I have only had my E-Type a few years but thoroughly enjoy everything about it. It sat for a decade or two before I got it so there were the usual things to take care of to make it a reliable driver but I have found it fairly easy to work on -- especially compared to the Italian cars of the era.
Have had no problems with the electrics - but then I suspect like Lucas in general, poor maintenance and dirty connections cause problems that lead some to blame the design itself.
I was fortunate to have no rust to contend with - now, of course, it is easy to keep it that way in the desert Southwest.
I just did the rear brakes and, once you get your head around dropping the entire rear end, the job was simplicity itself. Put the whole IRS on the lift cross-ways and was able to work on it sitting down.
In the past 60 days I drove the car 3,000 miles and enjoyed every one of them. It is also my wife's favorite which makes it all that much better.
I happen to know the car pictured in that article -- saw it just a few weeks ago at a gathering of E-Types in Phoenix. It sold at Barrett-Jackson last year for strong money:
https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Archive/Event/Item/1970-JAGUAR-XKE-ROADSTER-137726
Good looking car though as I recall the Regency Red paint was done in a metallic which would not be my choice.
Yes, the E-Types get a lot of recognition for their great styling, but the real beauty in my eyes is that wonderful XK engine: