Hi everybody,

My dad bought the E-Type back in the 80's in California from one of his college professors. When he bought it, it was in pieces with the intent of restoring it. After about 10 years, he had the body straight and painted, engine and transmission rebuilt, and many more things and then locked in a paint booth still in CA. Now, 20 years later, I was given the car to finish and I had it brought out to NC. Unfortunately, in 2013, I suffered a spinal cord injury while I was deployed in Afghanistan with the Marine Corps. I cant work on the car myself, and I need to move it. Here lies the problem. I don't know what to do with it. I know that if I pay someone to restore it for me, I will go bankrupt trying to fund it. So, my question is, what should I do. I don't want to part it out, because some of the parts are impossible to find. Having most of the parts, and needing to fix very minor sections of the body that were dinged/scratched over the years with absolutely no rust, I don't want to sell it to someone that wont be able to something that I may have sold. Should I sell it as a whole, should I part it out, or should I try to pay someone to restore it? I don't want to screw anybody over on it, but I also want to make the most money I can without getting screwed myself.

Thanks for the help in advance.

 

Hi Awarren8999,
First off Thanks You for your service.
With that said I would love to buy it from you. But I don't think you sell it. If I was you I would join the local Jaguar club of North America (JCNA). My experience with my local club is that the members will pitch in and help out a member in need. They may not do the whole reassembly of the car but they may move the project along enough that you could then afford to have the rest finished. I would join the club and be active it before asking for too much help.

If that doesn't work then I would try selling it as o whole car and not part it out.

Those are my 2 Cents.

 

I agree with the advice to join the local JCNA club. Veterans, especially wounded/injured veterans deserve special consideration. The club members would be interested in giving you aid and offer the best advice.

 

Here are a few pictures I just took. It's still in the trailer and I can't exactly get it out without help, so it's going to take some time to get pictures of the engine and transmission. I appreciate the advice, but I'm not sure there is a chapter of a Jaguar club around here without driving like 5 hours. Not a bad idea at all though

 

Andrew,

The downside. Unless an owner can do a lot of the work themselves, paying specialists for a restoration almost always costs more than the eventual value of the vehicle.

From here on it only gets better! You have what a lot of buyers around the World are looking for and are prepared to pay well - a complete E-Type for restoration. Ex California car is a big plus - no rust.

The value is only going one way and that's UP so there's no pressure in this respect to jump into a quick sale.

To maximise the value you need:

1. a detailed inventory to verify completeness or to be honest and open about anything missing.

2. documentation - every piece of paper you can find from old registrations, servicing, parts and repairs. Old photos all help add to the history.

Take your time.

Graham

 

Thanks, Graham. I know people are looking for California cars, but the issue is finding someone that is interested. I wouldn't mind waiting, but I need to find a place to store it. I recently had a falling-out with my parents. The trailer is theirs and the car needs to be relocated in the next few weeks, even if it goes into storage. It sucks because they own a big shop that we planned on laying everything out in and continue what he started. Now, I don't have space for it at my house. I have a two car garage, but as I'm sure many people do, we use our garage lol I'm not going to rush a sale, just need to figure everything out.

 

Someone literally just offered me $13,500 for it as it sits. Is that low, reasonable, somewhere in between?

EDIT: I talked to my dad, and he said "hell no!" lol

 

way too low man. Look at Hemmings Motor News, Hagerty car values. If you need room to store the car - relax, rent a storage space for a few months and do your homework, but do not hurry selling it.
Guys from England/Germany/Belgium/ etc., will pay top dollar for your car... likely in the 25 - 30,000+ range. Hemmings will show you what rust buckets are going for.

 

I talked to him, and he ended up giving me a solid offer of $44,000. After I clear it with my dad, I think we're going to take it. He said that he would even keep us updated on the restoration.

 

Semper Fi, Marine. I wish I was closer by would love to lend a hand. I'm sorry to hear of your difficulties.
Vern
USMC Class of 1968

 

sounds like a win-win. Congrats on getting a price fair to you and the buyer.

 

aware8999,
Good for you! So is it going overseas?

 

Looks like it may be going to a shop in Texas. Not sure where it may go when he finishes it.

 

Can I offer an aside that is perhaps way off topic . . . but should be said . . . and may be best said by a non-American in the sincere hope I don't offend.

At a time when US leadership, politics, and especially it's Twitter-led foreign policy has even stalwart friends like us cringing in embarrassment, even outright disagreement with such long time friends . . . I reflect how many Aussies, Kiwis, Brits, and many European serviceman are over there beside you . . . and I feel proud and inspired to see the spontaneous and caring way our members here have rallied to one who has put their life on the line for others.

All of you are to be applauded and we all rejoice in a fine and fair outcome for our mate, [awarren8999].

Best wishes,

Ken

 

Hi cat_as_trophy,
I'm glad that our servicemen and women are treated with respect today not like the Vietnam era. They all deserve our respect for protecting our freedom.

As for the US leadership I must say i am proud that we are trying to make AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! No I don't like everything that is said/tweeted, But I do believe that he has the best interest on the America People in his heart. Not like the last administration. I truly believe that President Trump will be as good or better a President than President Reagan was. That is IF congress and the media works with him instead against him. The American People are behind him and standing tall with him. Sorry for bring politics in to a car forum, but I couldn't let that go.

Again Awarren8999, Thank you for your service and I am glad you received fair deal. Did Dan at Classic Jaguar buy the car?

 

I would surely sell it, you probably will get good money for it even partly
dismembered.

Just advertise it as much as you can, even if you have to go from state
to state to every jag clubs.

Walter