End of an Era

Fellow E-Type Owners:

A personal ÔÇ£end of an eraÔÇØ has begun for me. I have decided that after 38 years of blood, sweat, frustration, and joy in owning my 1966 RHD Series 1 E-Type OTS, itÔÇÖs time to move on. My E-Type, #1E1.445, will be at the Worldwide Auction in Auburn, Indiana on Sept. 5th, 2009.

The reasons for selling the car are varied. Yes, the recession has impacted my business and I can use the money, but I am not yet desperate. I have son in college and a daughter entering high school, so college tuition(s), books, and used cars are but a few of my responsibilities as a good father towards my kidÔÇÖs education.

Admittedly, my car is a trailer queen. Ever since finding her in a field in 1971, I had a clear vision that she was going to be as perfect as I could possibly manage to restore her to. Prior to my stint in the US Navy, I did drive the heck out of my E-Type. It took a very long time to finish the car as discretionary cash was often hard to come by. But by 2002, I achieved my goal of having a JCNA national championship Jaguar E-Type. From 2002, it has been kept as a museum piece, barely being driven. Yeah, I know, thats a shamebut thats the way it is. Im a fairly large guy.62 @ 210and it has just become harder and harder to get into and out of the E-Type. They are much smaller cars than they look like.

As a result, I found myself simply taking the car to show after show after show, with each one requiring at least a weekÔÇÖs work to bring it up to snuff. Then thereÔÇÖs the loading, unloading, another hour at the show site, etc. It simply quit being fun, and I have more trophies than I know what to do with. To start ÔÇ£enjoyingÔÇØ the car by driving it on a regular basis was really not the answer either. Living in a crowded city with pot holes and uninsured drivers simply kept me off the road. I could not afford any kind of accident to my Jaguar as repair rates are sky high. It is just too rare a car to be taking that kind of chance.

Another issue is that I started another car project (the Venus) and it has taken up most of my time5 years now. I did not have room for both the Jaguar and the Venus in my 2-car garage. The Jag was usually relegated to a storage locker 10 minutes from my house. Out of sight; out of mind.

It is simply time to let her go. I decided to pass on the craziness of the Monterey auctions. The rooms alone were $550/night, and I needed to have the car there for 5 days. I was looking at about 5 grand to sell the car in Monterrey, and there wasnÔÇÖt much time for studio photography for auction brochures. It was just going to be a hurry-up situation and I just didnÔÇÖt want to put myself through that.

I had heard good things about Worldwide, and after speaking to John Kruse, I felt much better about the hands that I was about to put my E-Type into. Im learning a great deal about what it takes to properly prepare a car for auction. And, I am prepared to bring the car back should it not reach my reserveI will not give it away. Far too many times Ive seen You Tube auctions where some poor seller was coaxed into selling a car without a reserve, with the promise that it will increase bidding, only to see a fantastic car go for 1/3 of its worth. Great for the buyersucks for the owner.

If you would like to take a gander at my listing, it is on page 5 of the following web site:
http://www.wwgauctions.com/auburn2009.cfm?page=1&pagend=10

Although I expect to haunt this forum from time to time, I will probably drift away like so many before me. The good news is that IÔÇÖm helping a good friend restore his ÔÇÖ66 coupe, so IÔÇÖll be keeping my hands ÔÇ£in itÔÇØ so to speak. Perhaps now I can actually enjoy a Jaguar concours show for a change rather than hovering over my entry all day.

My best to you all.
Patrick McLoad