An Original hardtop really adds value I found one and currently having it restored including new rear glass and that chrome surround Just that chrome surround is $2000.00 from England. Do not expect to pay less than $7500. Min. For a perfect top painted to match. Love the look. This one is aftermarket but.... Image Unavailable, Please Login
I agree - the hardtop looks great on the car. I looked into getting one but I figured I would use it rarely and they are a PITA to store when not on the car. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Here's a question: if you had a factory hardtop would you paint it the color of your car, or keep it black since that's the way they came? I have one and I'm debating which way to go.
IMO... I do not think Jaguar collectors/concours community follows the same standard that the Ferrari community follows.. Things like Jaguar radiators alternators,wheels , lucas equipment etc...are begging to be swapped out..this sets a tone on what will be done elsewhere.. On Ferrari..you don't mess..The radiator was great when they made it.. I think the overall consensus lends a blind eye to changes that are for the better. I am for self color... This is a pic of my last 71' S2..I got it with a blk top...and painted it quickly.. Miss that car ..had 11,000 original miles on it..but the radiator sprung leaks! and the fans cut out and the alternator was finicky.. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I would match the top to the body with golden sand. I think a black hard top becomes too much of the focal point otherwise. If I saw a pic I might think otherwise. Just my opinion. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This is all great information to see on these vehicles and values. I've been considering letting go of a '67 FHC but having a hard time trying to determine the value given the restoration was done almost 10 years ago now. The car underwent a full "Patinum" restoraton at Classic Motor Cars in Shropshire, England including: 4.2L matching numbers motor upgrade to XKE race standards (300hp, Motech EFI, racing cams, complete rebuild), upgraded race standard brakes & suspension, 5-speed Getrag gearbox, hand crafted/engineered A/C system and central locking. Car has around 17,000 miles on it since but doesn't look it at all. I fear if I let the car go I'd never see another one that performs as good as this one nor looks as clean without spending $$$$$ but I guess it all depends on what someone's willing to pay for it and what other type of vehicle I'd be looking to get into. I've always wanted an Aston Martin V8 fliptail but imagine those are quite out of scope not to mention super expensive to maintain. One question I have for everyone here is where are you guys getting tires for your vehicles. Mine are needing to be replaced in the not too far off future but my tire guy says he can't find any Michelin/Dunlop tires that match other than Kuhmo or Sumitomo which just won't work for me. Size I'm currently running are 205/65R15 94V. Might have an option with Coker tire but they'd be white wall which I'm not too sure about. If anyone has any guidance in the tire department and of course vehicle value I'd greatly appreciate it. Attached are a few pics. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Whitewall would look great on your car. Go for it! I'm in a similar boat where I may need tires soon and have redline tires on now that look good but I can't easily find replacements. I hear that Coker is best for vintage sizes and styles.
Beautiful FHC! I wanted bias ply looking wide whitewalls on a performance radial tire and got what I wanted from Diamondback. They use (or at least they used) a Toyo tire carcass and then they apply the whitewall in virtually any width you want. Came out great and the whitewalls have worn well. I'm pleased with the performance of the tire. Not too spendy either. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1 word... Michelin XWX...Coker Btw.. I am managing 215/65. On mine no rubbing.. P4's Relaced dayton 6" wheels. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for the input guys, I'll have a look at the Michelin XWX tires and explore Diamond back for sure. I was a neh on the white wall but everyone has me considering them now and even more so after seeing Michael's slim line white walls on his roadster hard top which is a badass look and great color choice... well done sir! Did some digging thru camera photos and managed to dig up one photo of the engine compartment which doesn't say much unless you remove the entire bonnet for a better look. I can snap a few more if wanted tomorrow as I'll be swapping some vehicles around in prep for the Italianfest car show here in Dallas on Saturday. I also threw in another eye candy photo of 2 Aston's... (not mine, but another guys). Doesn't get much better than a DB5 & V8 Fliptail. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Wow, never seen an AM V8 with those wheels... or anything but OEM as a matter of fact. Your E type, quite honestly, puts them a close second place in the purely aesthetic camp however. Sure, AM's are more rare, but once you get past that, honestly, the E type owns it. And for what its worth, if you told me I had to drive one of them 1,000 miles tomorrow and if I made it w/o incident I could keep the car, I'd be driving the E type. Anyway, the E type community has lightened up considerably in the 'OEM at all cost or we're going to kill you first then make you eat English food' category. Thank heaven there are the OEM dudes who keep a particular standard - no kidding, hats off - but you can also update your car into greater safety, reliability, and performance without committing transportational treason. In keeping, I went with fans that'll actually cool the engine in this globally warmed world. Mine had the Canadian 3.23 rear end (wish I had the 3.08!) for decently relaxed cruising, but the 5 speed is ultra cool. I've got way better brake pads, a better battery (Lucas labeled nonetheless), headers, a 'sleeved' frame (we'll talk later about this) and several electrical upgrades. In all, a safer, better performing car. Should I be arrested? Love the cars on this thread! Wish I had room for the black coupe in the garage. Great mods? We need more engine shots. How do you value that car?
AHudson, I'm in agreement with you on all fronts. The XKE is a dream to drive and is really a work of art in terms of design and engineering. Really, the only minor flaw when it comes to driving is they never provided a foot rest down near the pedals like you get in the Ferrari's and again that's a minor detail. The performance is amazing, my dad has an XK140 MC Roadster with some tasteful safety mods and it's almost more amazing considering the year of the make and it's ability to hold it's own even today on the highway with modern cars. This is also coming from a guy that own's a dozen or so old Land Rover Series vehicles spanning from the 50's to '84 so I'm easily impressed when it comes to speed in some cases. As to how I'd value the xke... I don't really have an answer other than I've decided it would take the right person with the right price on the table in order to let it go. Based on restoration numbers being thrown around it would be too $$$$ for me to want to replicate. In order to make some room I think I'd rather sell the '79 308GTS instead. Tough call though since prices on those seem to be going up. I know a guy that has a few e-types sitting around I might even hit up again and see if he's open to letting them go. As much as I like the idea of getting a roadster the cost to bring such a vehicle up to speed might be too much for me to stomach. I've got enough projects going on as it is. In anycase here's a photo of what he last had sitting around if anyone is interested. I would have to bet he still has them. I'll snap more pics of the E's engine tomorrow. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Knightmare - love the E-Type and that AM V8 - awesome! Valuation is why I started this thread - it's all over the place, so I'm hoping we can plot real sales / auction results to guide us. Honestly, I'm of simple means - if my E-Type is suddenly worth $150K, I'm seriously considering selling. Like Knightmare, my fear is I'll never find another so i'm hanging on to it. Values are hard to ignore, my car was purchased 11 years ago under $20K - I've been offered $75K on 2 occasions. It's certainly worth more than that to me, but who knows what's "real" and what's "red mist"?. If we can mimic the 308/328 value thread, that might separate fact from folly.
Speaking of valuations, a '64 FHC is now on BAT in what seems to be decent driver (non-restored) condition let's see what it ends up going for. http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1964-jaguar-e-type-fhcoupe-3-8l-series-i/
Yup - we should endeavor to track these. I'd say that car is a really nice driver from the pics, probably a little cleaner than mine, but similar condition (other than the dent I put in my bonnet recently). Image Unavailable, Please Login
paint the hardtop body color. the black really emphasizes that it's a detachable top. the body colored top is very unifying. has a great sleek look. as an aside, I have an original hardtop. very good cond but would need to be restored. as previously mentioned, not cheap. pm me if interested. also, my 1st car was a s2 ots. I still have it today.
the tire in post #31 is a Dunlop sp sport 185vr15. that tire first appeared in 1968 I believe. it is currently being reproduced. it has 3/8" whitewall. approx $400 a good alternative is the universal 185hr15 whitewall, 5/8 whitewall. approx $200 a 70 series tire didn't appear on the e-type until the series 3. 1971
Sorry bout that...just finding all the E type people on board here... This is a wonderful example of a modified for all the right reasons E type that is currently for sale. I have seen it in person...bar none the best quality I have ever seen in restoration.. I believe it was done in Texas. PS... what is the breather..filter...below the carbs??? Autosport Designs
age old question regarding tasteful upgrades: any opinions if the [very respectful for todays modern driving] compression pistons and gear box modifications reduce the value? i say yes if you want a garage queen original, but no if you want to drive them as they were meant to driven.
Not wanting to hi-jack the original purpose of this thread but more pics of the engine compartment were requested so here they are. Keep in mind this jag is a driven jag and not used for shows or any of the such so not going to be as clean as a concourse would be expected. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
