I just noticed that our chassis 152 was being discussed...I have been lucky enough to oversee the build on this car and can only describe it as a work of art. We actually built 2 out side locking cars at the same time and the first sold prior to the build being completed.

To answer the questions raised:
The steering wheel has now been changed as we used a new wheel for the shakedown, the window chromes are all correct and not the same as the later cars and I have the butler lights.
Th car was described as one of the most original cars prior to restoration. I have all the original photos and it certainly lives up to this description.

As a company currently have 4 outside locking cars in different stages of restoration, we also built chassis 18 which was raced at Goodwood.

I personally believe that the early cars represent extremely good value comparing them to other cars which are priced in the millions.

I have to say that I am enjoying the shakedown driving and look forward to handing the keys to its new owner in the near future.

Regards
Jonathan
E-Type UK

Interesting Comments on the early E's. We have now restored five early E's and by early I mean outside bonnet lock cars.
As already mentioned in this thread, there are many differences on these pre production cars and it would seem the cars were very much a work in progress from chassis number one.

I have just bought 850057 for myself which interestingly has an earlier body number than 850054 which we are currently restoring. Therefore 57 has earlier features than 54.

850054 is a UK RHD car which is only 6 body numbers away from 875152 a US LHD car which we are all discussing.

Sorry to be boring but its good see people discussing E-type's.

In terms of value, they still look a lot of car next to a DB5. I know this is only down to rarity but they didn't make many RHD Outside Lockers.

Er - I'm not putting any photos of my car on this thread! She is ready for her next restoration now but there is a photo from the BBC's "The Car's the Star" on my profile - but that was getting on for 20 years and 100,000 miles ago.

However, I would love to see the finished photos of the car 875152 above later - especially the underbonnet ones so we can see just how well she has been done. As also said, it is a labour of love this, getting the early cars right. I still have a new immersed pump in its box here plus other bits.

NB Thought I'd got them on the shocks - but they are the correct Armstrong blue - grr. I'll find something in the end!

It's exactly becuase she is ripe for her restoration that you should put some pics on here lowdrag ...

This isn't a thread for garage queens. It's a thread for E-Types of all ages and conditions!

Which restorer are you looking for answers from?

Now that this thread has been turned into an advert for a certain E Type dealers, any one mind if I give my own small company a load of publicity on here.....

I'm not creating a stir, just reacting to the word concours, that's all. I don't mind which restorer, as vpr puts it, posts the photos but I am curious to see more photos of the finished LHD roadster just to see if they have managed to find all the unobtanium parts to make the car concours. From what I have seen so far there is nothing to criticise, but in concours one really gets down to the nitty gritty, and it is this labour of love that will make them stand out from any other restorer who produces bright and shiny cars. I know of one restorer who has won many "champion of champions" purely because of his in-depth knowledge, and if there is now another to add to this very short list then all credit to them. I'm just curious, that's all. Concours is a much-overused word these days.

There's a nice film on Jay Leno's garage about the one owner 1963 coupe he has recently bought.

L.F.

I had an interesting conversation regarding E-Type values with someone from inside the trade.

I expressed that i felt the bubble will burst however, their view is that the good cars will keep rising due to the fact that in comparison to Ferrari's etc of the same era - the E-Type is currently a bargain.

Again, just someone's opinion

As much as I love E Types, ( been around them since i was 8 and have owned many ) they are now way over priced and there are still many bodged and poorly restored and over priced dogs out there.

A 60s Maserati ( 3500, Sebring, Mistral, Ghibli ) offers far better value and prestige and a great investment and is the car I would go for rather than a high priced E Type.

To any one who despairs that they will never now be able to afford an E Type Roadster, dont, as for a fraction of the price of an E, there is a very good substitute. For between 10 and 20 grand, you could be in the driving seat of something very pretty, something that you dont see at Every car show, something that will still blow the doors off of many modern fast cars, ( only aprox 1,900 built and around 1,200 odd survivors.......And values are rising.


A TVR Griffith 500.