1962 OTS XKE

[Marvin Gruber]

I looked at a 62 OTS E type yesterday that has been in a building for the last 20+ years. The body was very solid, didn't see any rust to speak of. The bonnet had a hood scoop that looked like it came off of a Mustang. Five spoke vintage mag wheels, bolt on wheels, not center mount. Trans cover all cut up from trans swap. Worst was both front suspension frames were cut from V8 install. I know to walk away but the body was to good. I could be put back pretty easy, I even have most of the parts to do it. The Owner asked me $50k for the car. Told him it was a little more than what I could give for the car. I was thinking in my head $10k would be a big price. BUT the body is straight, no sheetmetal work, floors are good. I'll wait a few months and try again.

Marv

 

[HEALEYJAG]

Usually guys like that who are SOOO far off are hard to deal with even later on...Good Luck.

Pete

 

[drooartz]

Don't know much about Jags, but I think Pete nailed it here. While those things you mentioned are all reversible, they do have to be reversed for the car to be worth anything like top dollar. Sounds like a somewhat delusional owner.

Looked up pricing and $50k should get you a #3+ car which is a nice driver with a few things to take care of. This car sounds like a decent shell needing a total restoration ($$$).

If you could get it for $10k that could make sense. But unless you can easily get the owner to understand that, it'll be a hassle all the way through. You can always make your offer and leave a card so he can contact you later when reality sets in. That could be worth it.

 

[Bruce Bowker]

$50,000 is ridiculous. $10,000 is high considering what has been done. Does it have the original engine or at least an E Type engine and trans available? Can the bonnet be easily repaired? Does it have the glass over the headlights still intact? Chrome decent?

 

[Marvin Gruber]

Bruce,
I think $10K is high for the car but with todays prices, I would give it because the body is so solid and straight ( except for the awful hood scoop). Bonnet is correct and perfect other than the hole cut for the hood. I could weld in new piece from an old bonnet I have. No engine or trans. I do have correct 3.8 and moss box for it. Chrome is good. Correct seats are there. I want the car!

 

[drooartz]

I want the car!

If you want it badly enough it changes the price equation. I know that I paid more for my MGB than many other would have, but I only wanted a RHD car so when this one popped up I paid the full asking price plus shipping/import from eastern Canada to Utah (i.e. not cheap). That said, I've no regrets at all.

So the price winds up being what it's worth to you. If you think you can work a deal with the seller, make it happen. The car-guy in me would love to see this one brought back from the grave.

 

[HEALEYJAG]

Well...If you REALLY want the car, an old trick which I have used in the past is to bring what you want to spend on the car in CASH next time you look at it again.

I once put the money in a paper lunch bag for a 64 corvette and told him "this will buy the car". He accepted and I towed the barn car away immediately.MONEY TALKS>>>>>>>


Pete

 

[jessebogan]

I have a really bad 68 coupe here, and I am going to sell it for the original owner... Long story on this car, for another time... However, I have been watching uhm... bad etypes on Ebay for a while. I saw, no kidding, an early 3.8 roadster that was literally in 2 parts sell for about 20K. The body shell had no floors or sills, and the rest of it was in boxes.... I was shocked. But I guess they don't make them anymore.

 

[Marvin Gruber]

Pete
I thought long about bringing cash but wanted to scope out the owner the first meeting. According to him, he's got plenty of money and doesn't have to sell it, just wants to reduce the stuff he has.
Jesse, if the car had the original motor and trans laying around, I'd be on it for $20k in a minute. How bad do you think non matching motor would hurt the value of the car in the long run.

Marv

 

[HEALEYJAG]

IMO as long as it is the"correct" engine, I feel the value is somewhat diminished but not like corvettes where block stamping is an art.


I would not hesitate to buy a car with the correct non-original motor...but then again I DRIVE my cars..

Pete

 

[twigworker]

New to this forum but not to LBCs and to a degree not to Jaguar, but somehow this thread has gotten to me.

Several things come to mind. One is that making that car into something actually worth fifty grand is probably going to take more than several years and about seventy five thousand dollars, IF you do a lot of the work yourself.

The way it is designed and put together you cannot go "half way" with an E-Type. You either put new tires on it and do a valve job or you do it all up and do it right. Back in the day when they were new they were sixty thousand dollar cars built to a price and marketed for twenty grand or so. I really hate to say it because I do like them but the truth is that they were throw away cars in a much more clear sense than say TRs or MG. Those cheaper cars were at least easier to maintain and now to resurrect, but the engineering style and execution of an E-Type and actually ALL Jaguars for that matter, make a full restoration completely out of the question economically.

I know, I know. It isn't suppose to be about the money, but in the end it always turns out to be about the money. Unless you are retired and have a fully equipped mechanical shop, and some nerve, and a brother in law in the paint and body business that owes you big time, the project will at some point become at least a big burden and possibly even a tragedy.

As always, the best thing that you can do if you just have to satisfy your lust is to educate yourself to the point of exhaustion and wait for a REALLY good car to float by as a distress sale and jump on it without more than an hour of hesitation.

There are several reasons that this car has been languishing in restoration limbo for twenty years. Please recognize that and don't set yourself up for a trap.

Jack www.jackscars.net

 

[why]

Twigworker, could not agree more, this car has a value of ZERO, if time is figured in, to make this car worth even 30,000 much less 50K or an auction car of 75K would take far more money than these numbers, starting with a car as described. Sounds to me like you hit it on the head with "tragedy."
Jay
Laguna Beach, CA