2026-06-13 18:31:19 | pauls writes:

Car on ebay 6/26
www.ebay.com/itm/257561990758
Buy it now price $26,500 for 28 days, seller michaeldesna, 69k miles

Seller's description:
1971 Jaguar XKE, Series 2, 2+2
VIN P1R43637BW
I bought this Jaguar "secretly" in 2014 in hopes of getting it restored for my then fiance and giving it to her as a wedding present as she told me when we met that it is her "dream" car. She had just happened to see it parked in a yard on the way to work for a new job for the first time in April of 2014. She told me about it and I said that I would go and check it out. The next day I went there and met the owner. He said that he had bought it from a local person several years ago and was planning to restore it but never got around to it. It cranked over but wouldn't start and was covered in dirt and pine sap, and his oil man recently backed into it (please see first two pictures). Despite having been parked outside there was very little rust on it. I asked him if he would sell it and he agreed.

I had it brought to a local professional restoration shop that was recommended to me. I later told my finace that it was no good and she promptly forgot about it. For the first year, the shop removed all the trim and hardware, completely sanded down the exterior to the bare metal, repaired any rust, and primed the body in preparation for painting. But then the owner got hit with a divorce, and had to close down his shop. He never got to prime the bonnet as it needs the Front Underpanel Assembly and hardware to attach it to the car frame. I finally had to tell my now wife about it as I couldn't hide it anywhere and it wasn't going to be finished by the restorer. I took the car home and parked it in my garage. I changed the oil and filter, installed a new battery, spark plugs, fuel pump, radiator, fuel filter, fuel sump filter and got it running. It starts right up but runs a bit rich and a little rough. I think the carburetors need precise adjustment and possibly new diaphragms which I don't know how to do.

The interior is in very condition, the leather seats are in very nice shape except for a small tear in the driver's side bolster, and it has the original floor mats though they are a bit threadbare. All the gauges and the radio still work. I can see some surface rust under the floor mats but the floorboards appear solid. The wire wheels are in excellent shape but the tires will need to be replaced. All the hardware, trim pieces, windows, windshield, etc., have been cleaned and polished and stored in boxes. The only hardware that It needs are new rear taillight assemblies and some nuts, bolts, fasteners, etc., which are available at SNG Barratt in New Hampshire. Also, the bonnet needs the Front Under Panel Assembly and the inner and outer Bracket Assemblies for mounting the bonnet to the vehicle frame also available at SNG Barratt