By Dean Larson

Photos: Sellers, Hemmings

You’ll never forget your first experience with a classic Jaguar, or at least I know I won’t. It was a Series 2 E-Type, black on black, with redline radials and twin SU carburetors. Fittingly though, the unrestored Coupe was in need of brake work, meaning they would eventually haul the car to a stop after frantic pumping of the pedal. I followed the owner in his DeTomaso Pantera for a brief fall drive, which reached its crescendo when a deer jumped out in front of me. The Jag’s razor-sharp handling easily steered me safely away from the animal, but it was terrifying nonetheless — definitely an experience I won’t forget.

Since then I’ve dream of purchasing a less-than-perfect E-Type, something with some character that you could fix up and drive sparingly. But seeing as the model is one of the most iconic cars ever built, a fella has to wonder if one could truly be had on a budget. That’s of course a relative term, but these three XK-Es on Hemmings ask less than $40,000 each, making them a relative bargain over the $90,000 to $100,000 that average Series 1 and Series 2 cars trade hands for.

With E-Type Jags, much of the value comes down to when they were built. Series 1 cars command the strongest values, largely thanks to their cover headlamps, toggle switches (as opposed to rocker switches) and triple SU carburetors. You’ll get all that in this ’67 Series 1 Coupe, and at the lowest price point on the list at $29,900.

The car is admittedly in rough condition, with dents and body damage covering much of the exterior, but it’s over 50 years old now, and honestly, she could be worse. The seller states that most of the damage could be worked out of the Jag’s panels, but I’m guessing the gash in the rear won’t exactly be a walk in the park.

The car was built in early ’67, which makes it the last of the covered-headlamp Series 1 cars, as late ’67s are referred to as Series 1 1/2 cars, and are often fit with the uncovered headlamps as seen on the Series 2 cars. It sports a correct 4.2-liter XK inline-six cylinder engine with 265 hp and 283 lb-ft.

The other main dig on this car is that it’s no longer numbers matching, as this replacement 4.2-liter was installed sometime over the car’s life, allegedly just 550 units later than the original engine. It’s also been repainted white over its original primrose yellow.

The seller is asking $29,900 for the car here on Hemmings classifieds in Cowan Heights, California.

This Series 1 Coupe was originally finished in dazzling opalescent maroon with a tan interior. It was exported to Iceland when new, before later ending up on the West Coast. It’s another 4.2-liter car, this one numbers matching, and retains its desirable covered headlights and toggle switches in the interior.

The owner says the car is 99 percent complete, but has some minor rust in the passenger-side sills and floors. However replacement Martin Robey panels are included in the sale, which is likely worth a healthy sum.

Given the striking color combination and relatively complete condition of the car, it’s no surprise the seller is after a bit more coin. He’s asking $39,500 here on Hemmings classifieds in Hanover, Massachusetts.

This ’62 Series 1 is perhaps the most interesting car on our list, given that it’s an early model from the E-Type’s second year in production. Before October 1964, the E-Type was powered by a 3.8-liter version of the XK inline-six as seen in the XK150. 3.8-liter cars also utilized a partial synchromesh transmission, while the 4.2-liter cars were fully synchronized. From a valuation standpoint, the Series 1 4.2-liter cars have commanded the strongest values though, given the 10 percent boost in torque from the larger engine.

This car is also, interestingly, equipped with a dealer-installed Webasto sunroof, which may not equate to a higher sale price, since the leather interrupts the clean roofline. The seller states that the car is solid with the exception of extensive rust on the rocker panels. It’s been in storage since the 1980s and will require an extensive cosmetic and mechanical restoration. However, it should be worth the work, given that it’s an early Series 1 with its numbers-matching engine.

The seller is asking $36,995 for the car here on Hemmings in Pleasanton, California.