The latest figures in this issue’s Price Guide Movers On The Up reveal what could be further signs of recovery from the Jaguar E-type price slide. The decline seemed to bottom out late last year, and new data shows two in particular making strong leaps.
The Series 1 2+2 coupé (fixed-head coupé in Jaguar speak), the one with slightly longer wheelbase and a taller roof to accommodate very small rear seat passengers, is up a spectacular 18%, enough to place it in our top 20 growers this month. That makes rough examples typically around £11k and presentable cars needing work double that figure. When you consider the cost of restoration work on these complex cars, £47.5k for a mint condition example and £65k for perfection looks particu-larly good value. The first series cars, with the covered headlights and delicate lighting and bumper treatment are the most fancied, but the 2+2 is less desirable than the two seater fhc and roadster (open two-seater) respectively and remains a relative bargain. You could buy two for the price of the two-seater fhc.
The Series 2 roadster, along with the so-called Series 1.5 (the transitional cars with a mix of S1 and S2 details), are next up for growth, gaining 7.3% for this update. That places them at £27k, £45k, £77.5k and £110k in equivalent condition. Although the S2 is a better car to drive than its prede-cessor, cosmetic changes including full-width bumpers, a wider radiator intake, larger light clusters and uncovered headlamps make them perennially cheaper than the S1s. Only E-type people seem to care though – drive anywhere in your S2 and pretty much everyone you meet will swoon.
Price Guide Movers On The Up is part of our regular 16 pages of market and buying coverage in Classic Cars, which also includes smart buying guru Quentin Willson’s Hot Tips, market-watcher Russ Smith’s Chasing Cars, a detailed four-page buying guide and Ads on Test evaluations of four classics for sale.