Some guys have all the luck...
Discussion
...and fortunately I was one of them yesterday.
Since doing the HERO Scottish Malts in May I've stayed in touch with the two MDs, both absolutely top guys and real, proper dyed in the wool classic car nuts.
Yesterday they agreed to host me and my navigator (PH's johnfm) for a day of, well, fun
They have a fleet of fully race/rally prepped classics that they rent out on their 'Arrive & Drive' service meaning one can simply turn up at a HERO event and have a car ready and waiting for you. You can also rent them by the day from their base in South Wales, just a few miles away from the great Evo Triangle of Wales' best driving roads.
The fleet of cars is in absolutely tip-top shape. The job of keeping them ready to go is massive - I saw the jobs list on the General Manager's white board and it would make a mortal man shiver in his boots. Every car is complete with racing harnesses, cages, electrical cut offs, Halda Retrotrips, navigator's equipment such as lights, magnifiers etc. Stunning.
Anyway, the day:
My first run was in this Alfa 1750. It was a staggeringly good car. Smooth, lovely gearbox, lots of power. I'm seriously thinking about getting one, it would be a real rally weapon in the right hands...
Next up was Jaguar XK150. A stunning Gent's express. Quite a tricky gearbox but lots of power and one can easily imagine jumping in and blatting away down to Cannes. Here driven by John.
While I was in the Jag John was enjoying the very pretty little Alfa Giulietta. It sounded amazing, a really zingy little thing and a bit of a rocket.
After that I drove a car I've never driven before. Not even sat in one. Austin Cooper. My god almighty I loved this little car. The power was just immense. Straight cut box, limited slip diff. Within about 3 minutes I got tuned into it (pretty hard after being in the other cars, especially going from the XK150 to the Mini) and was having some exciting 4 wheel drifts around roundabouts. As far as driving experiences go this is in my top 3. I've always overlooked the Mini but this little fellow was an utter joy.
From the Mini I went to the BMW 1602. This car had been fully rebuilt and prepped by BMW Classic on Park Lane. Boasting well below 100bhp it was none the less a magical little car. The gear change was by far the best of anything I drove that day. Handling was a delight, perfectly balanced. The view out was good too, it really did encourage and reward you from taking it by the scruff of the neck and blatting away.
At this time John was enjoying his favourite by a country mile - A 1970 Porsche 911 SWB 2.0. This Porsche was mechanically perfect John told me - sadly I couldn't find out for myself as my ample frame was just too big to get comfortable in it. Seems odd when I was in and out of the Mini with ease. Anyway, it sounded staggeringly good and went like a bloody rocket.
After this I had another blast in the 1750 and the Mini (giggling like a lunatic) and then had a drive in the Range Rover. This was a beauty - imported from Sicily, completely rot free and a joy.
(Pic to the right of the ones below.)
Then, thinking we were more or less done for the day we got the piece de resistance. Just back from the mechanic was this: Series 1.5 E-Type 4.2. I've never even sat in an E before, let alone driven one. I must say it was probably the sweetest classic I've ever drived. Absolutely bags of torque, delicious 6 cylinder howl, charming gearchange, my day was complete.
I'm still on a real high from the day, struggling to do any real work and can't wait to do some tinkering on my own little fleet tomorrow.
Days really don't get better than this.
Since doing the HERO Scottish Malts in May I've stayed in touch with the two MDs, both absolutely top guys and real, proper dyed in the wool classic car nuts.
Yesterday they agreed to host me and my navigator (PH's johnfm) for a day of, well, fun
They have a fleet of fully race/rally prepped classics that they rent out on their 'Arrive & Drive' service meaning one can simply turn up at a HERO event and have a car ready and waiting for you. You can also rent them by the day from their base in South Wales, just a few miles away from the great Evo Triangle of Wales' best driving roads.
The fleet of cars is in absolutely tip-top shape. The job of keeping them ready to go is massive - I saw the jobs list on the General Manager's white board and it would make a mortal man shiver in his boots. Every car is complete with racing harnesses, cages, electrical cut offs, Halda Retrotrips, navigator's equipment such as lights, magnifiers etc. Stunning.
Anyway, the day:
My first run was in this Alfa 1750. It was a staggeringly good car. Smooth, lovely gearbox, lots of power. I'm seriously thinking about getting one, it would be a real rally weapon in the right hands...
Next up was Jaguar XK150. A stunning Gent's express. Quite a tricky gearbox but lots of power and one can easily imagine jumping in and blatting away down to Cannes. Here driven by John.
While I was in the Jag John was enjoying the very pretty little Alfa Giulietta. It sounded amazing, a really zingy little thing and a bit of a rocket.
After that I drove a car I've never driven before. Not even sat in one. Austin Cooper. My god almighty I loved this little car. The power was just immense. Straight cut box, limited slip diff. Within about 3 minutes I got tuned into it (pretty hard after being in the other cars, especially going from the XK150 to the Mini) and was having some exciting 4 wheel drifts around roundabouts. As far as driving experiences go this is in my top 3. I've always overlooked the Mini but this little fellow was an utter joy.
From the Mini I went to the BMW 1602. This car had been fully rebuilt and prepped by BMW Classic on Park Lane. Boasting well below 100bhp it was none the less a magical little car. The gear change was by far the best of anything I drove that day. Handling was a delight, perfectly balanced. The view out was good too, it really did encourage and reward you from taking it by the scruff of the neck and blatting away.
At this time John was enjoying his favourite by a country mile - A 1970 Porsche 911 SWB 2.0. This Porsche was mechanically perfect John told me - sadly I couldn't find out for myself as my ample frame was just too big to get comfortable in it. Seems odd when I was in and out of the Mini with ease. Anyway, it sounded staggeringly good and went like a bloody rocket.
After this I had another blast in the 1750 and the Mini (giggling like a lunatic) and then had a drive in the Range Rover. This was a beauty - imported from Sicily, completely rot free and a joy.
(Pic to the right of the ones below.)
Then, thinking we were more or less done for the day we got the piece de resistance. Just back from the mechanic was this: Series 1.5 E-Type 4.2. I've never even sat in an E before, let alone driven one. I must say it was probably the sweetest classic I've ever drived. Absolutely bags of torque, delicious 6 cylinder howl, charming gearchange, my day was complete.
I'm still on a real high from the day, struggling to do any real work and can't wait to do some tinkering on my own little fleet tomorrow.
Days really don't get better than this.
LotusOmega375D said:
Lucky boy. Isn't that an S1 E-Type (covered headlamps, small air intake/bumpers)?
it is a series 1.5 they came out between 1967 -1968 , this is an F reg so a 1968 car ,Same body as a series 1 ,and Mechanicaly almost identical. Fairly rare to find a closed headlamp E type of this period most were open headlamp models similar to the series 2 that came out in 1969
DBSV8 said:
LotusOmega375D said:
Lucky boy. Isn't that an S1 E-Type (covered headlamps, small air intake/bumpers)?
it is a series 1.5 they came out between 1967 -1968 , this is an F reg so a 1968 car ,Same body as a series 1 ,and Mechanicaly almost identical. Fairly rare to find a closed headlamp E type of this period most were open headlamp models similar to the series 2 that came out in 1969
Benjj, this is an almost sick inducing thread. I'd give my left
for a day like that! 
I assume the closed lights on the E Type are for protection. This car, just like all the rest, is available to hire from HERO and will be getting a good hammering on the London-Lisbon in Spring 2013 (I'll be competing in the DS).
I'm at a bit of a loss today. I've just watched the 40 minute Baxter/Targa Florio video in another post and now can't get into work. I think I'll go and have a blast in the 944 to just finish the week with a flourish
I'm at a bit of a loss today. I've just watched the 40 minute Baxter/Targa Florio video in another post and now can't get into work. I think I'll go and have a blast in the 944 to just finish the week with a flourish
I don't think yuo need to replace the bonnet to convert to closed headlamps (but I may be wrong about that). I doubt very many Es still have their original bonnet these days. Even as a kid in the '70s I remember seeing rotten Etype bonnets dumped outside the classic jag specialist...
It was a great day out.
The 1968 SWB 911 was just perfect as a machine. Felt bullet proof, connected, great feel and bags of torque - from a Bob Watson rebuilt 2litre.
It was much more powerful than I thought a 2.0 would be - felt more rewarding than my Mk1 GT3 used to.
The Giulietta Spyder engine was great great revvy fun.
The torque of the E-type was incredible - most of the other machines were much smaller, revvy engines and lacked the lazy grunt if the 4.2.
For me, it would be a tough decision between the 911 and the E Type. Probably the 911 if I could only have one car.
Great day in any case!
The 1968 SWB 911 was just perfect as a machine. Felt bullet proof, connected, great feel and bags of torque - from a Bob Watson rebuilt 2litre.
It was much more powerful than I thought a 2.0 would be - felt more rewarding than my Mk1 GT3 used to.
The Giulietta Spyder engine was great great revvy fun.
The torque of the E-type was incredible - most of the other machines were much smaller, revvy engines and lacked the lazy grunt if the 4.2.
For me, it would be a tough decision between the 911 and the E Type. Probably the 911 if I could only have one car.
Great day in any case!
Edited by johnfm on Saturday 4th August 09:27
There IS No such thing As a Series one and a half E Type !! Jaguar Never called the Late series 1s a 1.5 !!
Its a daft name that " enthusiasts " have adopted .
The open headlamp cars were slowly phased in , in early 1967 ( US market cars ) as US legislation banned covered head lamps.
My late father had LFL 670 F ( an August 67 built BRG coupe ) in late 1969. It had open headlamps , But All the Other early E features , inc toggle switch dash , early heater controls etc etc .
Covered head lamp cars were registerd on an F plate right into 1968. Back then the Open lamp car Was Highly sought after , as it was the Latest model . But now no one bugger wants them !!
Its a daft name that " enthusiasts " have adopted .
The open headlamp cars were slowly phased in , in early 1967 ( US market cars ) as US legislation banned covered head lamps.
My late father had LFL 670 F ( an August 67 built BRG coupe ) in late 1969. It had open headlamps , But All the Other early E features , inc toggle switch dash , early heater controls etc etc .
Covered head lamp cars were registerd on an F plate right into 1968. Back then the Open lamp car Was Highly sought after , as it was the Latest model . But now no one bugger wants them !!
neutral 3 said:
There IS No such thing As a Series one and a half E Type !! Jaguar Never called the Late series 1s a 1.5 !!
True not officially designated by Jaguar , but like it or not pretty much described by everyone else as the series 1 1/2 and today if you look at advertisements and auction houses even Coys all will describe a car of this vintage as a series 1 1/2
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C301151
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4016862.htm
http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode...
heres a car from the same vintage with open headlamps
regardless still a cracking car to drive
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