Welcome to my site for my restoriation of my new 1966 e-type Jaguar FHC 4.2 with 4 spd and wire knock off wheels. This car has been in a fire and will be restored over the next few years. I take delivery of the car Dec. 16 2011. The shots on this page are as I found the car. I was first made aware that this car was available by a close friend of mine. I just closed a deal on purchasing the 1971 V12 fixed head coupe, my friend who owns a 1968 e-type OTS called me and asked if I had my heart set on of the 12 or what I prefer a series 1 car. I quickly told him my preference was a series 1 car early 1968 with the glassed covered headlights. But that was simply a dream. My buddy told me that he knew of one of his neighbors that had a car sitting in his garage and might be interested in selling it. I told him I was available to see it immediately but alas I had to wait several days.
I took delivery of the V12 car which can be seen on one of the following pages. Within about an hour of having the V12 keys in my hand, I went to have a look at the series 1 car around the corner from my buddy. I knocked on the door and was greeted by a rather chatty individual and he showed me his car. I was told the car was in 1968 4.2 series 1 car. Over the past couple of weeks I done an immense amount of research and was quite surprised by a lot of the details I saw on this car. Firstly it had the glassed covered headlights. And I knew only a couple of hundred 1968 cars came with the last headlights. The dashboard had the desirable and coveted toggle switches. The last thing that struck me was the wire wheels. They seem to be true knockoff rims. Wow.
The photos below were hastily taken I tried to hide my excitement. The story I was hearing was that this car was his pride and joy that he bought as a 21 one-year-old almost 35 years earlier. Seven or so years after he owned the car he bought himself a house, and the jag rested in his garage over the winter. In the spring of 1985, the car was started and while it was warming up he went inside. Within a few minutes he realized that his car and garage was now on fire. It seems a mouse,a rat, or some varmint had built a nest conveniently close to the exhaust pipes. The result was the rubber undercoating on the bonnet went ablaze. The fire was extinguished and realizing that no insurance existed the car sat. Until I found it, and brought it home.
During my talks with the owner I was also shown a BSA 550 super sport motorcycle. This motorcycle had also undergone minor fire damage to its leather seat. I was told the bike was in 1966. That was not so. As it turned out the owner had the dates of these two vehicles mixed up. The BSA was in 1968, and the E type Jaguar was in 1966 FHC.
With the damage to the car and no insurance, the owner essentially abandon the car in his own garage. And there it sat for 27 years, until me.
I will do my best to keep these pages up to date and the restore a sure documented as fully as I possibly can.
I took delivery of the V12 car which can be seen on one of the following pages. Within about an hour of having the V12 keys in my hand, I went to have a look at the series 1 car around the corner from my buddy. I knocked on the door and was greeted by a rather chatty individual and he showed me his car. I was told the car was in 1968 4.2 series 1 car. Over the past couple of weeks I done an immense amount of research and was quite surprised by a lot of the details I saw on this car. Firstly it had the glassed covered headlights. And I knew only a couple of hundred 1968 cars came with the last headlights. The dashboard had the desirable and coveted toggle switches. The last thing that struck me was the wire wheels. They seem to be true knockoff rims. Wow.
The photos below were hastily taken I tried to hide my excitement. The story I was hearing was that this car was his pride and joy that he bought as a 21 one-year-old almost 35 years earlier. Seven or so years after he owned the car he bought himself a house, and the jag rested in his garage over the winter. In the spring of 1985, the car was started and while it was warming up he went inside. Within a few minutes he realized that his car and garage was now on fire. It seems a mouse,a rat, or some varmint had built a nest conveniently close to the exhaust pipes. The result was the rubber undercoating on the bonnet went ablaze. The fire was extinguished and realizing that no insurance existed the car sat. Until I found it, and brought it home.
During my talks with the owner I was also shown a BSA 550 super sport motorcycle. This motorcycle had also undergone minor fire damage to its leather seat. I was told the bike was in 1966. That was not so. As it turned out the owner had the dates of these two vehicles mixed up. The BSA was in 1968, and the E type Jaguar was in 1966 FHC.
With the damage to the car and no insurance, the owner essentially abandon the car in his own garage. And there it sat for 27 years, until me.
I will do my best to keep these pages up to date and the restore a sure documented as fully as I possibly can.