‘Now might be the time to bag an E-type Jag’

Late 4.2 2+2s and American import V12s are looking a lot more affordable right now

Now might be the time to bag an E-type Jag. Values are still softening and there have been lots of no-sales at auction. The whole model range is down and only really exceptional Series I 4.2s or very early 3.8s are still making decent money. Hardest hit are the V12 Coupes, 2+2s and Series IIS.

November saw some low auction results that raised a few eyebrows. Bonhams at Bicester sold a British Racing Green 1970 4.2 2+2 – a US import with right-hand drive conversion, but very smart and usable – for £25,312 and a white ’72 V12 coupé (another sharp-looking ex-us car converted to rhd and ready to drive away) for £23,062. Both low numbers, even for US imports.

H&H sold a blue rhd 1968 4.2 2+2, just out of 25-year ownership and with £26,000 worth of restoration bills, for £39,375 and a ’74 lhd V12 roadster with a warranted 33,000 miles from new for £42,750. The Sable body and Moss Green leather may not have been the ideal colour combo, and it had the less desirable automatic ’box, but for a genuine low-mileage V12 drop-top this is another low benchmark price. Anglia fared slightly better with a Primrose ’71 V12 roadster – another EX-USA rhd conversion with 76,000 miles and in very nice nick, which sold for £48,230. Historics hammered away a well-detailed silver rhd ’72 V12 manual coupé, the subject of a two-year restoration with history going back to 1974, for £36,960. So if you don’t mind a 2+2 or an American import V12 coupe, E-type ownership could now be yours for between £25k and £35k – and that’s for shiny, ready-to-use examples that only need a bit of routine fettling. Makes you think...

‘E-type ownership could be yours for £25k- £35k’