MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Well, I found the old girl a GOOD home, where she is going to be appreciated for what she is! We just made arrangements with a gentleman in the UK to bring the car back to where she was born, and who is planning to restore this E-Type and enjoy fun afternoons – with the grandkids tagging along in the back seat – PERFECT!
I’ve gotta tell you, I’m pretty proud of myself on this one! This E-Type has been sitting indoors for 30 YEARS – and too often, an early 2+2 like this would have been parted out… Well,… NOT ON MY WATCH, BABY!!! This is a great car, and I’m looking forward to following along as she is restored to her former glory – and DRIVEN!
Thanks, Dave, and Good Luck with the project! – Chuck
I recently arranged to purchase a large batch of E-Type parts and pieces, and included in the deal is this orphaned 1968 E-Type – Series 1.5, 4-speed, 2+2.
I really like these early 2+2’s – I have one just like it downstairs and drive it every day this time of year – they are GREAT! On top of that, they are a BARGAIN! I have found that the Series 1 and 1.5 4-speed 2+2’s are a real “hidden gem”! In my opinion, they are currently the best kept secret in the E-Type hobby, and a fabulous car in their own right! So if you are still looking for the right E-Type project – read on – this just might be it!
- Barn Find – This E-Type was purchased as a non-running project car in 1980, and has been stored indoors in this GOOD building ever since. Actually, this is kind of a more modern, well-constructed “barn”, so I guess you COULD say this is a barn find!
- Clear US Title – It has a clear US title, and rolls and steers for easy transport.
- Numbers-Matching – It is a complete, original, numbers-matching E-Type that has never been disassembled.
- Manual – It is an original 4.2-liter, full-synchro 4-speed. Also, as a NON-air-conditioned 2+2, it is much rarer (and more desirable) – than the more common Automatic/AC 2+2’s… It appears that this car DID once have an aftermarket air-conditioning system that has been removed.
- Light Blue/Black – The original color scheme is light blue with a black interior. I do have a LARGE amount of EXCELLENT dark blue interior trim pieces from a 1968 2+2 that can be included in this package if you like. These pieces were removed from a restored light blue 2+2 with a dark blue interior, whose owner parted out THAT beautiful car and used it to build a FHC… This includes a VERY GOOD dark blue leather rear seat, door panels, center console, cantrails, etc. Sorry, I do not have the dark blue front seat covers. The point is that light blue with a dark blue interior would look GREAT, and I already have about half of the interior – which can be a little pricey on a 2+2 because the rear seat is all leather…
I REALLY want to find this E-Type a good home, so the price for this project is very reasonable in the current market – and negotiable! Give me a ring and let’s talk about finding this E-Type a good home in your garage! We can also tailor the project to suit your particular tastes/needs – possibly including the dark blue interior pieces mentioned above, Series 1 covered headlamp conversion, triple SU’s, new panels, etc
In conclusion, this is a GREAT E-Type that you should SERIOUSLY consider! This is a good, honest E-Type project car. There is some rust in the outer sides of the floor panels, and also the lower sections of the sills, concentrated in the rear outer corners of the floors. This is typical on a 2+2, but the inner sections of the floors and all around the driveline tunnel are solid. The car has been resprayed black over the original light blue, but there is ZERO metalwork or filler under the black paint – it is a simple respray… So you won’t have to worry about cleaning up someone else’s mess – this car is VIRGIN!
I imagine this car restored, plus converted to triple carbs, smooth cam covers, and covered headlamps – at which point you basically have a Series 1 coupe with a 9-inch longer wheelbase – giving you a roomier interior for longer touring, and a MUCH smoother and stable ride at high speed.
An early 2+2 is my personal FIRST CHOICE for family fun! I am in the business and can pretty much have any E-Type I want I guess – Monocoque Metalworks currently owns about half a dozen E-Type project cars of every Series and style – and I own Monocoque Metalworks… BUT – I drive an E-Type JUST LIKE the one offered for sale here! I still have my original 3.8 roadster downstairs, but it is in a million pieces and may never go back together at this rate – ESPECIALLY with the ’67 2+2 around! I drive my 2+2 EVERY DAY in the Spring, Summer, and Fall – and I LOVE IT! If I need to go somewhere, and don’t need the truck, I drive the 2+2! It is a big part of “living the E-Type dream” here at the shop – and now also a family favorite that is not for sale at any price – I highly recommend it!
There are several photos below – the first batch are of the ’68 E-Type 2+2 that is available, the last few are of my family and I having a BALL in my late-’67 last Spring and Summer!
This is 100% of the E-Type dream at 25% of the price – Don’t miss it!
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- Here she is! This car has been sitting RIGHT HERE, since sometime in 1980. The building wss full, but neat, clean, and very dry. The car is 100% complete, and has never been apart other than minor maintenance, etc.
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- The car was originally light blue, but has been resprayed black. From what I can see, there is ZERO filler or questionable metalwork under the black paint, it was just a simple respray and color change.
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- The typical rust around the rear wheel arches is JUST getting started. What’s nice on this one is that no one else has come in here yet and butchered this body shell with poor metalwork, so it can be properly repaired with new repair panels of minimal size.
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- The bonnet is straight and solid, with only minor rust in the usual locations – it’s an easy rstoration and fits the car very well.
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- I actually really like both the profile of the Series 1.5 headlamp, as well as the MUCH increased lighting at night. But this is also VERY easily converted to factory Series 1 specs with one of our conversion kits, and that can be included in the sale if you like.
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- The leading edge of the bonnet around the mouth has suffered some minor damage, but this is also easily repaired, and not at all indicative of any type of major collision – it’s basically just low-speed parking dings, etc.
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- Otherwise, the bonnet is EXCELLENT! This is an early, “triple-wiper” 2+2 – as E-Types SHOULD BE! The later Series 2 2+2’s have a different rake to the windshield and only 2-wipers, and I personally prefer this traditional style MUCH better.
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- The engine is the later 4.2 with 2 Zenith-Stromberg carbs. This is also VERY easily converted to the Series 1 triple SU’s – though from a performance standpoint, you can do just as well with these carbs when properly tuned. One of the fastest cars we ever had come through the shop when I was a kid was a bone stock ’68 OTS with the same 2-carb setup.
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- Here , you can see evidence of an aftermarket AC system that was once installed and then removed. The alternator bracket is the original non-AC bracket, and we will include a correct, original alternator. The ribbed cam covers are also easily converted to the earlier smooth style, and we have plenty of those that can be included as well. The radiator is the later Series 2 style – it is a more traditional setup without the header tank, but instead also has a traditional overflow tank on the firewall. My ’67 with the same setup runs at a steady 185 degrees all Summer, with the twin fans coming on only occasionally – but when they do, they actually WORK – versus the silly little “lawnmower blade” of a Series 1…
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- Everything under the bonnet is correct, complete, and virgin. There won’t be the endless searching of the proper original hose clamps, bolts, brackets, etc. on this one – it’s ALL still there!
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- Another shot under the bonnet, showing the minimal rust and overall very good condition of the internal panels.
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- A shot of the interior, showing the original light blue paint behind the missing radio console. Pretty sure that is floating around somewhere in the parts we picked up from the same location, but if not, we will provide that as well. We DO have the parcel trays that bolt in under the glovebox and LH instrument panel. The steering wheel is straight and restorable, and all of the gauges are good as well – the car even still has the original keys in the ignition! One very noteworthy feature of this photo is the light layer of dust/mold/mildew on the dash pad. It will wipe off easily, but look – NO cracks! This car has been in a very dry, controlled environement for a LONG time! Actually, it was only outside of this building for 13 years!
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- Everything is PERFECT and totally virgin back here, and the rear hatch fits like a glove! The car is also fitted with a heated rear window from the factory.
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- Inside, the interior is in very good shape for something that his been sitting around this long – another testament to the good conditions within this building for the past 35 years!
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- Here is a shot of the back seat – they usually have little wear, and this one is damn near useable with a simple clean-up! But if you are interested, we do have that dark blue ’68 2+2 interior that is excellent – ESPECIALLY the rear seat!
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- Another shot of the cockpit – I forget how many miles are on the odometer, but I’m pretty sure it is 60-something… The condition of everything in here is QUITE good, and you might get away with a good cleaning and two new front seat covers and be on your way!
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- A shot of some SURFACE rust inside the bonnet, but there is very little cancerous rust, and what there is, is very small…
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- This is a shot of the LH rear lower valance. Typical rust bubbling right behind the wheel, but overall, GREAT compared to what we usually see!
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- And I think the boot floor is OK overall – unbelieveable!
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- The RH rear lower valance – also excellent!
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- Here’s the worst of it, but BELIEVE ME, this is not bad at all! (If you don’t believe that, cruise through our blogs a bit!) This car will need the outer sections of the floors replaced, along with the outer sills. I’m pretty sure that the inner sills will either be OK, or only need minor work in the lower sections and NOT need to be removed. This is the LH side shot from the front. That very front corner there is messy, but will all be taken care of by the relatively straightforward replacement of the floor panel, outer sill, and the bulkhead sill closing panel. If it wasn’t for the jacking damage caving in the floor, you could get away with minimal pacthing of it in the outer region.
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- This shot is from the rear on the RH side – same story. Things are a little messy in that rear corner, but it’s not as bad as it looks. The best part, though, is that THIS IS IT! Aside from the outer areas of the floors and the outer sills, plus a little work in the bottom of the RH door and around the rear wheel arches, the body shell is quite solid!
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- Here is a shot of the Monocoque Metalworks “company car” – a 1967 Series 1.25 4-speed 2+2! I purchased this car in the Fall of 2013 to play with a little bit and then re-sell, but after only a couple of drives, I couldn’t bear to part with it, and fell madly in love!
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- And so did the rest of the family! The cute little back seat gives just enough room for the smallest members of the Hadley clan, and a gets all 4 of us out of the house to give Mom a well-deserved break!
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- But when touring alone, or running business errands, the back seat slides forward to give a very ample cargo space! I’m telling you, these cars are GREAT – they are the best kept secret in E-Types!!!
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- At a local car show, it’s all Oooh’s and Aaahh’s…
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- And “Yeeeee-Haaaahhh’s” when I’m blasting down a country road on a Sunday afternoon!
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- Here’s a really cool shot of an identical ’68 2+2 in the same original light blue color.
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- You can paint the car any color you like, of course, but in my opinion, the light blue is a GREAT color on this car! When I originally purchased the light green 2+2 shown above, I was not wild about the color, but it did grow on me – quick! And I’ll tell you this, women LOVE IT!
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- So if you’re having trouble imagining what this car would look like restored to its former glory, here it is! Stop dreaming about owning an E-Type and start LIVING that dream! I already am – EVERY DAY – in an open-headlamp, 4-speed 2+2 JUST LIKE THIS – and trust me, it’s a BLAST!!!
