2021-02-15 09:28:51 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 2/15/21
www.ebay.com/itm/1971-Jaguar-E-Type/133665059747
Car has a buy it now price of $71,500 for 29 days, seller 1oldvet, 29k miles.

Seller's description:
This exquisite XKE now belongs to a friend of mine. It was given to him by his Dad before he recently passed away at the age of 92. His Dad’s passion and life’s delight was restoring XKE's. This XKE was one of two that were his pride and joy and were the ones he wanted to keep for his two “kids.” His dad restored a number of XKEs throughout his life but this is the one that he loved and it shows. It an older restoration– basically done in the 1990’s with only approximately 8,500 miles put on since complete. Why so little miles you ask, simple- he was in his early 70’s when he completed the restoration and unfortunately, it was becoming more difficult for him to get in and out of the car. However, he would occasionally wash, clean, and start it. He loved it. When is son would come to visit, and if the weather was nice, they would take her out for a spin. Sadly, his son now has had to make the very hard choice of finding a new owner for his Dad's cherished chariot.

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION
The engine was completely overhauled and rebuilt in 1999. It was done by Sun Automotive in Sausalito, California known for their excellent work on Jaguars. At that time a new clutch was installed. It is a Corvette clutch which is a popular and practical (better) thing to do with XKEs. Instead of using a Corvette throwout bearing, they stayed with a Jaguar throwout bearing. It will last well over 100,000 miles as long as you never hold the clutch pedal down at a stop. Clutch in, shift to neutral, clutch out. It's a Jaguar thing. Just like the small oil leak from the engine and transmission-not bad, just enough to leave a spot on the floor. The transmission shifts solidly and smoothly and there is no whine or noise.

BODY and PAINT
When it was repainted it back in the 90’s, the body was stripped naked. No rust is evident nor is there any evidence of repairs. I went over the entire body with a cloth wrapped magnet and paint gauge looking for signs of heavy Bondo and found none. The Regency Red paint is incredible for being 30+ years old. There is no fading, no hazing, no checking, no cracking, and only one rock chip. There's chipped paint where the hood meets the body on the drivers's side near the wiper. My guess is the hood struck a tool that wasn't removed when the hood was closed. The paint was done by Images in Cupertino, California who are known to specialize in Jaguars. It is the perfect color for this Jaguar. The photos, while good, do not do this car justice. The color gives the XKE an elegant, rich, and sophisticated appearance. It most certainly stands out above all the rest. I would have the car ceramic coated- It would be spectacular. The doors, hatch, and bonnet all open and close without effort. Both doors need to be adjusted so that rear edge fit flush the the body- about 3/16". Same with the top of the window frames. All of the weatherstrip is intact and in beautiful shape.

CHROME
The chrome was completely re-done at the time of restoration and is it excellent shape today. There are no scratches, no pits, no peeling, no clouding–it's perfect.

GLASS
There are no chips in the windshield. All the glass is scratch free with the exception of the roll up windows. The passenger side has a half inch long faint scratch. The driver side has very light scratches as a result of the window going up and down.

WHEELS/TIRES/BRAKES
The wheels are Jaguar spoke and are true knock offs. Including the spare. They are 15" x 7". The chrome plating is in excellent shape. The tires are Mitchelin X Raidials: P205/70R15. They have been on the car since the restoration and they show no signs of cracking or bulging. However, because of their age, I would be leery about using them on any kind of a trip. The brakes feel solid with no pull to one side. The rear rotors and pads were just recently replaced- the front rotors and pads did not need replacing or service. The parking brake holds.

INTERIOR
The interior is a medium camel color which beautifully augments the Regency Red. It was redone following original design with Conolly leather imported from England. None of the leather components have tears, abrasions, or stains with only one small cut in the drivers door sill. The leather is soft and pliable-another sign of how well the XKE was maintained. The headliner is a woolen type of material and shows no sign of dirt, staining, or burns. The sunvisors are made of the same material and are in the same shape as the headliner. They do not droop. The rearview mirror holds position and is crystal clear. The rear luggage area appears to have never been used. The drivers arm rest has fingernail scratches and the shifter housing’s leather is damaged.

DASH/GAUGES
The dash is in good condition. There is a crack between the tachometer and speedometer. The gauges were rebuilt. When the speedometer returned from restoration, it was set at approximately 12,500 miles. When it went to restoration it read approximately 65,000 miles. It now reads 29,590. All of the switches work. The clock does not work. The dashboard is in excellent condition.

DRIVEABILITY
The steering is tight, light, and crisp-there is no play. The XKE drives straight down the road and does not tend to wander. It is a delight to drive. While driving, you know you're driving a classic-it's a wonderful feeling! You get a lot of attention with waves, high-fives, and thumbs up everywhere you go. When ever you stop, be prepared to answer a lot of questions about the car. This car is special even to the novice’s eye.

Included are Jaguar owners manual, Jaguar repair manual, the files containing all of the receipts, concoure judging sheets, and info pertaining to his Dad's ownership. Three of the prestigious awards are also included along with a car cover. The spoked spare is there along with all of the specialized tools needed to change a tire.

After a very short debate, we decided to forgo detailing the XKE. Our decision is a good thing for the buyer since nothing can be hidden. Besides, we can't think of a better way for you to get to know you and appreciate your new prize. His Dad would have wanted it this way.