1969 Jaguar E-Type roadster

If you're looking for a driver. there are some out there for $30. 00- $35. 00 that ride and drive nicely. Some even have a decent appearance when viewed without close scrutiny. That's exactly what this car was when I purchased it years ago for $23. 00. On the negative. the engine and transmission were out of it. on the positive. the engine had just been rebuilt at Paul's Jaguar of Dallas. A new clutch had been added as well. I brought the trailered car. engine and transmission to Austin.  I knew the body had minor rust holes in the rockers and thought I would get to it at some future date.

But. since the drivetrain was out. I decided to pull up the carpets and closely inspect all the normal places: sills. floor pans. etc. . etc. There were small rust holes in the various panels.  After much thought. I decided to redo the body prior to inserting the drivetrain. I've done mechanical work as well as light body and paint work. but an E-Type has a monocoque body. and panel replacement is much more difficult than on chassis or unibody cars. As such it required a lot more metal working expertise and E-type experience than I had.

Fortunately. Lawrence Toneto. a fantastic metal worker. owner of LT Classics in Austin.   was available. He specializes in E-Types and has built show winners for Jeff's Resurrections. Classic Jaguar and many Jaguar club members locally and from all over the U. S.
If I had realized the enormity of work and expense I was about to undertake. I would have dropped the drivetrain in and driven a less than pristine car. Again. if you want a plain driver. don't buy this. buy a $25. 00-$35. 00 driver without thoughts of a restoration.

To continue. we dismantled the car and soft media blasted all the sheet metal. removing all the paint and exposing any and all rust.  There were no large gaping rust holes but minor. small Swiss cheese holes in certain areas. Lawrence methodically removed all body panels that had any rust. then attached new body panels. The sills. floor pans. etc. were all spot welded together. built the same way as done at the Jaguar factory. The bonnet and main body were excellent other than the rockers. which were replaced. I also replaced the nose with the proper one. A previous owner had put on a series III nose.  
Lawrence then leaded. yes leaded.  all joints and seams to factory specs. Then polyurethane primer was applied all over. The car was then blocked. sanded and reprimed. This car has had show quality work done to it and could be a show car if the next buyer decided to finish it in the same vein. Or it could be an exquisite driver. I spent about $10. 00 on sheet metal body parts from Welch Enterprises and $18. 00 on labor getting the car to this point. Probably another $2. 00 was spent on media blasting. paint supplies. lead. and various sundries. I have all the receipts. Also. the previous owner spent $7. 00 on the engine.
I have all the parts to the car. it is complete. The numbers match. it has the correct engine and transmission. and it has an old Penn. title. The chrome. seats. and door panels look good but are original. The owners manuals are a bit shabby but complete.  The previous owners were driving the car until they had the engine redone. I have never had the car running.

I've recently seen some really rough ones that sold for $20. 00 -  $23. 00 prior to any work. Mine was nicer than those yet I spent an additional $30. 00 on it. For anybody wanting to restore one. do the math. . this is a bargain.   
If you're wanting a pristine E-Type at a major price discount and are willing to work on it. then this may be the car for you. The specialized. precision work has been done at  major expense. now. just a lot of tedious work that most mechanically minded people can do is left.

Yes. I could do it also. but I lack the time. energy and most of all. the desire to finish it.

As is - No Warranty

I am a dealer. although this car was a personal project and is being sold as a personal vehicle.

Winning bidder must contact us within 12 hours of auction end. to make arrangements for payment. A $500. 00 deposit is due within 24 hours of auction termination. unless "Buy it now" is used. in that case. immediate $500. 00 deposit is required. The remainder is due within 5 days of Auction end. If no contact is made within 24 hours. we reserve the right to re-list the vehicle. sell it to the next high bidder. or sell it otherwise.

Buyer is responsible for pickup or shipping of vehicle. If you wish. we will arrange shipping for you. Funds must be cleared prior to vehicle release.

We will arrange for and load a container if desired. at buyers cost.

Please e-mail any concerns or questions. Do not assume anything not listed is included. We reserve the right to cancel bids from bidders with excessive negative feedback. This vehicle may sell at our dealership or through "buy it now". during the auction. Therefore. we reserve the right to end this auction early. .

Please do not bid at this auction unless you are serious about owning this vehicle. All non-paying high bidders will be reported to Ebay. charged a $250. 00 relisting fee and negative feedback posted. Thank you and good luck bidding.

PLEASE ONLY BID WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY. IF RESERVE IS NOT MET. WE MAY CONTACT THE HIGH BIDDER AND MAKE A PERSONAL OFFER.

Auto Outlet. a licensed. bonded Texas auto dealer is required by law to register vehicles sold to Texas residents. Registration costs include 6. 25% sales tax. $33. 00 title fee. sticker fee. . 0022% inv. . and a $48. 50 doc. fee. Out of state and international buyers only pay a $48. 50 doc. fee.

FOR THIS VEHICLE. NONE OF THE ABOVE WILL APPLY. I AM SELLING IT AS A PERSONAL VEHICLE AND THERE WILL BE NO TAXES OR FEES.  

Also published at eBay.com

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