Viewing an E Type tonight....
Discussion
Well, rust anywhere of course, especially the sills. But it is important to have a good look at the A-frames that support the engine too. They rust from the inside out. Mechanically listen carefully to the engine but if reasonably maintained they are strong as is the gearbox. If it is a Moss no synchro worth talking about but damned hard to damage though. Look at the fllor pan, especially behind the seats. Oh, and check the engine number against the chassis plate and V5. Could go on, but most things are endemic to all old cars anyway.
Big bills if radius arm mounts (where radius arms meet the floor) are crispy, try and look inside if 2+2 under rear seat or inside storage box if V12 OTS, also bulkhead lower mounts for rust, where frames join to bulkhead. Plus as above.
Where abouts is the car, perhaps someone knowledgeable locally could accompany you. If local to me I would gladly help, Surrey Hants Border.
Where abouts is the car, perhaps someone knowledgeable locally could accompany you. If local to me I would gladly help, Surrey Hants Border.
PHOENIXUK said:
Hi; Going to see a series I this evening, anyone offer any 'dont forget to check' pearls of wisdom?
Looked at a couple now which have been fairly eay to rule out, hopefully this one will be better...
How did you get on?Looked at a couple now which have been fairly eay to rule out, hopefully this one will be better...
I watched Car SOS last night, restoration of an E Type, I have to say that as a non-Jag person I had not appreciated their complexity in a restoration context. I also suspect that there was some very creative editing to suggest that the tasks that were outstanding were completed overnight!
A restoration can take as long as you want really. Mine has been done twice over the years and the last one took nine months. Again it will depend where you go with labour rates from £40 to £120 per hour. Looking at the OP's fleet I suspect we aren't looking at the bottom end of the market. But I hope he will tell us what he found when he saw it.
Thanks for the comments.
Its a 1965 Series I Coupe (4.2 which i wanted)
Before i saw the car they told me I could use their ramp, which turned out to be indicative of the fact there was nothing to hide.
To my eyes the car was simply beautiful, fortunatly I took a Gent with me who wasnt 'quite' so misty eyed but almost..
Spent a good 2 hours in an extremely well lit, immaculatly clean storage barn, me looking at other interesting cars whilst the 'Gent'checked the EType..
Car was rebuilt very well 25 years ago and comes with 3 huge binders of the build and other info dating back to its birth..
Since rebuild the car has been looked after and stored very well, other than slight play in a steering linkage the car was as described, not concours but close..
I looked at several other cars all similar in price all 'older' rebuilds but this car was and is on another level to them, so I bought it.
Its a 1965 Series I Coupe (4.2 which i wanted)
Before i saw the car they told me I could use their ramp, which turned out to be indicative of the fact there was nothing to hide.
To my eyes the car was simply beautiful, fortunatly I took a Gent with me who wasnt 'quite' so misty eyed but almost..
Spent a good 2 hours in an extremely well lit, immaculatly clean storage barn, me looking at other interesting cars whilst the 'Gent'checked the EType..
Car was rebuilt very well 25 years ago and comes with 3 huge binders of the build and other info dating back to its birth..
Since rebuild the car has been looked after and stored very well, other than slight play in a steering linkage the car was as described, not concours but close..
I looked at several other cars all similar in price all 'older' rebuilds but this car was and is on another level to them, so I bought it.
There you combine the most beautiful with the most usable sir. An S2 is more usable but more ugly, the S1 3.8 beautiful but has the Moss box, so you have comfortable seats, a slightly bigger interior than mine with dropped floor wells and recessed rear bulkhead, the beautiful Jaguar box but all contained in the most beautiful of shells, the S1. May she bring you lots smiles in lots of miles. As an idea, if she hasn't already been modified, I'd put Zeus (or Coopercraft - same thing) brakes on and a Coolcat fan which bolts straight on to the picture frame in place of the original. Do NOT put on a Kenlowe that straps on through the radiator matrix. I've seen a few with leaky radiators. Now go out and play and cane it to death. It can take it. By the way the JDC Goodwood track day in on Mayday Monday op
ETA:-
The steering. Could it be the rack mounting? Mine is hard mounted now to give no play and more feel.
ETA:-
The steering. Could it be the rack mounting? Mine is hard mounted now to give no play and more feel.
Edited by lowdrag on Friday 27th January 19:20
DBSV8, thanks for reply hoping for a decent summer....
Regarding price, I think like most of the other crazy car prices
They can ask ££££££££, whether they get it is another matter, and compared
To the crazy weird world of Porsche, ETypes are a beautiful bargain..
Regarding price, I think like most of the other crazy car prices
They can ask ££££££££, whether they get it is another matter, and compared
To the crazy weird world of Porsche, ETypes are a beautiful bargain..
Edited by PHOENIXUK on Sunday 29th January 15:35
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