2010-07-24 16:43:24 | Lofty writes:

Very original Series 1 4.2 Coupe that I’d been trying to buy since college. The owner was retired from owning a Foreign Repair Shop and Used Car Lot here in Oregon. I first looked at the car in 1991 and the owner asked me to make an offer but would never reveal what he would actually wanted for the car. The car had a “commercial quality” exterior repaint from the original Opalescent Maroon to Regency Red sometime in the 1980’s. The cylinder head had been rebuilt and expansion tank replaced around the same time. Uncertain if the car has ever been run since that work was completed. The seats were unaccounted for when I looked at the car in 2008 but the house was very cluttered with cars and parts. When the owner passed and I contacted his family about purchasing the car. My last offer in 2008 was $20,000 which was rejected. I’ve since purchased another car.

2012-12-25 08:39:17 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 12/25/12
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/48783-ORIG-MILES-SURVIVOR-S1-COUPE-MATCH-SOLID-FACT-FLRS ...
Current bid $20,000 reserve not met, 16 bids 9 days left in auction. Car now said to be in Lafayette, California.

Sellers description:
"Survivor" 1966 Jaguar Series 1 E-Type 4.2 liter Coupe, beautiful original paint and interior, 48783 actual miles. Garaged: No rust or accidents ever, 100% factory metal with solid original floors, perfect bonnet, rock-solid trunk. Numbers-matching Coupe with excellent factory color combination, per Jaguar's Heritage Certificate. The finest survivor S1 E-Type on the market. Interior in amazing condition, mostly original paint that still shows superb, enough patina to prove it's authenticity. Inspect the dashboard and note it remains showroom-fresh, 47 years after the fact. I repeat, this interior has never been redone, even the original carpets look superb. Stored for decades in a garage and not driven. Our Master Technician Gino pulled the fuel tank and had it cleaned, replaced fuel lines, rebuilt the carburetors, serviced the engine and brakes, checked all the electrical systems, and the car runs and drives beautifully. Original tool kit complete and untouched. I have owned over 100 E-Types, and I currently own ten Series 1 cars.

2012-12-26 10:30:26 | Blanding writes:

This car isn't really as original as it's described. Lofty above comments about the seats and the repaint (which is obvious from the photos as the underhood is the old color. Other aspects which appear to be non-origianl from photos: tool kit, sun visors, headliner, radio, shift boot & knob, center console lid, small box on console, switch beside radio, steering wheel, wire wheels, footwell carpets, header tank, spark plug wires, alternator & missing alternator shield, missing mudshield under brake servo, most of hose clamps not Cheney style. A very nice car, but not deserving sellers claim of "finest example ofr original Coupe I" unless he or she just hasn't seen many original coupes.

2012-12-28 16:19:12 | Anonymous writes:

I entered this Series 1 Coupe to XK Data in 7-24-10 (including two photos). I'm very familiar with the car and looked at it several times over a 17-year period. I also own two Series 1 E-Types and an XK-120. "Blanding's" observations on 12-26-12 are very accurate and should be considered. This is a great car with a great body and I'm glad to see something is finally happening with it but I have an issue with it being referred to as a "Survivor" and "The finest survivor S1 E-Type on the market" and being listed on XK Data as an "Excellent Original".
This car had a complete exterior repaint the wrong color many years ago by the owner who resided in Oregon. This was obvious by visual inspection and represented as being repainted by the family when I last looked at the car in 2008. Referring to this car as a "Survivor" would denote an entirely original car with original paint. Also note the car has had cosmetic enhancements and presents better in photos than it looked in person in 2008 (note the flat black paint on components and undercarriage in addition to the overspray from the exterior repaint in the photos entered on 12-25-12).
Prior to the Oregon owner's passing, the car was partially disassembled and pieces were unaccounted for the last time I looked at it in 2008. It's unfortunate the cars "Original" owners manual, documentation, tool kit, jack and spare tire weren't located. I would also be concerned with all hardware from the parts that were removed and reinstalled. I'm not surprised pieces were missing from the condition of the residence; review the photos I took in 2008 and posted in 2010. The car was stored in an unheated extremely disorganized garage (I'm being nice). I entered another car from the Oregon owner's estate in 2010 (Series 1.5 OTS Car # 1E16191) that sat right outside the garage from where this car was stored. The Oregon owner had two additional E-Types, another series 1.5 OTS and a Series 3 2+2 that were also apart. In 2008 the family told me they intended to reassemble this car and the Series 3 2+2 so they could be sold and were going to keep a Series 1.5 OTS using the second 1.5 OTS car # 1E16191 as a parts car.
My assumption is the Oregon owner (who had an automotive repair shop) acquired the car with cylinder head problems associated with overheating. He completed the cylinder head repair and expansion tank replacement, which was another concern I had when I was trying to purchase the car. If I remember correctly the car was last registered in 1982.
I'm a big believer in preservation when possible. Due to the repaint, incorrect parts and poor storage I can't see a way around a sympathetic restoration. The family wouldn't reveal what they would sell the car for and rejected my $20,000 offer in 2008 in disassembled, non-running condition. I stopped perusing the car at that point and purchased another car. I entered the condition in 2010 as "awaiting restoration". "Pauls" changed my entry to "Excellent Original" 12-25-12. Condition is subjective and I'm assuming "Pauls" hasn't inspected the car in person. This is a great car but I consider referring to the car as a "Survivor" or "The finest survivor S1 E-Type on the market" or "Excellent Original" to be inaccurate.

2013-01-01 14:25:03 | pauls writes:

Anonymous, thanks for adding your valuable observation. I haven't seen the car only going on the photos and sellers description, your description trumps theirs IMO. The next most favorable category would be "nice driver", which doesn't capture their claim of original metal, solid, mostly original paint, nice original interior, no crashes and low miles. However if you feel it fills the nice driver category better I'm very comfortable with that change.

2013-03-20 16:08:42 | healeyman writes:

I've bought this car 31.12.2012 and it was a really bad blunder!
The paintwork is very bad, many scratches, dents, little bubbles,
needs a full new paintjob...
The floors are partially rusted through, pasted over with civil matters,
covered then with the carpets...
The exhaust system is rusted through, no pictures from that...
Wheels and tires were unusable...
Should I tell you more?
Beware of the seller (ebay: Dusty 356a) Douglas H. Berry in Lafayette/CA, he's obviously a real lier and crook!
I've a lot of pictures to verify, but he's denying every fault!

2013-08-10 10:29:32 | anotherdustyvictim writes:

Ditto..............Here is my story on the early 911 registry........sounds exactly like healeyman's story

www.early911sregistry.org/forums/showthread.php