Classic car conundrum

[Scaf]

Ok, so I currently have a TR6 to compliment the Strad and my daily.

Thing is I have always wanted an E Type and have always fancied a Healey 3000, both of which are significantly more expensive than the TR6.
E type S1 would be at least 100k more
Healey would be at least £50k more

So does anyone here happen to own either of the above and able to share ownership experience.

I need to ask myself “are they worth it”

 

[Felonious Crud]

I see more E-types around here than Healeys, therefore must conclude that the Healey is the more special car. Whilst it lacks the iconic status of the E-type, it is still staggeringly lovely.

 

[Oneball]

I think e types are over priced nowadays, they’re tiny inside too.

Healey’s I love. I sometimes wish I’d gone down that route rather than the Vette. They’re similar to your TR6 but with a more vintage feel, you’re close to the wheel and they’ve heavy controls. The Mk3 with the wooden dash is massively overrated I’m my eyes, it’s the same car really, but heavier. You should get one for less than £50k.

 

[Phil H]

How about a Sebring SX (aka Healey)? Old school motoring and hopefully without some of the old school problems. Prices for decent E-Types are getting silly.

 

[philw696]

Both have straight 6 motors like your TR6 but the Jaguar XK motor is a wonderful piece of engineering for its day.
Search the classified ads and go and have a look.

 

[RodTungsten]

TR6/5/4 - Ferguson tractor engine. Big Healey/MGC - Austin/Morris/ Wolsey lump- Ran a Wolsey 6/110 and an Austin Princess 3L before the 3.8 MkII Jag. Jag by far the best…

 

[Scaf]

Thanks so far, you are all expressing my own thoughts - the straight six in any guise is what appeals to me in a classic.

I am off tomorrow to Rowles motorsport to see some Healeys - they have an early one that’s just out of the box after restoration - it’s pricey though!

 

[Oneball]

TR6/5/4 - Ferguson tractor engine. Big Healey/MGC - Austin/Morris/ Wolsey lump- Ran a Wolsey 6/110 and an Austin Princess 3L before the 3.8 MkII Jag. Jag by far the best…

MGC engine is completely different, yep at one point in time the same company actually made 5 different 2.5/3l six cylinder engines, no wonder they went bust.

 

[MAF260]

Sam - my next door neighbour has 3 E-types. He's restored 2 of them already and is currently working on the third which he will sell once complete. If you wanted a good close up of a coupe and a convertible along with ownership experience I'm sure he'd oblige - you'll likely have seen the grey coupe at the Chorleywood car show recently.

 

[Nibby]

I do love the look of the e-type but although still a well liked car in recent years they seem like they’ve lost a bit of sparkle as the main attraction due to some of the generation who remember them new no longer with us. The new generation seem all Porsche 911’s and Fast Fords as the must-have cars. Poor old MG’s seem like they’ve dropped right down the pecking order for anyone under 50.

 

[Marco07]

Sell a kidney and maybe remortgage to buy a 60’s Aston instead.

 

[Scaf]

Sell a kidney and maybe remortgage to buy a 60’s Aston instead.

One day —— if I can ever afford to sink 400k into a classic, that’s where it would go.

 

[Scaf]

Sam - my next door neighbour has 3 E-types. He's restored 2 of them already and is currently working on the third which he will sell once complete. If you wanted a good close up of a coupe and a convertible along with ownership experience I'm sure he'd oblige - you'll likely have seen the grey coupe at the Chorleywood car show recently.

That’s a great offer - I may well be in touch

 

[outrun]

I had an e-type for a while. Series 3, v12 FHC.

It was rubbish. I loved it but there was no hiding from it being not very good. I think you need to really consider one with modern upgrades from Eagle or similar such as disc brakes, air con, proper cooling, upgraded ignition and so on. Otherwise, they are old cars, relatively mass produced, relatively cheaply and not very well.

These days, I think i'd be looking at a proper restomod Alfa as being where to go for a cool classic.

 

[Scaf]

I had an e-type for a while. Series 3, v12 FHC.

It was rubbish. I loved it but there was no hiding from it being not very good. I think you need to really consider one with modern upgrades from Eagle or similar such as disc brakes, air con, proper cooling, upgraded ignition and so on. Otherwise, they are old cars, relatively mass produced, relatively cheaply and not very well.

These days, I think i'd be looking at a proper restomod Alfa as being where to go for a cool classic.

Interesting ……… food for thought

The Etype I have looked at have all had some upgrades like disc brakes and I would be looking 3.8 or early 4.2 in a series 1
The Coupes can be had 60 - 70k and drop head would be 120k at least
I could easily be disappointed

 

[MAF260]

Interesting ……… food for thought

The Etype I have looked at have all had some upgrades like disc brakes and I would be looking 3.8 or early 4.2 in a series 1
The Coupes can be had 60 - 70k and drop head would be 120k at least
I could easily be disappointed

My neighbour’s convertible is a series 1 3.8

 

[NickP]

My dad had a couple of 3000s, also Healey Silverstone, and a Westland, plus many TRs 5,6,7 and even an 8 so I can speak about all of them to some degree. What is it specifically you are interested in? The last 3000 he got was a Cali import that was converted to RHD, black and cream, lovely car. They've shot up in price but tbh the TR6 was just as much fun to drive etc. Depends what you want it for, an investment or for fun. Anyway if you want to know anything specific about 3000 I'm seeing him this weekend and happy to ask. No idea about etypes I'm afraid other than avoid the 2+2.

 

[outrun]

Interesting ……… food for thought

The Etype I have looked at have all had some upgrades like disc brakes and I would be looking 3.8 or early 4.2 in a series 1
The Coupes can be had 60 - 70k and drop head would be 120k at least
I could easily be disappointed

I'd buy a coupe, it looks better and is less money. I bought mine from a work contact that had owned it for decades and it was just an opportune thing. I also bought his Aston DBS which although it made me look like the Saint, was nearly as rubbish as the Jag and I flipped it almost immediately. I will add that this was a good while ago before prices went nuts. The Aston was £20k, for example!

 

[Scaf]

I'd buy a coupe, it looks better and is less money. I bought mine from a work contact that had owned it for decades and it was just an opportune thing. I also bought his Aston DBS which although it made me look like the Saint, was nearly as rubbish as the Jag and I flipped it almost immediately. I will add that this was a good while ago before prices went nuts. The Aston was £20k, for example!

oh my, a DBS for £20k, now that would be a bargain today.

 

[Scaf]

My dad had a couple of 3000s, also Healey Silverstone, and a Westland, plus many TRs 5,6,7 and even an 8 so I can speak about all of them to some degree. What is it specifically you are interested in? The last 3000 he got was a Cali import that was converted to RHD, black and cream, lovely car. They've shot up in price but tbh the TR6 was just as much fun to drive etc. Depends what you want it for, an investment or for fun. Anyway if you want to know anything specific about 3000 I'm seeing him this weekend and happy to ask. No idea about etypes I'm afraid other than avoid the 2+2.

I will know more about Healeys tomorrow after my visit to the specialist dealer tomorrow but may well come to you to ask for some confirmations on what I am told. This evening o was told the passenger footwell can unbearably hot (heat from exhaust).