The purist’s choice
AS WELL AS LOOKS, speed and badge appeal, the E-type has always offered something most of its competitors do not: relative affordability. Rivals from Aston Martin, Ferrari, Porsche et al were much more costly than the Jaguar new, and in most cases still are. A sorted, standard E-type is certainly not cheap but, compared with a similarly gremlin-free DB4 or a Ferrari 250 GT, it is quite the bargain.
‘Sorted’ is the key word, because it is still just about possible to buy an E-type for £20k, but that will just be start of your spend, assuming you want a car and not a garden ornament.
Happily for buyers, in the last 12-18 months E-type values have cooled following a period that saw early cars appreciate rapidly, dragging the rest with them. Whether you’re looking at Series 1, Series 1½ or Series 2 cars, roadsters command more than the coupés – music to the
