I am a big fan of certain cars. I have a black/tan 2006 F430 F1, so I'm a long-time fan of the f-cars and how they perform. I also own an "old school car" (for the last 10 years) which is a red/red 1965 Corvette convertible with a 4-speed and a 327/350hp engine. But a month or so ago, I couldn't resist buying one of the cars that was on my life-long list of cars I've always wanted to own. I bought a 1970 Jaguar E-Type FHC (what most of us would "incorrectly" call an "XKE Coupe"). Wow, what an usual car! For example, to honk the horn, you push in the turn signal stalk. My wife was non-too-thrilled to find out I bought another old car, but it puts a big smile on my face whenever I drive it. I've already started personalizing it. For one thing, I got the vanity license plate. Also, I put 6-inch-wide Dayton wire wheels on it so I could mount modern Pirelli tubeless tires. What an incredible improvement in ride quality and handling! Here are some pics of my metallic British Racing Green new toy. My question is, was I wrong to take the plunge and buy another car I've always wanted? So far, my wife is understanding about it. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
She's a beaut!! The colour is terrific, and the car looks magnificent. Congratulations! No, you did not make a mistake making a life's dream come true. Enjoy it in good health, Neil
no...you did the correct thing! what a nice series 2!! i am a huge fan and like that you upgraded the wheels to better suit using the car. as a note, they are incredible race cars to watch in the vintage racing series...they are quite fast!! remember, the e's were soooo far ahead of the rest when they initially were introduced. enjoy her. pcb
Its beautiful. No not wrong, Recently I did the same thing and bought a car that I have wanted since High School. 30 years. Shelby Cobra.
One of the challenges in parking lots is to realize that in an E=Type you are much lower and shorter than most other cars. Every time I come around a corner in a parking lot, the other person seems very surprised to see me there. Here are some more pics, including the relative size of the car in a typical parking lot. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
That is beeeautiful and the perfect color! Can you take some pictures of the Vette and Jag side by side?
My 65 'Vette is in the hands of my local zealot mechanic at the moment. I'm replacing the red vinyl seats with red leather seats. Here are some separate pics of my Corvette from earlier this summer (and an old pic of the au pair nannies that use to live with us - old Corvettes are very much appreciated by the foreigners we've known) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Both are beautiful cars. I would have a hard time choosing which to drive, I guess its a mood thing, European or American Muscle.
Yes, and for high-revving Italian fun, I've been blessed to have my black f-car: (and my wife of 26 years) Since this is FerrariChat, I feel compelled to share my compassion and/or passion for the cars coming out of Modena. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Black and tan. Can't argue with that. The Jag is magnificent. Be sure to check out Clarkson's Top Gear special on the 100 best cars of all time. I won't spoil the ending, in case you haven't seen it, but the E-Type does well.
I read once the E-type described as the best girl-grabber (sic) EVER. However, it looks like you did pretty well without the Jag (assuming the lady in the red thing is Toggie's Significant...!)
Nice. I have been shopping early (3.8) E's, an OTS. The cars seem to be a mixed bag; even the super restored ones are not necessarily mechanically sound, and there are some pretty scary cars out there, regardless of (high) price. I have shifted my focus to the 140 DHC, but am still keeping my eyes out for the right E. Good luck with the car. They are timeless and stunning. The coupe is also more beautiful, but I love top down motoring.
Congratulations, I am a big fan of the E-type and own a 1971 Series II OTS (Roadster), I drive the car a lot any advice I can give you just pm me I will be glad to help you as I completely restored my car and know quite a bit about this cars. If you want to make an night and day difference, do something I just did to my car, change those problematic twin Zenith-Strombergs for 3 Weber 45's, the car becomes a different thing, it will be a lottttt faster and also once set up properly it will run much better. Image Unavailable, Please Login
In the 60's I owned a couple of E-Types. Back then, they were called the 'Instant Poverty' cars, even by some dealers! With the 'Lucifer' (Lucas) electronics and many other foibles, they were in the shop for repairs more than they were driven. In the day, it was a rare sight to come upon another E-Type; you might see another one about once a year. I will say the car was a girl getter though. I was in college at the time, and it wasn't unusual to have a group of girls hanging around the car wanting to meet the owner. In those days, I didn't care why 'I got it', all that mattered was that 'I got it!' Enjoy the car, and I hope your problems will be few. The styling was, and still is, a work of art; ceptin' the 2+2.....that was a big mistake!
HOLY CRA P Look at that!! One of the beautiful aspects of the E-type is that the hood opens enough to enable you to really see the motor! Jeeze! that's a great pic...More, please.
I remember driving my father's '61 Corvette back in the '80s past the University of Maryland. Girls actually jumped into the car at stoplights. Just opened the door and got in! Wild! Shiny Side Up! Bill
LOL many cheaper European cars (small Renaults, Peugeots, Fiats, etc) still employed this method until the mid 90's Of course not - we all have every opportunity to live an unremarkable life and very few opportunities to live the life of our dreams!! BTW I'm hugely envious of your cars - there are only a handful of old cars that I would like to own someday and you have 2 of them. Not only that, I've always wanted an E-type FHC (as opposed to a roadster) and I've always wanted a Vette convertible. You have a beautiful F430 too - I much prefer 430's with aluminium dash instead of carbon fibre.
Gorgeous XKE my friend. Only kicker with manuals is wait till you have to put a clutch in her Enjoy until then!! Cheers, Aaron
Thanks. Yes, I've heard it is a major job to replace the clutch. So far, mine's doing well. I got the E-type out about a week or two ago for a short drive. Here are a couple of recent pics. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ive always had a thing for E type roadsters Now that prices have taken a dump again I may have to finally get one next year I think I can find a decent driver for $30k or less
Yes, I think they've come down in price. Particularly the Series II cars. Like all older cars, get a PPI by a mechanic that really knows what they are doing. Just make sure you really want to own & drive an older car before buying one. Too many people are in love with the shape of certain classic cars but really don't like dealing with 30+ year old technology. Part of the fun is the time capsule aspect of driving one around.
