I look at this car and wonder what possessed the owner to store it like this for what undoubtedly has been a very long time? If we believe the odometer, it’s been stored since 33,423 miles! Unfortunately, despite being a matching numbers and desirable early car, there’s a lot of iron oxide included in the deal. It’s been hiding out in Bayonne, New Jersey and is listed for sale here on eBay, where it has not yet met the reserve as I write. Thanks to Jim S. for this submission!

It’s still a beautiful shape, isn’t it, although it genuinely pains me to see it like this. I love the covered headlights on the early E-Types. This isn’t one of the very first with the separately attached hood vents, but it’s still an early car with the lines unaltered by later safety regulations.

It would have been really nice if a license plate had been left in place so that we could guess how long the car has been off the road.

Here’s a surprise: the seller has put the car on a lift after towing it out of it’s resting place and has included those pictures as well. Up until this point of viewing the auction, I had dreams of surface rust. As you can see, I was very, very wrong. You aren’t supposed to be seeing the battery in the right picture!

These should be the early, non-adjustable seats (I think they are) and that gear lever is attached to the early “Moss” gearbox. That box isn’t known for smooth shifting. You can find out more about the characteristics of the first generation E-Types here and general E-Type shopping tips here.

If this is the original engine, it’s the 3.8 liter version of the famous XK inline 6, in this case with triple SU carburetors. No indication is given as to whether the engine is free or not, but I would assume a full rebuild in this case regardless. You’re going to have everything in the front out anyway to repair the body damage. Somehow, just getting this one back on the road without helping the cosmetics doesn’t appeal to me, although you would have a huge crowd around the car at the upcoming South Central British Car Gathering if you brought this project to the event! What do you think this original but poor condition project car is worth? I know you can purchase a later E-type in far better condition for similar funds–I think that’s the way I’d go–but how about you?