Yes, for many years I was restoring an E-type Jaguar coupe. The car is number
885385, with all matching numbers. Built in December of 1961, it still has
the flat floors and the welded-in bonnet louvers, but not the outside bonnet
locks. According to various books, it is the first car to use an improved
bonnet hinge attaching mechanism. It must not have worked all that well,
because the bonnet is stamped with the chassis number of the car behind
it on the line -- I have to assume they botched the first installation and
had to grab the nearest spare to keep the line going.
A side view of the car as I first purchased it, in it's Orca paint scheme.
In the beginning
Speedometer, showing the potential to go 150 mph (vroom!) and the odometer
showing a mere 58849 miles. We still measure the expense associated with
the car in $/ft of travel, however, until it runs once again.
The speedometer
The rear view of the car. What's wrong with this picture? That right rear
quarter looks rather suspicious, doesn't it?
Rear View
Ouch! The major visible damage is this crunch in the right rear quarter,
which has been badly repaired with literally inches of filler applied, rather
than any attempt to straighten. The photo shows the view from inside the
boot.
Damage to the Right Rear Quarter
An amusing shot that I just happened to catch.
One cat inspects another.
The car has been stripped, dipped, and cut apart in preparation for welding
in new metal. The lower rear section has been completely cut away, as well
as the sills and part of the right rear wing. The bonnet, amazingly, had
only one small spot of damage on its "lower lip".
There's only one way to skin a cat...
The big "uh oh." Doesn't look like much in the photo, but this
is the front of the transmission tunnel with a crease in it (which I have
since learned was common in cars as they came from the factory -- a bodge
to fit improperly stamped panels). The rear had a similar crease, which
wasn't normal. The effect is that the center section of the car is about
1/2" short of spec, and nothing fits quite right. In addition, it appears
that the car was rolled at some point (perhaps the same accident) and a
new roof was welded on with the car in this squashed configuration.
Bad news comes in small creases.
So the next step is to cut the inner layer of the transmission tunnel away,
stretch out the car, and cut and straighten the roof to match. This is the
way we stretch our Jag...
Streching the car back to the right length.
At last, new metal is welded into place.
Right rear wing area.
Side view of the painted chassis. Carmen Red.
Much better! Doors no longer rub. Hatch fits beautifully. Panels beat out so very little lead is needed. Probably far better than it was when the factory shipped it. Two stage primer with epoxy paint gives it a stonger finish than original too.
Rear view of the painted chassis. Compare to the earlier photo to see the
difference in the lines.
Much, much better!
The painted bonnet
The bonnet needed little work.
The same part of the transmission tunnel after repair and paint.
The former site of the crease.
The inner view of the right rear quarter area after repair.
The former big dent.
The car ready for the engine to be put in place.
3.8 liter engine, cleaned, painted, ready to install.
The car assembled, still missing the wiring, plumbing, etc. Basically as
it is today.
As it now appears (hasn't changed much since 1994).
Steps yet to complete:
Finish the wiring (mostly done).
Plumb the brakes.
Plumb the fuel lines.
Plumb the cooling system.
Install fuel tank.
Install exhaust system.
Install distributor.
Install generator.
Install starter motor.
Install brake booster.
Adjust suspension.
Reupholster seats.
Install interior.
Restore and install radio.
Grind, rechrome, and install bumpers.
Rechrome and install trim.
Install lights.
Add fluids, start engine and drive!
My wife wanted the space in the garage, so we had the car sent to Donovan Motor Cars in Pittsfield to have additional work done. However, once we got the estimate, she put her foot down and said "no more". So I sold it, as was costing too much to store it and I don't have the time to do the remaining work myself (see my "spare time" page). In all fairness, my wife was much more understanding about spending money on the car than most would be. The original body shop took me for quite a ride, and all told, far too much money had gone into the car for me to ever feel comfortable about taking it out for a fun drive.
While Donovan was working up the estimate, they did overhaul the SU carbs and the brake booster and did some additional wiring. The new owner is having the engine completely overhauled and replacing the orginal transmission with a synchro box (although keeping the Moss box in case sombody ever wants to make it original for show). I hope to get to see it when it's done, so I can at least get a sense of having contributed to resurrecting a beautiful car from the verge of going to the scrap heap.