This was possibly the nicest classic car I’ve owned, as far as appearance and condition go. The fixed-head coupe E-Type is perhaps the lovliest car ever made, and this was a very nice example by the time I was done with it. What else to do, then, than sell it?
I received the car in trade for a 1988 Jaguar XJ40 sedan, plus a bit of cash. The XKE had been painted, but none of the chrome had been put back on. It had a brand new interior, too. Mechanically, I don’t think much had been done to the car, except that needed to get by…indeed, it had an engine out of a later E-Type in it. I ended up rebuilding the rear suspension, replacing the thrust washers in the engine, putting a new clutch in it, new brakes, tires, etc.
It also leaked like crazy in the rain, so I only used it on nice days. And since I rode my motorcycle often on nice days, the car wasn’t used as much as I would have liked. Here’s some faulty logic for you:
- Convertibles are nice on sunny days
- I only use the car on sunny days, therefore
- I should sell it and get a convertible!
Uh huh. Well, that’s what I did, and I’m fortunate that Bob Hawkins bought the car from me and has given it a wonderful home. However, nice coupes sell for what ropey convertibles cost (in the XKE world) and that’s just what I got. It’s been five years or more now since I made the swap and I regret it a bit. My ’61 will be lovely once it’s done but that’s not going to be anytime soon!