Since you are all familiar with these vehicles, I would appreciate some help/suggestions as to what to look for in purchasing an XKE. I have found a 73 roadster w/ 29,000 miles. It has a wooden steering wheel and chrome wires. It has an automatic trans. My wife cannot drive a shift.
It has a hard top as well. It has been repainted, original color, once in it's lifetime. Recently, the owner had the following work done, new gas tank, fuel pump, rebuilt carburators, new battery, brake rotors and pads,
plugs, rotor and dist. cap (tune up) water pump and hoses. Misc other repairs as needed to the tune of 10K. He is asking mid thirties. So far I have only seen pictures and I am planning of flying out to look at the vehicle next week. Other than possible rust on the sills, rockers, rear suspention mounts and structure of the front suspension, what else should I be looking for and does the price seem reasonable? Thanks

Submitted by Modntractr@aol.com on Sat, 10/29/2005 - 21:25

Thank you allfor your advice. Yes, the car sat for 10 years, thus the fuel tank, carburators, brakes,gulp valve, window regulators, etc. It is an automatic w/air, hardtop, wire wheels, wood steering wheel. I will try to see the vehicle first hand next week. I have gone to see 4/5 cars in the last 6 months. They usually are nothing near as discribed or look as clean as their pictures. One in particular 74 E was a 16,000 mileage vehicle in NY, white w/ red interior. Low mileage, one owner, etc. The car needed total restoration. The owner told me it never had any paint work, yet I could find overspray around the trunk gasket. The deats were dried out. The lie on the paint alone killed the deal if one was ever to be had. Cheaper to see a car in person than to buy one on someone else's recommendation.
Again thank you.
Steven

Submitted by dougdwyer@adel… on Sat, 10/29/2005 - 14:33

The very low mileage, if accurate, suggests the car sat unused for long periods.....not good for any car and especially tough on British ones, it seems. I'll wager the rotors may have developed quite a bit of rust. I'll wager that's what prompted the gas tank replacment as well.

I'd want to see that the *hydraulic* portions of the brake system have been tended to as well.

Doug Dwyer
Longview Washington USA
1987 XJ6 Ser III
1988 XJS V12 Coupe

Submitted by dana_brown@msn.com on Sat, 10/29/2005 - 10:36

Steven

Watch for leaking rear main seal. That is an "engine out" issue. Make sure trans shifts well. Also brake master cylinder may be leaking by now (that one isn't a show stopper, just a necessary repair)

Do not be overly impressed with low mileage, somehow there are at least 10 a year advertised with low mileage. Hopefully there are service records back a long ways and that this owner has had the car for a long time. Ask for accident history.

Interiors really degrade over time. Headrest foams will make it obvious if the seats have been recovered recently or not.

Price is reasonable if the car meets expectations. Just don't think that the low mileage means no expensive repairs. The original cam cover and pan gaskets were paper and the cam covers in particular leak over time. The XJS block used the same patterns for those and thus replacements today are superior.

By all means check the car out personally. If you take a decent test ride and there are serious oil leaks, usually you will smell them in the cockpit as the drips always find the exhaust.

Best of luck. They are wonderful cars to drive. I am adicted and have 3

Dana Brown

Submitted by bonnettoboot@e… on Fri, 10/28/2005 - 22:21

Hello Steven; from your description I would say BUY IT, but sometimes things are not what they apppear to be, where is the car? if possible have someone close by check it first before spending airfare etc. Jaguar affectionado and etc.