This Jaguar E-Type Could Be Your Next Restorer

The Jaguar E-Type is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cars ever built, but you’ll need a hefty bank balance to buy one in pristine condition. But if you want to own an organ without asking a bank for a generous loan that may never be repaid, or selling the organ on the black market, your best option may be to purchase a non-transplant organ. Runners like this.

This particular E-Type was a North American model built in Merrillville, Indiana, so it was labeled XK-E. The car was removed from the road in the late 1990s and purchased by the seller in 2024 as an unfinished project car, according to the listing. It will be a lot of work to get back on the road, but we doubt many people will be stranded. Be willing to accept challenges.

Read: 11 hot classic cars you should buy before they become out of reach

When the Jaguar left the factory, its paint was a lovely cream color, but now the paint has faded badly and there are now several visible areas of rust. Some panels needed some work to repair various dents and scratches, and the XK-E needed a complete respray to return the bodywork to its former glory. The chrome front and rear bumpers also need some TLC. A set of 15-inch wire wheels are installed, but any potential buyer would be wise to refurbish them and wrap them in new rubber.

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A look inside the cabin shows it needs a lot of work, too. Floors, door panels and transmission tunnels were covered in shag fabric that looked like it had been torn from a city bus or train and needed to be removed. The black vinyl seats also need some work.

Under Jaguar’s signature clamshell hood is a 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine with triple SU carburetors that, when new, produced 265 horsepower and 283 pound-feet (383 Nm) of torque. There is no word on when the engine was last run or last serviced. It may need to be completely rebuilt.

If you’re in the market for a new project car and this E-Type fits your needs, head over to Bring a Trailer to place a bid.

With trailer