Introduced in 1961 as a replacement for the XK150, the E-Type remained in production through 1974 and became Jaguar’s most iconic car. It’s also regarded as one of the most beautiful vehicles ever made.
But even though it’s a sought-after and expensive classic, the E-Type faces the same struggles as most vintage rigs. Specifically, most of them are still waiting to be rescued from barns and backyards. Some examples even spent decades in improper storage and need a complete overhaul to become road-worthy. The Series 2 version you see here is one of those cars.
Found and documented by YouTube’s “IMSTOKZE,” this once beautiful Jag was parked in 1978. Since it’s a Series 2 model, it spent seven to nine years on public roads before it was put into storage for unknown reasons. And it’s been sitting for 45 years as of 2023.
Unfortunately, the E-Type was parked on a property that’s been abandoned for a very long time. And as the building decayed, so did the car, which is now rusty and covered in moss. Making matters worse, there was no top to protect the cabin, so the interior is also in poor shape.
On the other hand, things could have been much worse. Sure, the paint is crusty, and rust is an issue on almost every steel element, but I’ve seen classics morph into rust buckets after sitting for only two decades. This Jag is still salvageable, and unless the frame is rotten, it’s a solid project car.
And there’s some good news under the hood as well. The E-Type still has an engine, and it sure looks like it’s the original, numbers-matching mill. Of course, it needs a complete rebuild and a long list of replacement parts, but it’s way better than having no engine or a swap. At least when it comes to the car’s value as a restored classic.
Furthermore, this E-Type is also a low-mileage gem. The odometer shows only 31,500 miles (50,694 km), so it wasn’t driven much before the owner parked it for good.
So, how rare is this Jaguar? Well, while I can’t find any hints on which model-year E-Type it is, this drop is one of 18,809 Series 2 vehicles the British firm built from 1968 to 1971. And since it’s a drop-top, I can narrow it down to 8,628 produced in this configuration. All told, while it’s scarcer than a Series 1, it’s slightly more common than the Series 3.
What makes the Series 2 stand out compared to the Series 1? The absence of glass headlamp covers is the most distinctive feature. The change was made so that the E-Type would align with NHTSA regulations. The Series 2 also features a wrap-around rear bumper, repositioned taillights, and more prominent front indicators.
All Series 2 cars were produced with a 4.2-liter straight-six engine rated at 246 horsepower. The Series 1 was also available with a 3.8-liter inline-six. Jaguar introduced a 5.3-liter V12 powerplant for the Series 3.
While a spectacular find, this E-Type is also a heartbreaking sight. And not just because it’s in poor condition. The property it calls home looks like it’s been abandoned for a very long time, which means the E-Type and all the other cars parked here won’t be going away anytime soon. Unless someone acts fast and gets it out there, the E-Type will decay beyond the point where it’s still feasible to rebuild it.