Our Jaguar E Type Story

Yes, buying a Classic E Type Jaguar is certainly not for everyone and we would not recommend such a venture for just anyone. As is the case with virtually any classic the purchase is not without risks and ownership often comes with a mix of blessings and curses, but in the end if done right the E Type ownership experience can prove to be a truly amazing, life affirming adventure, for any true enthusiast. The highlight of a enthusiast's life and proof that playing with cars can come with benefits!

Surprising to some is the fact that if you are fortunate enough to find the right Jaguar E Type they can actually be, somewhat shockingly, affordable.  Fact is the right E Type can prove itself to be an Attainable Dream Machine, that provides you direct entry into the rarefied world of classic sports car ownership, without, at the end of the day, making much if anything of a dent in your net worth. 

Do Your Math

Understandability, each of us has a vastly different viewpoint on affordability, practicality and sensibility and therefore we must all independently do our own math, but I can tell you that I did the math and purchased such a car, while in my early 20's. Yes, a 1963 Series One, E Type Jaguar  Roadster, in Opalescent Dark Blue on Red Leather with Blue Piping, and I survived financially to tell the unforgettable tale. The formula for success remains all about finding a worthwhile example, with a somewhat predictable, stable or potentially future appreciating valuation (no modern era, instantly depreciating cars need apply), that is cosmetically and mechanically correct, yet fairly valued for the current marketplace.  

Sounds simple, but trust me when I say that the vast majority of available classic cars, E Types or otherwise will never prove themselves worthy of such an investment. Classic cars are in many ways vastly different than hunting down a modern era prospect as at their age each individual example has had a very different mix of 'Life Experiences' and those unique variables have a significant impact on a car's suitability for serious consideration.

Making the math work is less about what you pay for the car initially and far more about what your out of pocket expense will prove to be over the term of your ownership experience. The most important number of all tends to be what you will in turn be able to sell the car for, when you are ready to move on. 

You Can Do It Too

No little rich kid was I when I jump in on my E Type, in fact a very long way from it.  That said, I was young, certainly a bit naive, and lets be honest here, somewhat stupid at that time, now some 50 years ago. But I was also a well read, dyed in wool enthusiast, hell bent on fulfilling my automotive dreams. So when the opportunity to own a truly stunning example, of the even back then, already venerable E Type Jag popped up, I simply could not resist.

Now this was way back in the day when you read the classified section of the newspaper to find your next automotive love interest, no pictures and just a few short lines with a phone number attached was all that you had to work with. The E Type seller's short description sounded too good to be true, so I made the call, got a few questions answered and quickly set up a viewing for that afternoon. 

I recall trying and utterly failing to control my excitement, informing my darling young wife that I wasn't going to buy it, but I simply had to see it in the flesh. Now having followed up on many a used sports car in those early years I somewhat suspected that this E Type was likely to be just one more frustrating waste of time... a car far less perfect than what was being promised by the seller!

Oh my God, not this time! I rounded the street corner and the E Type came into view, it was simply gorgeous and far beyond my initial expectations. Moments later, before even pulling up next to the owner's driveway I recall blurting out to my loving wife Lucille, "I have to have it"!  Hence I was pure putty in the seller's hands and after looking over the car in detail and learning more about its recent restorations, I willingly gave him what he had been asking for the car. This was a car that I knew would have sold to the first guy that saw it, and on that day I just happened to be the lucky first fellow to put eyes on it.

Stupid, I know, but I was young, and we really didn't have the means to run two cars, so we soon sold our near new Datsun 510 and the, much too nice E Type, became our daily driver. Now I would never do the same thing today, as after 50+ years of playing with cars I now know better. Understandably the 63 E Type OTS (Roadster) was never intended to be an all-weather car, certainly not in our snow laden, north of the 49th parallel climate, but necessity being the mother of invention, the E Type took to the role surprisingly well. That said two years of winter road salt and sand seriously impacted on the car's virtually unprotected, rust prone, body panels and I knew that it was time to let this car move onto the next adventurous caretaker, before the minor paint bubbles turned into cancerous scares. Stupid Mistake #2 was ever letting this car go!  A youthful lad of British origin was thrilled to take it off my hands, paying me exactly what I had paid for it two years prior. 

Truly, our E Type was a glorious, never forgotten automotive experience, financially painless, emotionally rewarding and it provided memories that we have reveled in for the last 50+ Years. Proving itself to be our enthusiast's bargain of our lifetime!.