Hello everyone! This is my first post and I look forward to getting to know the community here. I have a couple of question that I need your expert advise on. First how far gone is too far for a restoration and what is it worth. I have had my eye on a car hiding in the weeds not far from where I grew up for years. I wasn't sure what it was, but it looked interesting. I was finally able to get in touch with the owner and take a look at it. Turns out its a series 2 E-Type coupe. The car has been sitting in a field for years and I have no idea when the last time it ran was. Looking though the windshield you can see that the drivers side floorboard is almost completely gone. The tires are flat and the car is sitting on the rims. It appears to be complete though. I wasn't able to open it up, so I don't know how the trunk area looks or what's hiding under the hood. The cabin of the car is filled with junk, so other than the rotten floorboard I don't know much about it either. Despite its sad state and cracked paint the car still looks awesome and it is a shame that its being left to rot in a field. The owner says the car is not for sale, but if its salvable I plan to start trying to work him down and warm up to selling the car.


I have some experience rebuilding old cars, but this will be a challenge and I'm sure a fare amount of specialist help would be in the future. I know that a car like this can be worth a good bit of money, but I have no idea what a reasonable starting price would be for a car in this condition or if it is even worth trying to resurrect as I don't know what the value of the car could be after a full restoration. I've attached a few pics I was able to get of the car. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!


Cheers!


Nick

 

Nick, It will always come down to what "YOU" want to do.......
With that said , Lets painfully review this.
Just by those pictures it will cost at least 2 to 3 times the amount to restore it to its former glory than what it will be worth when complete.
I love series 2 cars because back in the day they were the drivers with better brakes , trans and a whole host of other upgrades.
On the downside, Its not a series one covered headlight, flat floor with external bonnet latches.
If your a certain age, get a loan , an equity line or just shell out the cash for a great driver to a show car in the same series.
You will spend between 35 to 65 grand.
By the pictures it doesn't look like a 2+2 , if so its worth a lot less.
Its your dream, but if you have been around them asI and many on this forum for a long time.
The old craftsmen are dying off, theres plenty of repro parts, most bad quality.
The engine and tranny can be done but at what cost? 20 + grand?
The killer is the body, it will have to be put on a jig, trued up and re welded.
If you don't dip the body, rust can be in the bulk head boxes and in 5 years , you've wasted all your money.
The new Tesler will do 0 to 60 in 2.7 seconds and run for 320 miles, no oil changes.......get it?
So if you have the passion, good luck, if this is fantasia , beware.
GTJOEY1314

 

GTJoey, Thanks for the reply. I was afraid that your opinion would be the result. I'm not a Jaguar expert by any stretch so before I went off the deep end I wanted input from the Jag community. These cars are quite collectible so I thought it was worth looking into. Either way its a shame that this little car has been so neglected.
Thanks again, Nick

 

There are a lot of them out there like this one and not just Jags. The owners are attached to them for some reason, but have seen the auctions and believe they are gold. Not realizing the deterioration that goes on from setting. Very expensive to have work done. To me the engines and transmissions are the cheapest to work on, just finished a 3.4L for $800 in parts. Interiors kits are high dollar, but the body takes special jigs to align right and is expensive to pay for. GTJoey is right, a new Tesla or even the F-type RS would be a lot cheaper, and you would be driving it now, not 10 yrs. down the road.

 

Hagerty's has the standard in valuation tools.

https://www.hagerty.com/apps/valuati...~Type/SII/1969

If you figure

• $10k for a paint job,
• $10k for a new bonnet (hard to patch because you can see both sides),
• $5k for an interior kit,
• $2k to exorcise the Prince of Darkness
• $2k for new wires and tires,
• $14k for a ClassicJaguar "standard" engine rebuild

So if you assume the body is rust free (like assuming the US debt is going to be paid off in the next 4 years) and you've already exceeded the Hagerty avg value. And we haven't considered chroming, rubbers, suspension bearings, brakes, etc.

You can check out the "usuals" websites to get a sense of parts availability and prices. They built over 70k E-types so parts availabilty is excellent but prices are extremely high compared to MGs and Triumphs.

• Jaguar Parts I British Aftermarket Car Catalog Parts I XKS Parts
• SNG Barratt - The Ultimate Jaguar Parts Specialist
• Welsh Enterprises - New Jaguar Parts, Used Jaguar Parts and Accessories - XK120 - XK140 - XK150 - E-Type - MK - XJ6 - XJ8 - XJ - XK8 - XK - XJS - S-Type - X-Type - XF
• Jaguar Parts, Jaguar Accessories All Jaguars

Projects like this are something that has to be driven by passion for "built, not bought" and as a legacy to leave one's heirs. Economically it just doesnt makes sense.

Hope that helps!

Jim

 

And if the sills are rusted (they frequently are - and from the inside out) you can add another $20K+ in body work just to replace the metal.

 

Tesla, just announced a pickup truck as well.!
Get two for one!

 

All this being said how much time do you have and space. I built a jig for mine and am doing osy work etc myself. Panels are not too bad in the scheme of things but if you don't have tools a d need to pay to have everything done you would never see any ROI. But parts are parts and see what they want for it. Is motor there, etc even on that condition it has value

 

If you have the money, a complete E-type shell and hood can be supplied by Martin Robey of Nuneaton, England.

https://www.martinrobey.com/downloads/BODYSHELL.pdf

Actually, a car like you show in your post came past me today on a trailer, whilst I was driving to Sandbach. It had very, very, obviously come out of a barn ! I expect that car will be restored.

If you have the money and inclination, there is nothing better than restoring an classic car. Just don't expect it to pay your pension afterwards !

 

In addition to what these guys have offered, have you followed "Jagricks" build on this site? You can get a real "feel" for what is in store.
Yes, why do those green grass owners let them rust into history........