While I love seeing how barn finds look, I really don't understand the mystique behind them. To me, a barn find is sad, reflecting how a once much loved vehicle has been abandoned to an uncertain fate. Restoring them to their original condition is not a sin - it is as they should always have been. Doing such do not erase their history but merely adds another (positive) chapter. Thanks for sharing, Richard.

When I was a kid in Canada in 1965 a local doctor ordered one 'exactly' like this one from England. It took almost a year to arrive. Ironically, the day before he took delivery of the Jag he won a 'band new', fully equipped Mercury at a local charity dinner. He gave the Mercury as a present to his Dad and took possession of the Jag the next day. He kept it for years despite the fact he could hardly fit in it and all maintenance had to be done 150 miles from the town we lived n. What a beautiful car.

You don’t know how much I‘d enjoy seeing you doing this car!

Once it's restored it's like a white tuxedo...you never want to leave the house in it. Just clean, service and ice blast. Then drive and enjoy!

I owned a 1963 XKE OTS for 45 years and have extensive personal experience in attempting to preserve these cars. As to the whole barn find nostalgia: the finding is the best part. The sad reality is that this automobile is gradually deteriorating every second. Factory rustproofing was non existent. There are no galvanized panels. Components, especially brake systems and rubber seals inevitably age. The fascination with a mouldering heap may be special to some, like visiting an airplane crash site, but much more joy is to be had in actually driving the car while gasoline is still available to civilians. The problem with a limited restoration is where to draw the line. Of course all safety systems must be totally reviewed and restored. Pretty soon the car looks awkward with shiny new parts juxtaposed with barn patina. The mind can’t resolve the discrepancy and the owner will lay awake at night without peace. I know. A derelict vehicle is a possible outcome, but not for $170,000. I bought cars like that for $500 back in the day.

This is such a breath taking original example. I would NOT do anything other than a mechanical, electrical, brakes, and suspension restoration. Then spend any amount of time & money simply detailing to original patina.

Even with soo much dirt and filth on it, it still looks stylish as ever, this really shows how well the design held up over the years!

When I was a kid, seeing this car was rare and like seeing a ufo. One Young couple owned one and Seeing it roll up to the stop sign caused all of us young boys to stop playing and just stare at it, and listen closely to hear that engine when it took off. Man it was beautiful. My family owned a 48 Ford.

Love it Richard, I'm amazed they are still finding beauties like this, wow what a find!

What a treat. It is so rarely complete and original, give it a gentle careful deep clean and polish, restore the moving bits, and drive it as it should be. Another wonderful video, thank you so much!

Mate I just love your enthusiasm and approach to restoration. I know that many people love everything crisply restored to within an inch of its life... and others like things looking like a total rat-rod... but the best is somewhere in-between. Things are only original once!

Firstly give it a good Wash...... Then make it safe and reliable..... after which give it a good detailing...... Then enjoy the Drive....That is what it was made for :-)))

Quite remarkable to see a car so lovely but so little used. I appreciate that you have taken the trouble to post up this video and I also hope the owner at least considers using you to refurbish this beauty! Best regards to you and your dad. 🙏🇬🇧

This is the dream find for me personally. It has long been my favorite and most beautiful car ever sculpted. I say sculpted as I consider this vehicle a fine work of art. I will sadly never realize one of these in my driveway but am thrilled for the new owner. Please drive her and have fun. Congratulations to you. My dream your reality. Live it for us both. Thank you for the video.

We all dream of finding cars like this. Can't be many more left...

Sitting in a barn all that time will pretty much have destroyed this car. Virtually everything will need to be replaced. How could it be worth $168K? There is a tremendous difference between "low miles, unrestored and cared-for" and "low miles, left to rot for 50 years".

I think those were the most beautiful cars ever made.

That's a no brainer. If I bought it, I would bring it to you and your dad to do your magic it on it. Really enjoy your videos Richard.

I restored so many of these back to factory condition. Now I cannot afford to by them anymore. But what a perfect car to restore.

Absolutely BeeuuuTIful!! I agree; clean it up and keep everything original/barn-find as possible. Hope it will be shown some day; all cleaned up. Thanks for the excellent tour.

A barn find is like a time machine . You can see the past .

I have a 65 OTS. Found in garage about 7 years ago sitting since 1975. 49K miles. Cleaned up got mechanically working. No restoration. Hope to maintain & Enjoy driving it regularly. Repair when needed. Wonderful grand touring.

That’s a lot of E Type for the money. Personally I’d put it in the hands of a professional detailer, a weeks work would make it a different car visually. Then I’d do exactly what you said mechanically. Keep the “restoration” sympathetic and when roadworthy, drive it & enjoy every mile (kilometre). It’s amazing how these cars are still out there, waiting for the right buyer who will cherish every moment of ownership. Thanks for sharing this blast from the past Richard, takes me back to my apprenticeship working on the bodywork in the mid 60’s 👍🇬🇧🇨🇦

I don't normally buckle at the knees upon seeing a Mercedes Benz, but the specimen next to the Jaguar in this video has certainly caught my eye. They were never again as stylish as these.

Incredible Find ! I would refresh it and drive. Hopefully the engine is free and in good nick. Bought a 1972 Series 3 in '78. Body was fortunately in good shape with solid rocker panels. Thanks for sharing !

Simply amazing! At the now defunct Newport, Rhode Island Jaguar festival back in the early '80's; there was a 1966 all original E-type on display. The owner drove it in from Boston; keeping it in his heated garage most of the time.

Truly beautiful. Thank you

I really don’t like the E Type but every time I see one I fall in love. Go figure.

I couldn't afford it, but I'd give it a full restoration.Thanks for the look at a great car.

One man’s barn find is another man’s part car. This one is destined to be a survivor and driven into the ground.

If fully restored it becomes a concours winning show car but now you are into a $268k investment. Not my thing. Took my E-type out at the weekend for a blast around town and I'm only into it for $60k. A bit rough around the edges, no matching numbers but still a head turner, just like your E-type Richard. Yeah baby!

I’m hoping who ever buys it does the same thing you and your dad done to the gun metal coupe Richard loads of restored ones out there

Hey Richard ....... I am with you , it is original ONLY ONCE !!! ...... All the Best from a Brit in Arizona

Yes.....absolutely a refurbish ....and touch or replace as little as possible. However, that may become unrealistic as condition seems iffy. But what a beautiful car. Absolutely superb. Great video.

I bought 64 E type in 1971 for $1000 , wow what a deal , those were the Day's my Friend . My First car was a 1957 Austin Healy bought in 1966 for $1000. I still keep classic cars have a 66 Vet big block 4 speed , a 1971 Ranchero retro rod 5.0 hipo 6 speed, & a 2002 Honda S2000 . My Daily is a 1019 Chevy Bolt & a 2001 Crown Victoria.

I got a 120 several years ago in similar condition. As with these models, there's enough shiny 120's languishing in locked garages. What I did: ring & valve job, gearbox sent for refurb, all the bushings, rebuild brake components, rebuilt water pump, radiator, damper, shocks, Tires, and it runs as cool as it ever did and drives great!!! do it yourself and the cost is minimal.

Wow! A 1960's Massachusetts car with so little rust. I'll bet that even when it was on the road, it was mostly parked during the winters. My first car, a 1970 Opel, had rust perforations at 4 years old.

Soon these cars will be museum pieces and you'll never see them on the road. About 8 years ago I saw a Cord getting gas around the corner and it blew my mind.

Beautiful, wish I had kept mine!

Make it safe to use on public roads, minimal cosmetic work and mechanical restoration. Perfect as it is Richard.

Nice to hear an American pronounce Jaguar correctly Michael.😉 a good clean, de rust, valet and do the maintenance that is necessary .

Nice find !!!

Sobering to think - ( if that is the right word !😎 ) how many of these cars used to adorn British pub car parks in the 60s without a backward glance...different times and people.

A great talk through Richard, thank you. I was amazed at the factory shut lines they looked excellent and for me a clean, a polish, refurbish anything safety related and then enjoy driving a “new” E Type , I wonder what they felt like and I guess this is the closest you can get? Kind regards, Richard.

That's freaking beautiful

all my Jags had the chrome faucets on bottom of engine to drain coolant. Love seeing those.

Beautiful,

Very cool!!!!

Wow, What a find! I'd go with a ground up restoration except for the power train if it was a runner because of the super low mileage. A car like this needs to go back to it's original glory. I do the very same with all the MGBs I restore. In my case the MGs power- trains always need complete restoration.

Love it! Get it cleaned, refurbish the fuel, break, and electrical systems. Carefully lube and turn the engine then get it running and driving while you love on it!

Worth noting is the still-present closed cell foam rubber sealing around the radiator gap and the foam rubber (or felt) sealing around the top of the radiator screen guard. The overheating issues with these cars may be exacerbated by something as simple as the disintegration and absence of these seals.

If this car were mine I'd bring it to you Richard. I'd suggest that you should perform whatever work you saw fit to get it running safely and be guided by your opinion after that. If it ended at a point where you were happy with it, then so would I be.

I'd leave this one exactly as it is, it's much more interesting as it sits.

the best model of the most beautiful car in the world

I’d love to have that in my garage!

Wow and wow.

Fantastic car, personally I would keep as much of it as posible and drive it. I would leave the full restoration to the next buyer.

As there are so many restored examples out there I would only clean and protect all surfaces and commission a mechanical rebuilt to make it fully serviceable car. Thats what would do this rare find justice.

The admission price for choosing whether to restore this car or leave it as a "barn find" museum piece is very high I have no doubt. Either way it's an enviable position to be in.

Great video Richard, very thorough - I wonder if coolant water was left in the engine and if so, any rust in the water jacket ? - does the engine even turn ?

I'm just an old hot rodder but I would not do a full restoration on this. I'd just start cleaning it and working thru the squawks. I'd try to keep it as original as possible. This car is a time capsule of how they rolled out of the factory doors. It would be a shame to lose that IMHO.

Hi Richard . As soon as l saw it l thought of the FHC you did about 12 months ago ? I think it would respond very well in your capable hands , probably better , The paintwork looks pretty sound . Sadly we'll never know ! Thanks for sharing Richard. Forgot to say! I thought like yourself that CWW 's were standard fitment on all N.American export "e"types . I wonder if the original owner specified painted . And to see those RS5 's !

Nice🙂

World's classiest Rat Rod

Check behind the seats at the floor mounting. You should see small metal tags that were added when built.

Incredible...the three SU carbs...

If the car had been cared for thru the years, it would be a really rewarding find. But in this condition, it's less than fulfilling. So much of the original soft parts are deteriorated so just trying to get it running would be disturbing much of the originality - possibly devaluing it. Much of its value is in the low mileage so it really can't be driven or it will become just a driver. A detailing by a knowledgeable shop would be in order. Then, loan it to a museum for display as-is.

How do you get lucky enough to find something like this? Incredible!

What a fantastic research car. For me, a full service, minor rust repair, wash and polish, new tyres and off I'd go. It would be criminal to pull this down completely.

No wonder Enzo Ferrari said of the E type -The most beautiful car ever built (or words to that effect). And he knew a thing or two about beautiful coachwork

It seems like the only thing you won't find in a barn these days is a horse or a tractor.

For me, a barn find doesn't come with a mandate to retain the dilapidated condition. Rather, it affords one the opportunity to utilize the maximum number of original parts (all restored to original condition), as well as serving as a correct period template for wire & hose routings, setup, etc. I'm all for doing a perfect restoration on a car like this. No repop components whatsoever; every non-original piece utilized would be NOS and have been in a Coventry parts bin in 1965. My only goal for this project (or anything similar) is: as new, factory condition.

What's going on at 7.08 mins above the door hinge? Something dribbled down and was painted over and the door looks like it may have been off.

It was probably parked in 1973 because it was broken. Jaguars of that era were beautiful, yes, but Smiths instruments, Lucas electrics, inadequate cooling, etc, were all part of the experience too.

Ok so I recently went to see a derelict e type with no seats or floors but I was not sure if it was a FHC or a 2+2, is there a way to measure the doors or windscreen height to be sure its a FHC .Thankyou for any help.

Appreciate your wonderful presentation and your thoughts on how to treat this beauty. Is there any way that you can track this vehicle and see what the new owner decided and how she is coming along? Love your channel!

Oh! What a gorgeous find! Yet! what a huge responsibility too! I think I would go the same route as you frankly! How long would that do to be honest? If you do respond thank you too ;)

Prime candidate for a dry ice cleaning.

As is went for 10 times its original sale price somebody has more money than sense! They were never built well and rushed out of Coventry to meet USA demand. I rebuilt my 1966 coupe and what you find when you peel back the layers is shocking. For me I would do a full nut and bolt on this replacing old technology for new including high torque starter motor, four pot disc brakes, five speed manual gearbox, RevoTec aluminium radiator, stainless steel bumpers, high efficiency headlamps, steel wheels(not CWWs), gas shocks, etc etc. To me they are not investments but a classic car to enjoy and use. 😎

Give it a pavillon ... round the rosegarden with one chair in it .. let the cat sleep in the top . and share a pipe with it now and then ... you can always fetch another seat when Sir William is joining in :)

Richard, I am using a Jaguar xk 4.2 inline six from a 420 in a one off non Jaguar car. I can't find the front to back "tilt" angle....if any.... that it should be installed at. What would you recommend. Many thanks, Rob

I am going through a original 40,000 mile 69 e type for a customer last registration was 1975. The car has never been touched body and interior is perfect, I am basically replacing everything that is rubber bushings and mounts, complete brake system. The engine on the other hand was in bad shape coolant was left in the engine and it ate through everything that was aluminum ,it also turned into a solid I spent a couple days trying to clean out the water passages I will have to have the cyl head pressure tested to see if is any good.

Thank you for this! I would just leave it as is....I'm not sure if I would clean it up even! Ahahahahha! Lucky one to survived! Nice Jag!

Wery nise gajuar kar 👍

Nice money pit!

Looks dark blue to me in places ????? amazing find tho. Please someone bring it home to England.

It is only original once. I would clean it up, polish it, and a proper service

@Richard Michael Owen Is there any backstory to this car? Why was it parked in 1972 ?

R M O .......the DaVici of Jaguar !!!!!!

remember your only original once!

Such a shame that car has been parked in some garage for the last 45 years just left to deteriorate. It was an immaculate car which should have been on the road being used. I cannot understand why owners just hang onto cars when they do not want to or are unable to use them.

Would it normally lose most of the collector ceramic finish in just 8000 miles? I'm amazed!

I'm surprised you did'nt buy it

I’d like to see the car cleaned up. It is probably too nice and original to restore, but who knows until the filth is removed.

Good video! Is it true that the engine has to be pulled to remove the radio?

Wow, it will be interesting to see what happens to it. I would want to fully restored but that is just me. The concept of keeping a "barnfind" in this condition does nothing for me I would not restore or redo a car that was in original condition if it had been well cared for but this car in the current condition does not appeal to me. Of course each to his own.

can't see or hear any mention of it - does the engine turn?

IDE go patina restore. What a can of worms that’s gonna be once you start. It would be so hard not to go full on! Shame it wasn’t preserved better.. maybe it’ll end up in your shop! 🇦🇺🍺🍺

A good wash, some polish, and replacing the rubber hoses should get that to driveable. :-)* (BTW, jeweller's rouge does a nice job removing surface corrosion from aluminum or magnesium alloys.)

the most beautiful car ever...or at least equal with 59 Eldorado...