Worked part time this week on The Italian Job, our 1965 Jaguar E-Type restoration. Careful and correct assembly of the engine Reynolds 531 sub frames and pressed steel picture frame were completed, then work could begin on the suspension and steering rack. The project is now complete enough to pass through the wiring harness, attach the steering column and attach the wheel hubs to have a rolling restoration!
Plated pieces for the upper control arm were restored by Electroshine Metal Refinshers Ltd. Their fine work reveals all the intricate machining of these parts. These were CAD plated without ACID pickling to avoid embrittlement. Original finish from 1965 was bright silver zinc .
This image depicts the intricate sandwich around the picture frame with the long 4-inch sway bar bolts passing through 5 components.
Nice image showing the plated control arms and stub axle carrier.
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One of the most complex areas is around the steering rack which has 3 mount bolts and 2 limiting bolts sandwiched with the upper control arm bushing.
Today we are presenting The Italian Job, a Series 1 1965 Jaguar E-Type Fixed Head Coupé that was originally ordered new in Italy and delivered in New York.
This bright red car has spent a large portion of its life in Boulder, Colorado where it was loving preserved and cared for 65,000 miles. Fortunately, the Colorado weather has preserved this car far better than most. For instance there is none of the typical corrosion and every body panel is original.
The intention with this job is to refresh the front-end of the Jaguar. This means giving the engine, suspension, brakes, steering box and cooling a mechanical and cosmetic restoration.
Exemplifying the preservation of 1E31166 is the original and unblemished serial number plate
We stripped the entire firewall and manually etched it prior to a layer the Epoxy primer. Original and straight panels are free of rust.
Carefully stripping the firewall revealed the honest spot welds.
Image by David Newhardt Courtesy of Mecum Auctions.
At Monterey this year Mecum will offer this completely unrestored 1967 Jaguar Series 1 E-Type 4.2 Roadster chassis 1E14561.
Mecum describes the car:
“Now showing just 18,700 miles, the car still sports its original Black paint and original Black leather interior; the Black soft top was replaced by Mr. Mueller in 1985, and the original tires were replaced with new Michelin X radials on its original chromed wire wheels. The car is otherwise completely original.”
1E14561 was first delivered new to Mr. Reginald Dean of Fort Worth, Texas. It then had a succession of three long term owners in Florida who preserved and maintained the cars original fit and finishes.
Being a late-production Series 1, this car benefits from all the stepwise upgrades introduced over the E-type’s production right before the model received open headlights in 1968 which somewhat diminished the car’s outward appearance.
It is also a great reference car so we have included many of the great shots from Mecum prior to the upcoming sale on Saturday August 16th.
***Update. This car did not sell at Mecum with a highbid of $90,000 USD. Having inspected the car in person the subframes, suspension & expansion tank were clearly painted after assembly which is untypical of factory practice.
Image by David Newhardt Courtesy of Mecum Auctions.
Image by David Newhardt Courtesy of Mecum Auctions.
Image by David Newhardt Courtesy of Mecum Auctions.
Image by David Newhardt Courtesy of Mecum Auctions.
Image by David Newhardt Courtesy of Mecum Auctions.
Image by David Newhardt Courtesy of Mecum Auctions.
Image by David Newhardt Courtesy of Mecum Auctions.
With the London Motor Show long gone from the show schedule, Britain’s premier automotive event is now the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
For three days Goodwood stuck to the same program: an eclectic mix of cars and drivers running up the hill with several historic celebration parades inbetween.
Naturally many of the best British cars were present so we have assembled some of the photos and videos from the event.
Probably the most famous of all Mini Coopers, 33EJB which the Irish Hero Paddy Hopkirk used to win the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally.
Chassis HM2868 is one of three works Bentley Speed Sixes. Built in 1930 on a 11-foot chassis, HM2868 won the 1930 Brooklands 24 hour race with Barnato and Clement driving. The same car was used at Le Mans and placed second.
Before Jaguar started to produce the D-Type, a small group of pre-production cars were made starting with the prototype chassis XKC401. This car became the testbed for the new ideas that Malcom Sayer and others would implement into their already winning C-Type design. Our feature car also has the distinction of remaining in largely original condition and is easily spotted by its long-time OVC501.
The GT3 racing version of Bentley’s Continental GT is racing the 2014 season as an all-new racecar.
This Pastel Green C-Type was raced by Stirling Moss in 1952 then continued an extensive career with Michael Head.
One of the pride and joys of British motoring was and still is this curious looking 1934 Napier-Railton. The nation’s love for this car enabled the BDRC to secure 800 000 GBP by donation to keep it as a permanent fixture in the Brooklands Museum. This is easily the most fitting home since the Napier-Railton holds the Outer Circuit lap record of 143.44mph at Brooklands which was the center of British motoring before the war. In a sense, this is the ‘Ultimate Brooklands Racecar’.
