2005-09-19 21:26:09 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 9/19/05
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jaguar-E-Type-Coupe-The-Purrfect-Jaguar_W0QQcmdZViewItem ...
Current bid $20,100.00 (Reserve not met), 20 bids, 1 day left in auction. 35k miles.

Sellers desxription:
For sale - the most reliable and beautiful 1963 XKE coupe ever! I bought this Jaguar with two missions - to make it beautiful, and to make it modern-day reliable. After a one year search, I found a one-owner, original black-plate CA car with no rust. It had just over 32,000 miles. Then I began the restoration (so far I have over $50,000 in the car...), as follows:

Body: Bare metal strip, panel alignment, 8 coats of epoxy sealer, 16 coats of sanding sealer (block sanded every 4 coats), and 8 coats of period correct red paint. Over 140 hours went into the accident free body, ensuring all panel gaps were correct, that all the panels were reformed to original specifications, etc. After painting, all new seals, weatherstipping, and lighting wiring was replaced or refurbished to as-new. The doors and hatch were removed, and all mechanisms rebuilt during this process. No rust was found on the exterior; there was some minor rust in the driver's floorpan, and it was replaced. Bumpers are about a 8+, with very minor pitting. The balance of the car is better than perfect. The paint is extremely glossy, so much so that the car has not even been color sanded!

Electrical: Car converted to 12-volt negative ground, alternator installed ($1100 kit from XK's unlimited), pointless fuel-pump installed, new Mallory Unilite 3-wire distributor with proper ballast resistor, new coil, new ignition wires, new plugs, etc.

Hydraulics: New front and rear master cylinders, all new brake lines (stainless steel braided), new clutch master and slave

Engine/transmission: Carbs rebuilt and flowed (velocity stacks used as well for better flow), headers and all new exhaust with custom mounts (stock mounts tend to fail quickly), new flywheel, clutch, throw-out bearing, etc.(less than 500 miles), new water pump, all new hoses, new oil lines, all wiring replaced or refurbished, electrical system on dedicated switch. Oil pressure is 40 psi at idle when engine warm.

Wheels/tires: New handmade tubeless 72-stainless steel spoke MSW wheels from England, with triple chromed hubs and rims (with 1.5" wider rim and correct offset). New Dunlop SP-40 205/60 radial tires. New hubs/spinners. The rims and tires give the car an exceptional stance, about 1/2" lower than stock, with much more tire on the road for better acceleration, braking, and handling.

Brakes: Completely rebuilt calipers, new front rotors which are cross-drilled and slotted.Rear brakes exceptional with stock rotors and rebuilt calipers

Suspension: About 80% rebuilt, completely aligned, new parts will sell with car for remaining rebuild, but not needed. Car tracks staright and true, tire wear is perfect.

Interior: New Momo wheel, all wiring checked/upgraded, additional voltmeter and mechanical oil pressure gauges, hand-made teak armrest, handmade JVC stereo residing behind seats with no fasteners (so can be easily removed). Original leather seats have beautiful patina.

Notes: Every component removed from the car (except wheels) were saved (all in excellent condition) so car can be returned to OEM condition if required.Original steering wheel and air cleaner perfect, generator has less than 500 miles on rebuild, have new high-torque starter (not installed), have hundreds of spares for carbs, pulleys, hoses, bearings, bushings, oil filters, on and on. I have probably missed many more items, but from the description, you can see that this car is essentially new. It starts faster than my wife's Lexus, and idles smoother!