Pic Of The Week: Low Drag Jaguar E-type
Stunning restoration unveiled (plus bonus POTW for McLaren fans)
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It comes with a press release detailing how "one of the most important Jaguar cars ever built has been unveiled in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, after 7,000 hours of restoration," and it's courtesy of the Classic Motor Cars workshop of said town.
The car is the only factory Low Drag lightweight E-type, and it's been put back together in what CMC says is one of the most complex restorations ever to have taken place anywhere in the world.
When it crashed at the Montlhery circuit in 1964 (an accident that cost driver Peter Lindner his life) the E-type was so badly damaged that a complete restoration was thought to be impossible. Now, some 47 years later, the car has been put back to its former glory using more than 90% of the original parts - including alloy body panels painstakingly hand-beaten back into shape from the mangled wreckage.
Over five thousand hours went into restoring the body alone, says CMC. The original crashed monocoque which had been deemed too difficult to restore in the 1970's was disseminated into individual panels. Each panel was then flattened, repaired, reformed into the original shape and then the structure was riveted and spot welded together as per the original construction method. Amazing stuff.
PS. We've just been tipped off that the Low Drag Jag's first proper public outing - in motion at least - is likely to be the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power on 15th/17th July. That's following a scheduled 'static appearance' at the Ville D'este Concorso D'Eleganza later this month.
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*****
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http://www.classic-motor-cars.co.uk/c_restoration_...
Stunning work by all accounts and a tribute to those involved, esp. whoever it is that funded it!
It would be a real shame if something so historically significant as this were lost forever though, but somehow I still wouldn't want to see it on the historic racing circuit for instance. And that includes goodwood Revival....
isnt it going to be on display at Goodwood FOS 
Also does anyone know how strong unfolded and re beaten steel and ali is? i though most of its strength would have have left the building.
IMHO...
People who raced these cars (boats, etc) lived in the moment, took life by the scruff of the neck gave it a good round the face before a cheeky swig of port and back home in time for tea and cakes.
Would they want a frozen image reminding people only of their tragic end? I don't think so.
Would they prefer a phoenix rising from the ashes that represents what they stood for, what they achieved, the boundaries they pushed? I like to think so.
Always a touchy subject, but I know how I'd like to be remembered if I were such a person. Ultimately down to the families though- I'd say what-ever their wishes are they should be honoured as their the ones who have or will suffer the most pain.
Would they want a frozen image reminding people only of their tragic end? I don't think so.
Would they prefer a phoenix rising from the ashes that represents what they stood for, what they achieved, the boundaries they pushed? I like to think so.
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