THE CLASSIC DILEMMA. Restore or sell my E Type Jaguar? 

My goal would be to get it on the road. Fix what needs to be fixed to run well and safely, and then enjoy it. It just slowly deteriorates by sitting. Bring it back to life.

Hi Steve, having bought and restored many E-Types since 1989, I'll drop my two penn'orth into the mix. I have rebuilt S1, S2 and S3 cars in all configurations for my self and for other people. My objective has always been to bring them to the same condition as they left the factory (avoiding the tea-break assembly examples!). The difference between all the cars I took on and yours is the starting point. Most of them were projects, often disassembled and missing parts; abandoned projects and the like. No floors, rotten sills, shot interior...you get the picture. In the end they were perfect but not trailer queens. From what I can see in the video, your car is different. It is complete and all original. That is very rare. Yes it is a 2+2 and so not as valuable to most as a two seater but when you are behind the wheel and it is dragging you down the road, it is pure E-Type. It is also an original RHD manual car, not LHD automatic. The interior is perfectly aged and preserved, the mechanicals haven't been disturbed so all the fittings and fixings are there with their date stamps, tags, etc. The chrome work is original and looks good. The body looks very straight and the minor dinks are 'patina' these days. The paintwork may very well be all original and worth preserving (a quality repaint is very expensive these days!). So, what would I do if I were you (apart from sell it to me!)? I think I would undertake a very careful re-commissioning of the car without removing any of the patina or wear and tear. They are only original once. To have that car as a fully functional driver, totally original to every nut and bolt, would be the best use of your time and money and would increase the long term value of the car. Of course it would take time and effort but not nearly as much cash as trying to strip it down and restore it to 'as new'. There are a couple of very good you tube channels that demonstrate my point. The first is from Chuck at Monocoque Metalworks: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DGAW9tiIMDk.html and the second is a series of restoring the body of a 2+2 in the UK: www.youtube.com/@Charlies-Classic-Custom. When you have a totally original car, I think Chuck has the right idea. Good luck with your 2+2 Steve, I will be interested to see what you decide.

Mr. Moore, I can't tell you what you should do, and I think that if you were going to restore that car, it would have been done by now. All I can comment, is that if it were mine, or if I lived in your area and were able to purchase it from you (and I've wanted a '66 or '67 for a very long time), I would keep the car as-is. I would do enough of a mechanical-only, restoration on it, including tires of course, to have it running/driving/functioning, as the day it was built, and start enjoying it. I would never be driven in the rain or on wet roads, and because there are so many ways to keep paint and glass clean without "washing" it with water, it would never get wet again. The dents on the body can be easily straightened with paintless dent repair techniques and tools, and with a proper polish and seal to the paint work, the car would like like it was 1970 again. Beautiful car, and a wonderful story of how it's been in the family since you were a young man! Thanks for the tour of it! All the best with whatever you decide. BTW, I own a 1970 Austin America, what you would call an Austin 1300 Mk2, 2 door saloon, that is fully restored to as it was despatched, and a 1966 Mercedes 250SE Coupe, that's much like your Jaguar.

I'm 81, and I own one. I drove it last year to SPA . Hood down, engine roaring, 1250 miles in 5 days. though the hills of Luxembourg in the sunshine, smooth roads, free of traffic. What more can a chap want. Put it in the hands of a Jaguar E type specialist such as The Splined Hub in Oundle and drive in to the sunset .

The car appears to be complete, and that’s a rare thing. Given you and your family’s history I would try to get it up and running again, then enjoy using it. It does not need to be concours condition. Good luck and let us know your final decision please.

Having recently subbed as you know, I've just been slowly catching up with your other content. For me, that's a no-brainer Steve, the provenance and family history mean you just have to restore it. That won't be cheap or easy but it just has to be done, what a wonderful machine it is. My other half has an MGB GT that her grandad bought new and we do whatever we can to keep it running and driving - and this is where things like these need to be, out there on the roads being driven and inspiring new people.

Lovely car, we had a 66 2+2, my brother and sister would sit in the back and I’d sit in the boot with the dog 🤣

Thanks This The Great Video & Channel , Hello From Finland !

Enjoyed the video. Reminds me of my Dad and his XJ6 cars. If it was me I'd be getting that up and running. Use it and leave as it is. You are a Lucky guy.

Gentle recommissioning and repair to retain as much of the originality as possible. Wouldn’t cost the earth and could be done quite quickly.

Great video - we seem to have a similar taste in cars - etype and 360. The 2+2 is a great car, I have done a similar restoration series on my car that sat for 25+years, it was very rewarding

Steve, I understand your dilemma! The main issue as I see it is - do you really want a 2+2? By the time you get done restoring or recommissioning this car, you will probably have spent a sizable amount of money, and for a bit more, you probably can buy a roadster, which is what most people want. I restored my father's car ('48 Lea-Francis 14h.p. Sports) mostly because of sentimental value - it was the car I grew up with, but it made no sense financially. Then again, there is no price you can put on the pleasure I get taking my father's car out for a Sunday drive. I look forward to seeing how you resolve this dilemma...

Coincidentally I’ve just bought my two brothers out of my dad’s e type after he passed away a few years ago. He bought his in the 70’s when I was about 5 or 6. He sold it in ‘81 when his business went bust and we bought it back in 2001 when I saw it advertised. It runs well, I’ve spent money on mechanics but the body needs doing now and it’s bloody expensive. I’ll probably do the minimum and just keep driving it. Went to Le Mans Classic, Goodwood etc last year. They don’t all have to look like concourse trailer queens. Just sympathetically revive the mechanicals and get driving it. The interior is perfect. Mines a S3 roadster by the way. Automatic which is actually quite good in today’s traffic. I’m based near Stockport.

I'd say it's a Keeper. Do the mechanics, keep the Patina and drive it. There's way too many 'over the top restorations' when it comes to E-Types... An unrestored original with provenance is so much more interesting, each scar has a story to tell. Wish You all the best ❤

Restore it. It’s a beautiful car with memories attached. Eventually they will go up in value.

My father had a 68 4.2 wonderful car and wonderful memories. Finished in opalescent blue. Values will continue to rise as they are such a beautiful car. Ford mexicos are plain and dull in comparison. Repaint and repair it. Budget for £30,000. Dont aim for pebble beach condition otherwise it'll cost £225,000! Get it done quickly and enjoy it!

This car does not need a ground-up restoration. If you can do most of the jobs yourself, then you could have this car back on the road again for a couple of grand. If the engine is not seized, then a going over of the fuel/braking/clutch/cooling systems together with some new tyres and a bloody good service will suffice. Put the bonnet back on, pickle the bodywork with a good anti-rust wax, then just drive the thing and enjoy it! Nobody said that every E-Type had to be concourse. The bodywork will last you out, if you take reasonable care of it while using it sensibly, then improve it, as and when you want to, or when funds permit. That is what I would do.

I, for myself, have done 2 rotisserie restorations..a convertible and then a 2+2. If you do ALL the restoration then it is cheap...like $10,000 US and if the engine does not run then another $10,000. And 3 years labor (6 hours everyday...all days). The 2+2 is much much more difficult and time then the convertible. You could (I would favor this) make it a SCRUFFY driver...that is do what needs to be done to make it road worthy..drivable. Like life, it is a journey...so get with it

The question is, "can a ameture mechanic with limited ability restore this XKE"? And the answer usually boils down to >> do you have sufficient open garage space, to tackle a good drive it restoration....remember, floor space congestion is a big mood killer to motivation. // The overall patina looks charming, so a full body off paint restoration would negate the existing positives, with this roller and cost a fortune (for lost ROI). // Personally I would love to ship this car to Canada, convert it to LHD and drive it. Convertibles gives me an ear ache, and I always loved hardtops over rag tops. Like the iconic 1963 Corvette split window, a 1966-67 Chevelle/Beaumont coupe or a 1967-68 Shelby Mustang hard top best. Best of luck Steve, in your decision making.

You never make a profit on restoration. I know I've lost bundled, but if you like what you do, it's a great way to spend your life out in the garage! No missus but hopefully a coffee for being a good boy and not making a mess in the home? LOL.

I think that you’ll always regret selling it ; I prefer the coupe to the roadster, as do many. History and originality obviously cannot be replaced and one in this unrestored condition must be a very rare example. If it were mine, I’d do what I could myself to get it running and then get the bodywork sympathetically restored by a specialist. There are so many mint examples around which look amazing but lack character. If you keep that lovely patina I’m sure you won’t regret it.

I enjoy concourse cars as much as anybody but it would be a shame if this remarkably original car in unusually good shape was given the typical concourse trailer queen treatment. Whether it’s you or someone else who takes on the challenge, I hope the focus will be on conservation and mechanical integrity. Cleaned up and running well, you could park this car beside hyper-restored E Types at a car show and this one would get most of the attention. They are only original once and this level of originality is both rare and appreciated.

Purchase a 1962 mk2 automatic last year sat polebarn since 1979 can't wait to work on it (currently repairing a w123 mercedes) only minor rust and body work needed which I fancy doing, will replace all suspension rubber and brakes (will do all or most of interior which was occupied my mices for years rent free...lol) but will leave engine to the pro's although my limit is about 10k . But for me and this classic it is not the destination but the journey. So I say to you are will to go on a ride or do you just to get to the finish line. GOOD LUCK 👍

Third option: give it to me. 😁 Shipping costs to get it to the West Coast of North America would cost me, but I'd sure love it. A nice companion for my 03 XKR roadster.

I get your concerns , first time to your channel . Do you want to own an e-type I guess is question 1 , if yes then as a layman this is as good as any knowing the history etc. It sounds like you could do with a decent assessment of what it needs to get it driveable . Good luck and look forward to your decision.

Hello Steve For me I am disappointed that the car is in the mother country and not Australia! I would love to have it! Great to see you are looking after the leather, however having been laid up for all those years it obviously will require some mechanical attention to meet roadworthy requirements, the rust issues are always an unknown factor, you never know what you are going to find until you start, wiring is also an unknown issue after all this time , fuel tank ?? It goes on and on. Good luck with your decision journey I hope you get to work out what is best for you and the car. Still love to own it! Keep us updated on your journey. Regards Steve H.

Hi great car with your family history. I would keep it, fix it to roadworthy and get a MOT. Then enjoy it, fix things a long the way but don´t start a full restoration at this time of your life, I got myself( 67 years) a Mercedes 219 2 years ago and first year I had no time or money to get it moving but last year within 2 months it was MOT and I enjoy it a lot as a driving barnfind. I sold a 230SL to a friends approximately 20 years ago . He will be finished with the pagoda this spring. At his 80 years birthday. I dont have to write more. Good luck with the Jag

Personally I wouldn’t do a full restoration. With a 2+2 you will spend way more than it’s worth. I’d tidy it up fix the mechanicals - replace the rubber etc. and do some minimal body work- they are only original once and with your provenance it would be a great driving car. I have a basically original ‘67 2+2. It’s a very tidy driver and I enjoy it ! Most people I meet love the originality of a survivor vs. a trailer queen.

Do the honourable thing for your late father. Keep it and enjoy. Start by giving the engine bay a good clean up. You'll have some incentive then. The E-Type is not difficult to restore mechanically. The body looks in fair condition.

One option, i think, (If E Type needs much work), is to sell as is, and spend the money on a restored/running classic of your choice and have that as the tribute to your Dad. I'd go for an Alfa Romeo Spider convertible, in red.

Just get cracking this afternoon , you could have it on the road by the summer. I am half way through the restoration of a 1973 AM V8 , I wasted years pondering what to do , don't make the same mistake !

As someone who took on a basket case Daimler Sovereign 4.2 Automatic been off the road for 32 years and all the frustration that has and continues to annoy me, I would SELL IT. Don't even think of restoring it and use the proceeds of the sale for some well deserved holidays on the sun and don't look back. That's what someone should have insisted I do. I regret getting so deeply involved with the above which now no one wants.

They don’t seem to command high prices now. A friend of mine spent a great deal of money restoring his over a 10 years period and he never got back, what he put into it.

As others have said, unless it's sentimental value means a lot to you, then financially you will spend more than it will be worth having it restored. That's unless you can repair bodywork and paint it to a high standard yourself. The visible rust will only be the tip of the iceberg once you start digging.

A journey starts with the first step. Pick something and see what condition it's in. Clean it and then put it back together. Your journey has started! One thing, I bet the rubber diaphragm's in those carbs have melted by now, they use to get holed all the time.

I'm afraid you will need an professional body shop looking at Harry's garage video. Out of England, I'm watching all the time, he will help you to find an reliable shop to get the body restored. What you can do to save money, fluid change on all the brakes use an power bleeder and appropriate adapter for the tread of master and clutch cylinders. I would do the two men operation because your seals could score doing so. Remove your Wheels ease the task. Good luck Sir.

Just do the mechanicals, put the original bonnet back on, lower it a bit, wider wheels and tires and of course make the engine purr...Your dad would want it that way...

Bring it back to the road , start with rubbers, fluids etc and give it a mot ….drive it again and then decide whether to do bodywork ….that interior and family history is too good to let it sit any longer

Hallo Steve, i‘am Dieter from Germany. I owner of as well an 2+2 Jag, but it‘s a series 2. I konstracted a towbar for my E-type to tow our 1971 Caravan. Can ey get from you more Information and picture‘s from You about the towbar on your E-type? Best regards. Dieter

I guess the problem is that a professional restoration is very expensive and 2+2 varieties are less valuable than a bunch of others. I would sell it to a “hand-on” enthusiast who could make it road worthy with their own Labour and minimum cost.

Hello Steve , I've been looking for a while for a roadster but I might be interested in this if you do decide to sell. Where is it ?. At the moment I have a 1275 MG Midget , a Morris Minor and a Jaguar Mk II 3.4L. .All legal and on the road. Re-building a 1972 A.H Sprite which is the youngest. Regards ,,,, John.

It would be nice to do enough just to get it back on the road and possibly avoid a full restoration considering the interior is so nice and original. It doesn't sound from your comments that you posses the enthusiasm to get stuck in at the moment. I know what what it takes both in labour and parts to proceed (Imine owes me a lot more than it is currently worth). Never the less this car is worth saving either by your self or some other enthusiast, your decision but I am sure should you decide to proceed with re commissioning that beauty you will need some help..

Money is transitory. Yes it will cost money to restore but this is a totem in your family that clearly has real value. The history is irreplaceable and clearly you value that or you would not have kept the car. The real question is how good a mechanic are you and how good are you at body work. Or in other words can you fix or refurbish the car mechanically and how much do you leave to professionals. And then there is the body. I would talk to some specialists and get their thoughts. I suspect that a full fuel system rebuild including removing and cleaning fuel tanks replacing all hoses and seals will be sufficient and a kit through the SUs The engine should be removed disassembled cleaned and new seals gaskets unleaded valves guides etc etc hoses mounts all new rubber etc depending on your skills it may not cost as much as you might think. I recently totally rebuilt an Austin Atlantic myself. Brand new engine parts brakes everything throughout including body work and 2 pac spray painting as required. But it is a big commitment.

Just recommission it, use it, and enjoy the memories.

I personally woulda just recommission it and get it running and driving.

I’m only three minutes in and I’m already thinking , geez….you can’t sell it. You have to restore it! Or maybe do something like Chuck @ Monocoque has done to a similarity rested car and sympathetically recommission it.

it's obvious you are going to sell it, but if it were mine i'd sell everything else i owned and get it on the road,

Very difficult for you to make a decision based on the fact that the car was owned by your dad. Your emotional attachment will ultimately cloud your judgement on what the E Type is worth as a restoration project and as you say the cost of restoration could be a money pit spoiling your memories of the outings in the car. Hence your video asking for advice, it would be a shame to let the car eventually become unsavable or require so much spending on restoration that it would be worth more in spare parts. I'm sure your dad would want to see the E Type back on the road were it belongs, whether with you behind the wheel or someone else who would appreciate owning as much as you do with your memories. The cost of restoration and time required is really a deciding factor, putting your emotions aside. I will keep watching for your final decision and how much you want for the E Type if that is the case. Good luck.

Fix it and drive it or sell it. Cars were made to be driven, they deteriorate when they are not used. E-Types are lovely cars, I drove Jaguars in the 70's and 80's but they are now out of fashion. I go to a lot of classic car rallies and there are any number of restored E-Types and people just walk past them and look at the Escort Mexico, BMW CSI or the Yank pick up (who predicted that?). The only people who stop and look at E-Types now are toddlers and old men. The 40-50 year olds with money to spend walk past. I drove a Mk2 and XK140 for many years and track prices, they have halved in value in the past decade and I expect E-Types to do the same. These cars are not easy to drive, the handling is not up to modern standards and they use a lot of petrol. Be prepared to drive it and find you don't actually like it. I think another problem with cars and motorcycles from the 50's and 60's is that so many were put to one side 20-30 years ago (like yours) and the owners are getting old and selling up so there is an oversupply. Does someone who wasn't born in the 60's want to by a box of parts and take 10 years or £1000's to get a car? The odd exception seems to be the Series Land Rover, which against all odds (I drive one and its hard work) continues to appeal to a younger generation and rise in value. This is not just an E-Type issue, the same is happening with Mercedes R107s, at one time they were the go to classic to buy with a retirement pension lump sum, now those people are dying, read the for sale adds and see how many classic 50 and 60's cars and bikes are "deceased estate". The world has moved on, when I give a young person a lift they can't fathom that my car has manual windows, no power steering, wipers that don't wipe and only 4 gears, it doesn't engage them, it just baffles them. So, fix it and drive because it means a lot to you, or sell it and spend the money on a holiday, but what ever you do have it done in 6 months!

I think it’s worth €100,000 as is. Pay someone else €100,000 to make it perfect (leave interior alone). Then sell it for €300,000 and double your asset value. Less a complete restoration, more a very rare original e-type.

The harsh reality is most full restorations are a tremendous money losing proposition. Particularly for the "less desirable" model of such an iconic car. I concur with the others- make it roadworthy and drive it, or sell it along to someone else who can make their own memories on the highways and byways. You're a couple weekends away from getting it to fire up and a few concerted weekes of new gas, rubber and hydraulics to make it roadworthy. Leave the agonising over the door dings to the 100-point cars that only travel from show to show in an air conditioned trailer.

If you want to spend twice what its worth then restore it, otherwise send it to Mathewsons classic auction.

Keep the E Type Jaguar. Get rid of the Ferrari and the VW and put some of the cash into the restoration of the E Type. It is far more important historically because it is far less common than those two. You can go on an E Type Jaguar holiday around the UK and enjoy living those memories again to certain extent.

Pleeeeease don’t restore it Go through it and get it running slowly and document it on here Run it as original -its perfect as it is and that colour combo is amazing plus it was your dads Use it

Hi Steve. Just caught your video. You have a hard choice to make. Unfortunately, you will be a lot of time, effort and money into it before you get down to the actual reason your dad laid it up all those years ago. Those cars are absolute money pits. I know a guy who is a professional car restorer and has just restored a more or less identical car. The story is, it was his own car that he had had on a back burner for about 10 years, a friend kept badgering him to sell him it, so he said he would, but only on the agreement that he would get the job of restoring it. The deal was done and about 2 years later the car is finished along with a £100K bill to his mate! As others say, they are only really good to look at. Your dad sounds like he was an astute guy when it came down to getting a good deal, so do what he would have done, sell it as it is and enjoy the proceeds while you can.

Far better than 99% of Jags. Dont restore it,, it is very honest as is. Mechanically,,,, well I am sure it has a slick under it. Pull the engine and a minor overhaul with all new gaskets and seals and you then have a nice E type with the ugly roof.

I can't help think how nice those cars would look with about an inch and a half chop. I know that's probably blasphemy to a Britt. It's like the sexiest car on the planet with a giant bubble on top. Just sayin....

Restore it.

Don't restore it. Get it mechanically sound and enjoy it until you decide to pass it on to a new caretaker. A slightly tatty e-type that you can enjoy every day is worth more than a fully restored car that gets locked up for fear of rain or door dings.

Clean the car inside and out... Getting it running and driving well then sell it as is.

My thoughts these nut and bolt restos are a joke too dear get it running and safe for the road and keep adding as you go little bit at a time we had 3 of these in 70s should never have sold them dont sell it and dont be put off

Sell it and take the proceeds to get a Series 1 OTS. A 2+2, in my opinion, isn't worth restoring and yours looks like it needs everything except an interior. An E-Type restoration costs a huge amount of money and time. Forget sentimentality. The condition (and restoration cost) of any car should speak for itself. Even if you do some things yourself doesn't make it a worthwhile project. Adding feelings into a financial decision is a recipe for financial drain. Your father sounds like he parked it for a reason.He didn't want to dig a money pit. Hopefully you don't want to either. Good luck with your decision.

just get it back on the road no resto

sell it nice to look at but they drive so bad a modern builders van is a big step up 🤣🤣🤣🤣😂

Sell it - they are never worth what it costs to properly restore a Jaguar. Consider $100K is not enough to restore one. Can you spare the funds?

2+2 is not very good ( ugly !) ..so it has to go 😊