The 'E' Type Forum

Hi, My Name is Vince and for the past few years have slowly been restoring my 3-8 coupe serial number 861014.
If anyone can shed any light on my cars history I'd love to hear from you.
Unfortunatly the car has been modernised during it's 49 life, gone is it's original 3.8 engine, seats, dash and steering wheel and replaced with a 4.2 engine, seats and a V12 steering wheel. At one point in it's life the bonnet and rear end were converted to series 2, fortunatly this has now been returned to standard. Original registration number was 80 HOH but this was changed to 270 EVJ in 1978 and I'm led to believe this is when the modifications were carried out.

Hi Vince and welcome.

If you were that bothered, you could probably find someone to swap your engine and seats etc (or sell them and buy replacements). Can't help you with history but you might want to have a look on www.xkedata.com.

Welcome to the Forum.

Don't worry too much about the various bits that have been changed, Jaguar themselves did precisely the same thing because of known problems in those areas. The most valuable E-Type's (arguably) are those prepared by Eagle and you won't find one of those in any competition for originality!

Thanks guys,
My car is already logged on XKE data, search 861014 & you will see it. I can live with the engine as it is a genuine 4.2 E-type engine (I've checked the engine No) and have a large folder of reciepts of it's rebuild in the 80's. this has been confirmed when I removed the cylinder head & found +40 pistons and honing marks still on the bores. However I would like the car to at least look like a 3.8 so would be interested if anyone has a good set of 3.8 seats, alloy dash & steering wheel is prepared to do a trade with the set I have which is in excellent condition.

Vince

You will find people here who have removed both the 3.8 buckets and the more comfortable 4.2 recliners and installed the one's from a Mazda MX5! Does not mean they want to sell them though. If you are going to drive your car rather than just look at it then practicality comes top of the list.

The 3.8 alloy dash panels are available from SNG and the steering wheels appear regularly on eBay although you can buy them new from Moto-Lita. Reproduction 3.8 bucket shells are available and ready for trimming. You could fund all these by selling your current ones on eBay.

Vince,
Welcome to the club!

I'd echo what David has said. For sure, if you have not already done so, you really need to blag a long-ish drive in an e-type with the 3.8 seats. I spent a lot of cash fully retrimming my 3.8 seats (OTS) during a full resto, after initial short drives in the car led me to think they were comfortable, only to find that I couldn't stand long drives in them - and more importantly nor could my wife. I now have MX-5 seats (which for me was a cheaper option than getting a set of later 4.2 seats) and we drove to Italy and back this summer with no discomfort at all.

My 3.8 seats are now in the attic, for when either I get a rush of blood to the head and come over all concours (unlikely) or I sell the car (also unlikely but you never know) in which case the new owner will have the choice of comfort vs originality.

Some people are perfectly happy with the 3.8 buckets, mind you - and there is also the option of having a specialist like CMC carry out major surgery on the standard 3.8s to fit your individual shape. Height is a major factor - I'm 6ft, it generally seems to be shorter drivers who are OK with the 3.8 seats. If you are tall, you may also want to think carefully before going to a standard S1 16" wheel - I have my original 16" (in the attic again) but found a 15" version gave crucial extra legroom without making the steering noticeably heavier, and to the casual observer the smaller diameter is not obvious.

The aluminium dash (and matching console) pieces are available as reproductions (not cheap but in my view not unreasonably priced). The set I bought did require a certain amount of fettling to fit, but once fitted looks fine. Your chances of a good used original set are low, I would think.

Thanks guys def given me food for thaught. I'm only 5' 8" so height not a problem.
So glad you guys are open to modifications, had a few people look at my car & were very negative about the orginal parts missing & rudly called my car a bitza. Saw a few cars with the MX5 seats at Silverstone this year, must admit they do look good, should have tried to blag a sit in one.

Vince,
I'm just outside Worcester, you're welcome to pop over and sit in mine (although the seats are currently out they will be going back in fairly soon), but really you need to drive around and mine won't be moving again until the spring.

Don't worry about the anorak brigade, I bet they spend more time polishing their original paintwork than driving their cars (if they even have an e-type at all).

Vince, depends what you want from your car. If you want to drive it make it as comfortable as you can for your liking. Some people like the early 3.8s and have no issue with comfort. I personally prefer the S1 4.2 and all the upgrades that come with it. I have the MX5 seats and recently completed a 1k mile trip in complete comfort. I now have a (quelle horreur) windbreaker fitted for luxurious hood down motoring! Get it how you want it and enjoy it.

Hi Vince, your car was built on 16th November 1962, Silver Blue paint with Grey trim.
Fixed Head Coupe, 80 HOH is correct, delivered to 1st owner in Birmingham by PJ Evans dealership.
Hope this helps, kind regards, Tom.

Vince,

Welcome to forum. I am sure you are aware of the wealth of expertise still obtainable in and around Cov, from Jaguar apprentice trained sheet metal workers and lead loaders to trimmers etc, etc. Having this tremendous resource available was a huge help to me during my restoration.

Just seen on Central News the E Type has been awarded the Engineering Heritage award by the IMechE, more recognition for this wonderful vehicle!

Enjoy your restoration

Kevin

Greetings welcome aboard.

Welcome Vince. Nice part of the world to be restoring an E-type since you're so central for most things. Nice name if you're into classic bikes as well!

Where did you find the body number on your shell?

Pete

Thanks I was actually named after the motorcycle !!!!
Serial number is stamped on the front frame & body number is on a tag where the rear number plate mounts.
Both my Father and Father in law worked for Jaguar back in the 60's & 70's so hopfully will be able to help with the restoration.
As I've previously commented the car is much changed. It is now Carmen Red with black interior, however I'm planning on returning the car back to OSB

OK. I know where the numbers should be but was curious if they were present and correct, since with non-standard engine and gear box you were already two of the four numbers short. I feared for a newbie who had been sold a clone, based on some stray anonymous shell and freshly-stamped new blank picture frame.

As for being named after the motorcycle, I have a Dutch E-type and motorcycling friend who named his first-born Vincent. Except he has Van Gogh as an alibi :-)

Pete

Ah that make sence now.

Car is genuine, I've found traces of the original OSB paint and the car still has a few early features, boot prop rather than the sissor type & early grab handle on the dash. Almost everything else has been modernised and I'm quite greatful for some of them, bellows brakes have been replaced, Alternator & new wiring loom, series 2 radiator with twin cooling fans