Period photos, some interesting points

[andrewh]

two interesting photos I found of an early OBL Roadster. Two point of interest is the body coloured heater plenum inside the bonnet, and also the angle of the front of the sill where it meets the bonnet wheel arch. Not so pronounced as most of the restorations I see. I wonder whether there was not so much "lead" on the sill ex factory?

[Heuer]

Early cars had a single bonnet hinge strap - this one has the later two strap version.

[andrewh]

Do you mean the boot hinge David? I wonder when the change was made, I thought it was post OBL. The registration is still active but on a 65 red E type 4.2 now.

edit: also good to see it sitting correctly , i.e not too low at the front. I would love to know the back story. I wonder what chassis number it was.

[288gto]

Do you mean the boot hinge David?

I was also wondering what David meant by “bonnet hinge strap”.

As regards the front wing wired edge to sill curve, I noticed this on another early car that was apparently un restored . Nice to see your example Andrew. It would appear that as production continued more lead was added to the sill to make this curve more uniform. I know that by the time of Alty Ian’s very early 4.2 that was certainly the case.

Simon

[Heuer]

Sorry, a typo - I meant boot rather than bonnet Comes from trying to watch TV and surf the Forum!

There were three different boot lid supports on the very early cars. At first the cars had a thin alloy casting but this obviously proved to be prone to bending and breaking:


It was modified by welding two of the supports together for added strength:


The third iteration was a much thicker cast aluminium support which continued throughout production:


Single hinges were used until about June 1961 #875100 (875100 Dual, 875103 Single, 875115 Dual) and Dual until about September 1961 #875778 with the thick single cast used from #875779 onward.

I will add the photos to the Collectors Corner thread.

Other interesting points on the car are the painted wire wheels and the red edging to the hood cover.

[andrewh]

Ha! I am glad others are watching TV and surfing as well. Most of my posts re read are utter nonsense! David I may have better quality I will e mail to you, they may come up a bit better. thanks for the intel on the hinges, I felt sure you would know!

[Sarthe72]

From what I have gleaned over the years the problem with thesingle hinge was that, yes, it wasn't rigid enough but that it was changed not because it broke but that the oscillation allowed the boot lid to open while driving. Perhaps a mix of both but it didn't last long anyway. Sorry to contradict you on the dates David but this car was registered November 1961 but the engine number (R1720-8) would seem to indicate a build date of October 1961

[Heuer]

Tony

That is car number 875560 so fits the timeline: "Dual until about September 1961 #875778 with the thick single cast used from #875779 onward."


http://www.xkedata.com/gallery/zoom/?id=580190

[Sarthe72]

Thanks David for correcting me. I ought to have known seeing the car in the flesh but the chassis plate had disappeared! You, as always, are right, and I should have twigged because my car is 13/9/61 and a later engine R1798, not that that is proof of course knowing Jaguar's mix and match propensity! I shall try and be more careful in future!

[splosh]

29 XKE (850029), the white car shown built June 1961 clearly has the correct boot hinges but certainly appears to have the incorrect boot drain hole(s) in the photo shown. That car should have the single central drain hole (tube) to boot lid for that period.
It appears to wear a incorrect body in my opinion as it shows the later version after
SPB P.44,October 1961
Changed from single drain hole at car 850118, 860007, 875221, 885033.to two drain tubes.
Dual boot hinges correct though...