remember the experience. The engine sounded magnificent, the driving position was far better than I expected, and the grip from the skinny tires was genuinely impressive. This 1973 example will be slightly softer, but life behind the wheel should still be utterly joyous. If that sounds appealing, it may be worth reaching out to the seller.
Smelling salts, please,,,plop, nope, not gonna do it. Regaining composure some, I truly feel sick. I must apologize to our British cousins, this is unacceptable. It’s the worst Jag I think I’ve ever seen. I mean, this isn’t, or more accurately, wasn’t some beat up hack, it’s a Jag roadster for heavens sake. It sure is a mess, I’d be embarrassed to even advertise this. The color is a bit odd, but I bet it really looked sharp, and half the plug wires gone, did these run on 6 cylinders? I lightly try and keep track of Jag prices, just in case my daughter actually DOES buy me one,,,nothing yet, but it seems all these higher end roadsters, like big Healeys and Jags have dropped in price dramatically. Same old thing, the buyer base just isn’t there. 276 viewers and no bids, shows people could do 5 figures on a Jag, but they have to be nicer than this. I think I’ll tell the kid to pass on this one,,,:)
Anything above 10K is throwing money in a toilet.
While I like the E-Type Jags, I owned flipped one back in the 70’s and found them to be a very capable and fun driving car. This one is a mess. The color is downright ugly, none of the body panels match up, interior looks like it was parked in the rain with the top down one too many times. The mechanicals are anybody’s guess. While all of this could be fixed, at this price who would want to?
Wow, where to begin. I like E-Types immensely, but this poor thing needs so much work! First off, that color is an insult to anything Jaguar. Then it’s downhill..Sure it has a V-12-what’s left of it. There’s missing plug wires and tubes, rags stuffed in orifices, and a missing oil cap.Probably more. Consider the engine toast. And the interior needs a complete redo along with a new top, unless you want the car to be perpetually open-air. Add in who knows what. Yes, this car is definitely a project for someone who has a lot of time and a lot of cash.
E-Types are timeless! The color is period correct too!