E-type déjà vu. The second rebuild
Discussion
So on we go. Here's the stripped bonnet, which looks fine. There were no evident signs of rust when I delivered her, but stripped, there were two holes in the nose:-
And another pin hole near the N/S louvre. Just goes to show what a mess she would have been in after another few years:-
Yet more corrosion was found elsewhere:-
The new door has arrived from Martin Robey:-
This will enable Lee to finish off the alignment of the shell. He has also been busy cleaning and polishing. Those of you who know their E-types will note the steering wheel is the early type, no longer available and only fitted up until December 1962:-
The next major job I guess will be the rear cage, the half shafts and the suspension. Personally I thought she was handling fine, but it seems silly not to rebuild the lot while the car is apart. Lee has convinced me anyway!
And another pin hole near the N/S louvre. Just goes to show what a mess she would have been in after another few years:-
Yet more corrosion was found elsewhere:-
The new door has arrived from Martin Robey:-
This will enable Lee to finish off the alignment of the shell. He has also been busy cleaning and polishing. Those of you who know their E-types will note the steering wheel is the early type, no longer available and only fitted up until December 1962:-
The next major job I guess will be the rear cage, the half shafts and the suspension. Personally I thought she was handling fine, but it seems silly not to rebuild the lot while the car is apart. Lee has convinced me anyway!
Had a chat with my man who is rebuilding it. He thinks end of April, but I told him I'll have the XKSS and I'm not pressed, but he is such a nice guy that he wants - for my sake - to have her ready for April. I really don't care, since for me the quality - and he surely provides that - is more important than a couple of weeks after a lifetime with the car. I am just content to let him get on with it, send me some photos from time to time - plus unfortunately the occasional bill! - and that way we are both easy. When one has an honest and sympathetic restorer - as well as a friend - you just let him get on with it. He'll be at the Silverstone Classic next July, and I'll probably make an appearance just to say hi. Oh - and to show off the car of course.
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