1961 Jaguar E type convertible restoration
Discussion
Hmm..good question..
I live overseas and so I am not completely up to date with progress and asking the restorer usually results in a new invoice
The expectation is that it should be finished by end November but its strangely quiet so perhaps by year end.
Its amazing how things have changed. When I first started looking for a restorer, the car could usually be fitted in within 3 to 6 months. Now the restorer has some 30 cars waiting for restoration and cannot find staff skilled enough to adhere to his high standard of work. I am glad I did this work when I did. By way of example, the paint cost 40% more than was originally quoted back in 2014 all because of supply and demand. When we sought out other companies for the work, they were even more expensive.
I live overseas and so I am not completely up to date with progress and asking the restorer usually results in a new invoice
The expectation is that it should be finished by end November but its strangely quiet so perhaps by year end.
Its amazing how things have changed. When I first started looking for a restorer, the car could usually be fitted in within 3 to 6 months. Now the restorer has some 30 cars waiting for restoration and cannot find staff skilled enough to adhere to his high standard of work. I am glad I did this work when I did. By way of example, the paint cost 40% more than was originally quoted back in 2014 all because of supply and demand. When we sought out other companies for the work, they were even more expensive.
Paracetamol said:
Hmm..good question..
I live overseas and so I am not completely up to date with progress and asking the restorer usually results in a new invoice
The expectation is that it should be finished by end November but its strangely quiet so perhaps by year end.
Its amazing how things have changed. When I first started looking for a restorer, the car could usually be fitted in within 3 to 6 months. Now the restorer has some 30 cars waiting for restoration and cannot find staff skilled enough to adhere to his high standard of work. I am glad I did this work when I did. By way of example, the paint cost 40% more than was originally quoted back in 2014 all because of supply and demand. When we sought out other companies for the work, they were even more expensive.
This is very interesting and I wonder how many of those 30 cars are for overseas customers. I don't think Brexit has impacted on this type of expenditure although I wonder what will happen as interest rates start rising. I bet you can't wait to see it!I live overseas and so I am not completely up to date with progress and asking the restorer usually results in a new invoice
The expectation is that it should be finished by end November but its strangely quiet so perhaps by year end.
Its amazing how things have changed. When I first started looking for a restorer, the car could usually be fitted in within 3 to 6 months. Now the restorer has some 30 cars waiting for restoration and cannot find staff skilled enough to adhere to his high standard of work. I am glad I did this work when I did. By way of example, the paint cost 40% more than was originally quoted back in 2014 all because of supply and demand. When we sought out other companies for the work, they were even more expensive.
Thought you might like to see these two photos. This car has been restored to concours, and I mean concours, even down to the early bonnet hinges being reproduced.
IMG_1391 by Tony Brown, on Flickr
IMG_1393 by Tony Brown, on Flickr
IMG_1391 by Tony Brown, on FlickrIMG_1393 by Tony Brown, on FlickrThe early cars, up to about September 1961, were painted in what is colloquially known as "pumpkin". The gold colur was after that. My car is September 1961 and is the usual colour. please note that mine is not concours!
IMG_0283 by Tony Brown, on Flickr
IMG_0283 by Tony Brown, on Flickr
Wacky Racer said:
All these cars are a credit to their owners.
I realise you have all spent a fortune getting them to this condition, but I'm sure you would get your money back and more besides if ever you decided to sell.
As someone currently haemorrhaging cash on an E Type restoration, I'd like to think so but that would depend on a continually rising market and a good day at the auction. It is generally the case that restorations seldom pay the owner the money they owe him.I realise you have all spent a fortune getting them to this condition, but I'm sure you would get your money back and more besides if ever you decided to sell.
My motivation, fortunately, is to have a car I'd keep forever
.As regards spending a fortune, well, one has to understand that these cars, if you use them, are like the Forth Bridge. The spending never stops. My new soft top from three years back has shrunk so it needs another fitted for example. I've finally replaced the gear knob which cracked in extreme heat in the south of France in 1991; I remember to this day the cracking noise as I waited at lights at La Grande Motte in 42C heat. I am on the fourth ring binder of bills dating back 30 years but the value of the car was never a point that interested me and frankly I'd be happy if the car was still around £25,000 because people would still think me crazy for running an old car and I could thrash the thing to death as we used to on track days, tours, hill climbs and so on. Just the petrol and oil bills alone would amount to a sizeable sum, about 6,000 gallons of fuel and about 120 litres of oil I calculate. But then passion has no price.
Jonny TVR said:
This is very interesting and I wonder how many of those 30 cars are for overseas customers. I don't think Brexit has impacted on this type of expenditure although I wonder what will happen as interest rates start rising. I bet you can't wait to see it!
I am a brit but based overseas..so it was natural to send the car home..however, I benefit from no VAT on the resto and also a great exchange rate...so I am doing well ! Most of the clientle is otherwise UK based. Anyone inclined to send a car overeas without a link to the place would probably send it to Eastern Europe
Paracetamol said:
Most of the clientle is otherwise UK based. Anyone inclined to send a car overeas without a link to the place would probably send it to Eastern Europe
That latter point is an option that needs to be approached with caution, as always. The Mercedes specialist that worked on my SLC has a car in his workshop that was supposedly the subject of a full restoration in Poland but is now having to be re-done. lowdrag said:
As regards spending a fortune, well, one has to understand that these cars, if you use them, are like the Forth Bridge. The spending never stops. My new soft top from three years back has shrunk so it needs another fitted for example. I've finally replaced the gear knob which cracked in extreme heat in the south of France in 1991; I remember to this day the cracking noise as I waited at lights at La Grande Motte in 42C heat. I am on the fourth ring binder of bills dating back 30 years but the value of the car was never a point that interested me and frankly I'd be happy if the car was still around £25,000 because people would still think me crazy for running an old car and I could thrash the thing to death as we used to on track days, tours, hill climbs and so on. Just the petrol and oil bills alone would amount to a sizeable sum, about 6,000 gallons of fuel and about 120 litres of oil I calculate. But then passion has no price.
As good a summary as I have seen. I truly admire your passion and expertise in bringing cars to an accurate version of how they were when produced. Have enjoyed your various updates over the years.
Truly stunning. Pride of place in the collection perhaps? Reminds me of the first rebuild I undertook of mine in 1987:-
Some original parts are hard to come by. Did you amnage to find the right Butler chromes for the number plate lights, or the Shelley jack, and so on?
Some original parts are hard to come by. Did you amnage to find the right Butler chromes for the number plate lights, or the Shelley jack, and so on?
Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 16th February 12:48
I got the shelly jack but not the butlers. I did find someone who had done a recreation but stamped the butlers letters on the wrong way round 😂.
I was fortunate to have most of the rare parts already like
internal metal rim steering wheel
XK type gearknob
thin dashtop
flat air filter housing
original radiator (now replaced with a repro lookalike)
etc
I was fortunate to have most of the rare parts already like
internal metal rim steering wheel
XK type gearknob
thin dashtop
flat air filter housing
original radiator (now replaced with a repro lookalike)
etc
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff