2010-07-07 07:19:55 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 7/7/10
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jaguar-E-Type-1968-Jaguar-XKE-E-Type-Series-1-5-Cpe-2-2- ...
Current bid $10,000, no reserve, 17 bids 5 days left in auction.

Sellers description:
All matching numbers:
VIN # 1E77752,
Chassis # 1E77752
Engine # 7E53878-9
Gearbox/Trans # EJS15377

77,258 Actual Miles (which changes slightly everyday)

Rare, 4-Speed Manual Transmission

Primrose Yellow on Black Leather – very desirable color combo and both are original to car

Comes with Factory original spare chrome wire wheel with matching Michelin XRW-redline. It doesn’t appear to ever have been mounted on car.

Comes with a small box of miscellaneous pieces and parts, although I can’t even say with 100% certainty that it all goes to this car, but because I found it in the car, I assume it does.

Comes with ALL of the vehicles original, Factory literature, which includes : Owners operating, maintenance and service handbook, Periodic Maintenance manual, aftermarket Craig Stereo 3512 Owners Reference Manual, Factory Routine Maintenance Poster (untouched), Michelin Tire warranty information*, Manufacturers Warranty Card, Overseas Distributor and Dealers List and of course, the OE jacket to hold it all!

Comes with BOTH Factory ‘KITS’, and almost…. but not entirely complete. The Jack/Hammer Kit and Car Tool Kits contents are listed below.

Comes with all repair and maintenance receipts, and I’m also committed to save and forward anything else pertinent to this car, if I ever find anything in the future.

The Jack and Hammer Kit include:
OE Jack (missing in action)
OE Flat closed-end ratchet
OE Copper & Rawhide Hammer - THOR
OE Wheel Knock-off Ring

OE Jack/Hammer bag is in excellent, seemingly unused condition, which actually be saying the jack has been missing all along.

The Jaguar Car Tool Kit includes:
OE Tire Pressure Gauge
Allen Wrench
Long Tommy Bar
OE Grease Gun
(Missing in action – I have seen it here at my house, so I will continue looking, but no promises)
Adjustable spanner
2 Different sized, box spanners and 1 open ended spanner
OE Tool Bag – I never found the Jaguar Tool Bag, so I have sacrificed my Porsche Tool Bag so there would be a good place for the tools to go. If I end up finding the original Jaguar one and would be happy to forward it to the new owner, if they’d be willing to send mine back.

Miscellaneous Jaguar Collector Items, which I will include FOR FREE if Winning Buyer is interested:
“Jaguar” Leather Luggage Tag – never used
“Jaguar” brass ring and fob – never used, still has tag
“Jaguar” Leather and enamel Key Fob, never used
A modern type pocket knife, which states on one side of blade is stamped “Jaguar” and the other side says, “Made in China” Nice, huh? :D
And lastly, a smokers novelty item which says “Jaguar”

Quick Story about Chain of Ownership
This car was sold NEW at a Denver dealership in January 1969. It was the first year of the new, highly evolved suspension and braking system, which at the time was being used in race applications only.

In middle to late 1970, the original owner of the car, a women whose rich Father in New York bought her the car, took it to a little mechanics garage in her neighborhood in South Denver (same place my husband took his MG to), to have her brakes looked at and possibly serviced.

Well long story short, that proved to be too big of job for such a small local shop, because when they got done with it, their bill was just over $1,500 and the woman couldn’t pay it. She tried for almost a year to come up with that money, and finally asked them if they could sell it for her. That same day, my husband limped his barely running and massively smoking MG into their shop. Paul walked in very defeated and said, “Ahhhh guys? I think there is something REALLY wrong with my MG now....” Both mechanics looked at each and then back at Paul, and then sauntered over to him. One of them stood right in front of him and his soft spoken manner, “Paul… I think we might have the perfect deal for you – a deal you won’t be able to pass up.” And that’s that. The rest is history. He purchased the Jaguar for the brake bill, and told them he never wanted to see that MG again! At the time he bought it, it only had about 6500 miles on it…. and brand new brakes.

I met my husband in November of 1992, which was the last year I can remember him driving it. He used to go into the garage and go sit in and let it run a bit. He had the engine rebuilt a year or two before I met him, which he apparently had to talk his Dad into paying for it, when it only had about 65k miles it. At the time he parked it, it was in need of some suspension service and a few other things, but because he was traveling a lot for his job, he just parked it and said he deal with it later. ‘Later’ turned into years. But always with careful consideration, every time we moved, or bought new cars or had any major decisions to make, the Jaguar was always part of our plans and he always made sure it had the best digs over any other car between us. New comers to house, they would get the royal treatment – the story – the unveiling – and special permission to sit in it if you were lucky. The bonus would be if he had recently charged the battery, he’d start it for you too! My husband was a great story teller. While he would tell the story of he acquired it, people would really “get” how much that Jaguar meant to him – it was his pride and joy, and nobody left without knowing that. When I met him 17 years ago, he had already owned the Jag for over twenty years. So, whether I liked it or not, there were a few times in our relationship, it ranked higher than me.

Then, for whatever desperate and unfortunate reason, my husband chose to leave this Earth and all those who loved him in January 2010. Ironically, today is the 6 month anniversary. So now it's just me, and this is how I have come to have it. The most important thing to me immediately after my husband died, was to get the Jaguar up and running, because I knew nothing would mean more to him than me doing that. I spent a great deal of money on it over the last 5 months and the shop spent an enormous amount of time getting it to this point, all with the intention of me keeping it. I had some serious house issues happen about the same time I lost my husband, but I figured I would sell my car to finish and pay for those languishing problems. But for the last 2 months I have tried to no end, to sell it on every bb board, craigslist, samba, everywhere, but there has been little to no interest in it. Only 2 people have contacted me in the last 30 days.

It was wonderful to go and finally pick up the Jaguar from the shop on Friday. I drove it around all weekend, even with no plates! But then it occurred to me – How could possibly be a good steward my husband was for this car, I don't think I could even come close. I don’t even have a garage to park it in right now, and truth of it is... I'm sure it will sell better than my car, and I really need the money more than any cars. As sad as that sounds, I think it’s time to find her a new home.

Recent Items addressed through shop which were completed between 2/2/10 – 7/2/10

Shop confirmed fresh engine rebuild via TV camera inspection, and stated it appeared likely to be about 10k miles ago. The car did sit for 15+ years, but the majority of issue it had or could have, were all addressed while at the shop. Because I had the shop deal with such large projects, some of the smaller things did fall through the cracks or I had planned on taking those things on in my spare time. Obviously, deciding to sell it now, those little things still remain. For the most part though, enough was done that this will make a nice car for someone, without a lot of effort. The shop wasn’t entirely done with my bill on Friday, so I’ll list the items that were addressed that I can recall. Then, in the next couple days, I’ll update the list when I can reference the bill, and also ask to get it up on the rack for some underneath pictures and post those.

Here is a sh0rt list of items, although not comprehensive, that the shop just finished working on:

(R/R could mean: removed & reinstalled, or removed and repaired or replaced)

R/R Gas Tank

Gas Tank Dipped, stripped and flushed

R/R all fuel lines and pumps

R/R radiator and assembly

Rebuilt Radiator

R/R all hoses

R/R Fan Motor

R/R Carburetors and associated manifolds

Complete and thorough rebuild of both side-draft, Zenith-Stromberg Carburetors (175 CD2-SE's), new everything

Replaced all Spark Plug wires and Ignition wire

R/R Front Brake Assemblies, cleaned and resurfaced

Replaced all brake lines

R/R steering rack assembly and boots

R/R old Battery

Replaced with new Battery and updated Negative connect

Match to order existing color - one pint of touch up paint

All paint on entire car was touched up by hand, which really made it pop.

R/R front tie rods

R/R all filters and fluids

R/R deteriorated exhaust

Replaced exhaust system with stainless

The GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY

DOWNSIDE of this car

Brakes appeared to be decent initially, so we chose to only address the fronts, but having driven it a lot over the weekend, just safety sake I think the rear brakes should be addressed as well.

There are only two small areas of rust on the entire car. The battery box and an area right behind the rear passenger side wheel well.

The battery box is still intact, but now has about a 2” hole. The good news is its easy and fairly inexpensive fix.

The spot on the rear passenger side, behind wheel well, is just now beginning to show and measures about 2” x3”, maybe a little less and is not yet through and through. I have more detailed photos for those interested; just shoot me an email specifically requesting those rust shots.

It has an ugly aftermarket antennae, which I removed for the photos. I’m happy to reinstall it, or include it, whatever you wish, but I do suggest finding a correct or more appropriate antennae.

It is missing the driver’s side visor. The mounting pivot hardware is still there, but the post is broken off in it and will have to be tapped out. I’ve never seen the visor, so that should be added to the list.

Shift Boot rubber is torn and needs to be replaced

The windows and doors could use a rubber replacement kit. They’re fairly inexpensive and readily available aftermarket. And replacing rubber seals don’t require a high skill level, so I had planned on doing that myself. Good project for a new owner.

The leather seats still need help with conditioning. I have been conditioning the seats for the last 3 months and they have really come around, but still “look” better than they feel. If someone keeps it up, there wouldn’t be any reason to ever replace them. They’re in exceptional shape for their age, no rips or tears and I find more value in keeping it as original as possible over everything being new – but you can decide what’s important to you.

I didn’t do anything with the shocks. It didn’t feel pressing at the time, and after driving it, it felt pretty good. It’s a bigger car than I’m used to, but I was impressed with how smooth it was. I guess I’m mentioning this so you know, I didn’t address the shocks.

The windshield is in great shape, without a lot pitting and absolutely no chips. All the more sad that it is does have an issue located at the lower passenger side, where it has begun to delaminate.

Most of the factory undercoat is gone, and should be probably be re-done. I almost had them do it last week, but I just wanted to get the car back and figured I could do that anytime down the road. I’m glad I didn’t do it and then decide to sell it… that would have been a tough one to explain.

The UPSIDE of this car:

Overall, very original, unmolested (it hasn’t been screwed up by anyone yet), well cared for and incredibly desirable example of an XKE, Series 1.5 Coupe 2+2

Beautiful, surprisingly still shinny, almost entirely original paint (60 %+). Of course it’s not without some defects, just as any car stored in a garage would have - like nicks, bruises and “what happened there” issues, but it is truly amazing how well it has survived for more than 42 years. I really think this could be a prime candidate for a potential Preservation Class Win for those who enjoy showing exotic vintage vehicles!

Newly rebuilt (thru and thru), and original and correct side-draft, Zenith-Stromberg Carburetors (175 CD2-SE's)

Only handful of 2+2’s ever built with the rare and more desirable 4-speed manual transmission.

It still has its very nice, totally original black LEATHER interior and original black pile-carpet

It actually has Factory installed Jaguar Seat belts for both the driver and passenger, with the preferred sister hooks.

The Dash is SAWEET! That’s almost unheard of! It does have the very beginnings of a crack that measure less than an inch.

It comes already equipped on all 4 corners, including the spare in trunk 5-Michelin 185-15/XRW- red lines, all in decent shape considering their age. But even better, I’ll throw in 4-more; brand new, never mounted Michelin 185-15/XRW- red lines! Keep 'em or street 'em, its up to you!

All inner wheel wells are intact and entirely free of any holes or rust.

The headliner is original and in excellent condition. No holes, no tears, and not soiling.

One of the best features about the car is how nice the glass and chrome is throughout. It’s all there, and in great shape!

A nice surprise was how nice the floor pans were. We pulled back the carpet on the driver’s side, just in front of the back seat to look at the floor pans. I was surprised to learn they had NO RUST and no signs of corrosion or moisture what-so-ever. The sound deadening material was really nice and perfectly intact. There are pictures of the inner floor pans already in this listing.

Also included in sale is some very hard to find literature, which was specifically original to this very car:

“Jaguar 4.2 “E” Type and 2+2 (Left Hand Drive Only) Operating, Maintenance and Service Handbook”

“Jaguar 4.2 “E” Type and 2+2 – Periodic Maintenance Vouchers”

“Craig 3512 Owners Reference Manual – Quick Mount Stereo Matrix Entertainment Center, with Cassette Tape Player and FM Stereo Radio”

“Jaguar 4.2 “E” Type and 2+2 – Routine Maintenance Wall Poster”

Both Tool Kits - Previously described in detail. Email me for photos of tool kit items

EVERYTHING works… I know, shocking! I think maybe just dumb luck. But remember it is an older car, not a new car so things can happen. With any luck and proper TLC, everything should continue work flawlessly.

This is a very nice and mostly original Series 1.5 Coupe 2+2 with the original, and very rare 4 speed. It's virtually rust-free with the exception of 2 small areas previous described and depicted in photos, and still has a substantial portion of its well-preserved, original paint. Do nothing to the car and simply use it for a daily driver or start with a top notch car like this for a complete restoration – and end up with a 1st class winner!

2014-08-06 15:19:11 | Anonymous writes:

I purchased the car 2010 and it now resides North of the 49th. It turns out that there were still issues with the car and it took me 'til now to gwt it put straight - all bushings, bearings, tie-rods and other suspension components replaced/ repaired. I decided to upgrade the brakes to Wilwood dual piston calipers and new rotors and replaced all the lines at the same time. I'm planning to deal with the paint and body issues next year.

I've been using it regularly since May 2014 and enjoy it more and more every time I drive it. An absolute blast and it draws attention from all sorts of people. I get a particular kick out of letting kids sit in the driver's seat to have their picture taken. The smiles and excitement are too much to resist.