First of all I know nothing about a Jaguar. I do own a couple of classic chevys that I have restored myself. I ran across a 1970 XKE. It has 68,000 original miles, air cond. no rust, the car has been garage kept all the time. Every thing is still original, nothing has been done to it, new tires with spoke wheels. Interior needs a little work, body has a few dings where car doors have hit it, nothing big. It has a 4.2 engine and a manual trans. Paint is very good and all the chrome is good. I need to know your opinion, is this car a good buy at $10,000.00. Feel free to e-mail your reply.

Submitted by NE52-32043 on Tue, 04/13/2004 - 12:28

Garnett,

In addition to the forums here on the JCNA website, you might also find the E-type forum on www.jag-lovers.org to be very helpful as well. That site has searchable archives that have a wealth of information about virtually any problem or issue that you'd come up with on the car, and like here, there are lots of folks from all over the world who can pitch in helping you sort out any problems you run across (trust me, you will, no matter how good the car looks now).

Best of luck and let us know how it goes. And don't forget to post a couple of pictures here.

Steve Weinstein, JTC-NJ
'72 E-type 2+2
'70 XKE FHC

Submitted by pascal@jcna.com on Mon, 04/12/2004 - 21:23

check this model guide (click on link below) it will give you an overview of the history and various variations.

The e-type is a fun car to drive... plenty of power, terrific handling, etc... I've never heard of someone rgretting buying one :-)

Pascal Gademer
South Florida Jaguar Club
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKR Coupe
99 XJR

Submitted by garnett@insigh… on Mon, 04/12/2004 - 21:12

Thank you very much Steve. Yes you have helped a lot on the different models.Now I know the difference.I think I'm going to buy this car and when I do I will take some pictures and post them. Thanks everyone for the information, very helpful. I will look for the books that I was told to get. Thanks again everyone. Garnett

Submitted by NE52-32043 on Mon, 04/12/2004 - 11:40

Actually, IMHO, $10K sounds pretty good, even though it's a 2+2. As everyone else has said, like three keys to buying real estate are location, location, location, the three keys to buying an XKE are rust, rust, rust. Don't be fooled by a nice looking surface. These cars rust from the inside out. Check around very carefully, everywhere. If you've done car restoration work, you know where rust can be hiding and what to look for.

Understand that these cars do not have a frame, like old American cars. They were really the first monocoque built car, and the sills on either side and the floor boards are structural. Check the door gaps on both sides to be sure the car is not sagging in the middle (tell-tale sign of poor rust repair or hidden problems). Use a magnet and check around, especially the sills, to be sure that it was not repaired with Bondo.

Beyond that, everything is fairly easy to fix and the cars are great to drive and have fun with. A very good friend and JCNA member, Mike Frank, has a Ser. II 2+2 (I think his is a '69), and it's a fun car to drive. He let me take it on the track at Lime Rock a couple of years ago and it really goes! Parts are available for just about anything that needs fixing. For $10K, if there's little or no rust, it's a good deal.

Steve Weinstein, JTC-NJ
'72 E-type 2+2
'70 XKE FHC

By the way, some commonly used terms in XKE world:
OTS = open two-seater (convertible in American)
FHC = fixed head coupe (standard two door, two seater)
2+2 = two door, 4 seats i.e. 2+2, two in front, two in back.
Ser. I = XKE's from 1961 to early 1969. Cars after 1967 with open headlights are often called "Ser. 1 1/2" cars, but there was no official designation as such.
Ser. II = XKE's from 1969 to early 1971, up to the point that Jaguar introduced the V-12 engine.
Ser. III = 1971 to 1974 cars with V-12 engines. All Ser. III cars are either OTS or 2+2. No FHC's in Ser. III.

Hope that helps a little.

Submitted by jsolo61654@aol.com on Sun, 04/11/2004 - 21:49

Garnett:
Lift up the carpet on both side of the car and look for rust.. if the floor boards and the insides of the sills are badly rusted... be carefull, rust on these cars is the kiss of death and can easily be overlooked. If these areas seem to be okay.. just break out your check book and hop on board... you're gonna have a lot of fun!!!

Submitted by pascal@jcna.com on Sun, 04/11/2004 - 20:15

then it is a 2+2.

basically at the bottom of the food chain :-) the back seat is usable for kids... up to ... oh.... 12 years old... that's why I bought a 2+2...

automatics are worth a little less than a 4 speed... about $1000 less usually.... if the car has no rust...REALLY no rust, it's a good deal. if there is rust or if the engine frames are i doubt... it's over priced...

Pascal Gademer
South Florida Jaguar Club
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKR Coupe
99 XJR

Submitted by stuross41@eart… on Sun, 04/11/2004 - 09:22

1974 XKE OTS
2000 S-Type V8

There are a few Buyer's Guides that are helpful if they are still available. Michael Cook's Illustrated Jaguar Buyer's Guide from Motorbooks International and the "Original XKE" in that series of books titled Original (whatever). I'd check with Motorbooks International in WI or see if they have a web site. i bought my copy years ago. Amazon or Barnes & Noble on line would also be a place to look. Lots of helpful hints and lots of pictures of areas of concern to inspect make those books very useful tools for a buyer.

Submitted by garnett@insigh… on Sun, 04/11/2004 - 01:01

Warren, This car is registered and very drivable. It runs very well. As far as I know right now the car has been in Kentucky for several years. The person that has it now has had it for two years and only put 500 miles on it.It has been in a garage except for a few trips here and there. He new the person that owned it before he got it. He took very good care of it. I have seen the car once and going back to look at it again. Thanks for your intrest. I will keep you informed. Thanks

Submitted by warren.hansen@… on Sat, 04/10/2004 - 22:22

The back seat makes it a 2+2. Highly touted as a family car when new, allowing Dad to keep his sports car even aafter the kiddies started to arrive. Of course, once they grew a bit . . . The back seat does make a handy place for carrying things like groceries, though.

Warren

Submitted by warren.hansen@… on Sat, 04/10/2004 - 22:17

Garnett,

Pascal's answer is appropriate. I would simply underscore his comment about rust. The problem is you can't always see it; these cars have so many hidden cavities that water can get into, and they rust from the inside out, making surface inspection only one part of the problem. If the car passes your initial "once-over" you should have it gone over in detail by a knowledgeable Jaguar specialist. The cost for his report will be worth it, saving you a lot of potential grief after the fact.

In addition to not saying which model the car is, you didn't give any clues as to where you found it or where you are located. If it has spent its life in Arizona or New Mexico the situation is quite different than if it is a car from the Northeast! One other question: Is the car currently registered and drivable?

Keep us informed! We love to see these cars go back into active use.

Regards,
Warren Hansen
70 E-Type FHC "Silver Bolide"
96 X300

Submitted by pascal@jcna.com on Sat, 04/10/2004 - 20:41

you ommited the most important detail... 2 seat coupe, 2+2, or roadster?

assuming it runs and has no major mechanical issues, 10k is a good buy in any case... barely for 2+2, ok for a Coupe, and great buy for a Roadster.

Rust is critical on this car, it's always repairable, but expensive... pay close attention to the sills, rockers, floors and lower firewall. inspect the engine frame carefully, any sign of craks, botched repairs (they CANNOT be welded) means new ones are needed...

Pascal Gademer
South Florida Jaguar Club
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKR Coupe
99 XJR