What would you pay for this car?

[baldytheanimator]

Hello, folks...

I'm new to the forum, and would like your expert opinions...

I'm looking to buy my first Etype, and I have one in mind. But I'd like your help in determining if the price is decent. I've done my own homework and formed my own opinions, but I'd like your democratic input also.

Here's the car:

It's a signal red/black interior 1969 Series II coupe, not a 2+2.

It is in extremely nice condition, fully restored. It has 37,000 original miles and you could eat off of it--engine block and underside included. While it is not a mint/pristine car, it would score 85-90 at any Jag concours and certainly win a driven division in its class hands down.

The car has been upgraded to a Series I triple SU carb kit, and top gear has been adjusted with overdrive.

The interior is so fresh and new that my brother's butt was the first to grace the passenger seat when we looked at it.

The car is owned by a Jag mechanic in town (Los Angeles). He restored it back in the heady days of the high prices and quick sales (late 80's) then got stuck with the bill when collector car prices collapsed.

Let me nip something in the bud that often comes up: yes I know that Series IIs are the least desirable of the Es, and Series Is are the classics, but a key factor for me is a/c...Los Angeles is quite hot, and without it I won't be able to drive the car for a good 4-5 months of the year. Yes, I know that Jag a/c is hardly strong, but it'd cost less and I'd feel less guilty modifying/working with an existing a/c system than installing one in a car that didn't have it originally. This car has an original unit, with some R12 left...I'd have the choice of buying more R12, switching to R134 or upgrading to a newer, more efficient compressor. This is one reason I'm looking at Series IIs.

He's asking $25,000 for the car. Fair for a modified Series II coupe?

Opinions?

Ooo--I like this graemlin: my goodness, my Guinness...

 

[Jeff]

Baldy,

Just bought a Florida 68 roadster for 28. It is a nice clean car with no noticeable rust, all numbers match (but has no a/c). I live in Tucson (hot hot) but the car is too clean to be a driver anyway. I'll likely drive it in the mornings before it gets hot then into the garage. Winters on the other hand will be great.

May sound odd, but my advice is, if you like the car, buy it. Just might try and get the seller to drop the price a bit. A professional appraiser may be able to help you. If the owner sees the fair market value, he may realize he is asking too much especially if he motivated to sell. Appraisals with comparables can be obtained for less than $500.00. Local Jag club may be a good place to start looking for someone.

Although I am inexperienced with the E type, if they are like the XJS, what you may save up-front buying the car can be doubled or tripled in repair work down the road. Also I find it ludicrous to be bidding on these type cars on e-bay without seeing them first-hand.

Good luck and enjoy.

 

[MikeP]

Modifications like the series 1 carbs and transmission changes, provided they're well done, don't seem to hurt the value outside of serious show competition. If someone you trust can look at the car and verify that the mechanicals appear good and that rust was either nonexistant or properly repaired, then I'd say go for it. Finding one and having that work done along with trimming and such will eat up any savings on a cheaper car real fast. I would suggest stopping by a news stand and leafing through a copy of Hemmings Motor News to get an idea what prices are being asked for similar cars before you start bargaining. Good luck.

 

[66 fhc]

Welcome to the forum. I also feel that if it's as nice as you say it is, you'd do OK getting it. It would be easy to invest that much or more rebuilding a sound unrestored E type into a decent driver. The smiles and thumbs up you'll be getting along with the pleasure of driving a reliable example will make you soon, not be too concerned about what you paid.

 

[JW]

Hello Baldy,
I also think the price is a little high. I bought my 66 Jaguar FHC in April of 2001 for about the same price. From your decsrpition the car you are concidering appears to be in approximatly the same condition. The cars will most definitly go up in value over the years. So, if you pay a little too much now, you will probably still come out ahead in the long run. Good Luck!

JW

PS: You can see a photo of my car in the members cars photos.

 

[JohnW]

Hello & welcome…

I’m in the middle of restoring a 67 series 1 ½ FHC (covered headlights, but same engine, dash & interior as the late series 1). To me, the price doesn’t seem out of line….but if the seller is “motivated” it might be bought for less……never hurts to make an offer.

I’ve budgeted around $13k to restore (complete mechanicals, paint, interior) a low mile rust free car that I estimate would sell for around $8-10K as is, so $25K seems like in the ballpark, especially if the mechanic who restored it has a good reputation for doing things right.

The only downside is missing out on all the skinned knuckles and new profanities you would have created by doing it from scratch……(VBG).

Cheers

 

[baldytheanimator]

Thanks, all, for your replies.

I've saved up my spondoolies for a long time and--it you can't tell--I'm a little nervous about my first purchase...I of course want it to be "just right", and just the right price.

While it sounds as if the forum is split about 50/50 as far as "just right" or "a little too much", everyone's advice about not feeling bad about the cost once I'm driving it and the value of the car going up over time is well taken.

Hopefully the car will be in an E-type specialist friend's shop next Saturday being fully evaluated, and a purchase should follow...

Thanks again

Baldy

 

[baldytheanimator]

Thanks, all, for your replies.

I've saved up my spondoolies for a long time and--it you can't tell--I'm a little nervous about my first purchase...I of course want it to be "just right", and just the right price.

While it sounds as if the forum is split about 50/50 as far as "just right" or "a little too much", everyone's advice about not feeling bad about the cost once I'm driving it and the value of the car going up over time is well taken.

Hopefully the car will be in an E-type specialist friend's shop next Saturday being fully evaluated, and a purchase should follow...

Thanks again

Baldy

 

[Basil]

And then you, of course, will become a regular visitor here at the forum, right?

Basil

 

[Jagdreamer]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by baldytheanimator:
...
Hopefully the car will be in an E-type specialist friend's shop next Saturday being fully evaluated, and a purchase should follow...

Thanks again

Baldy<hr></blockquote>


Well?

 

[baldytheanimator]

Patience, patience...I'm waiting on the written evaluation...

I'll just have a few while I wait...

 

[Steve]

I have been on the fence regarding this, which is why I hadn't expressed an opinion before this. So long as the car isn't mis-represented, and your friend agrees that it is truly good, then what the heck? It always was worth paying just a little extra to get the best available, and you are not likely to try to sell it on for a profit right away.

If it is what you want, is as good as it seems, and you can afford it, go for it! They don't make these any more!

There, now I'll have one with you.

 

[jagxke46]

I have my 67 E coupe for sale in classifed if intereted. I can attach pictures. I'm buying a new MR2 , selling my Jag, and keeping my TD/B.

Pete J.