The 'E' Type Forum

Hi, i just thought id introduce myself. I am Ian and i have owned and driven jaguars for may many years, new and old. I currently own a low mileage XJS celebration convertible which i bough 5 years ago with 21000 on the clock...It now has 36000 on the clock and still in pristine condition. As this is an E-type forum ill take more about my E, It is a S3 5.3 V12 FHC. I have owned the car three years in which time i have worked hard to get it looking how it does today. In 2010 i put it off road for the winter and took the car too bits apart from the engine. The car was originally OLD ENGLISH WHITE and was exported to LA where it stayed until 1988. When the car was imported back into the U.K it was changed from a left to right hooker and was given a complete restoration and the colour was changed to what i think is called Dorchester grey but people people refer too it as gun metal grey.

I have done sympathetic restoration to the car whilst its been in my possession. The car was overall in sound condition but being a panel beater paint sprayer by trade i noticed things on the car that a normal enthusiast would possibly miss. I removed all the chrome bits on the car, the wheels, the bonnet, doors and painted the entire car. I also fabricated new hinges and panels for the car and did some lead loading on the bonnet. The car was surprisingly quite rust free which i was pleased with. I also changed the wipers so that they pointed the correct way for the English market rather than the american...please note this is not recommended as i had to take the dash out and there ins't a lot of space under there. I have changed the PS pump and Alernator, changed the header tank, changed the hoses from silver braided to kevlar rubber hoses, painted and cleaned up all pipes under the bonnet, put new manifold gaskets in, painted the manifolds and overall given the engine a extremely good clean.

The interior is in pristine condition and back seats have only been sat on 4 or 5 times. The carpet is dark red and the mats are black piped in red with a red jaguar logo on both front ones. The only thing that needs to be done is the roof lining which is being done before show season and some new wire wheels,

Hi Ian,

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on choosing such a great car. I am a fan of the V12 2+2 and my car is a cross between your two vehicles, with the colour of your XJS (or close anyway) but the body and motor of your E-type. Also it has a sunroof, again, somewhere between your two cars.

your E is an early car, like mine; do you have any idea when it was built? I too wanted to lead load the car but time pressures intervened and I had to revert to modern filler as I had no time to learn the lead loading process prior to bringing the car down under. How do you fancy an Aussie holiday whilst teaching me to lead load!

You have a lovely car, welcome to the forum, hope you find it as useful as we all do.

Regards,

Simon

I will visit aus one day but I won't be showing anyone how to lead load : ) beach and beer. How did you manage to get a mixture of the 2? Or have you done it yourself?

I've had a lot of jags over the years including S2 Coupe, 2 XJ12's sovs one which was emaculate in Westminster blue, X300 4.00 Sov, early S-type and now E-type and XJS celeb.

My e-type looks emaculate on the body work but when it was in the garage I noticed the torsion bar on the driverside looked higher than it should be, I pulled the carpet up to find a hole behind the accelerator and rotten floorplan, luckily i can repair it but it's just an inconvenience as its almost show season : /

Welcome to the forum... i am beginning to think i need a V12 as a stablemate to my early S1

I Like the S1/1.5/2 but I don't think you can beat the ride of the V12. I love the flared arches and the wider wheels. I know the S3's arent as sought after than the others but for me it's the one to have....Great engine, looks the part, great ride and still able to keep up with modern day traffic : )

Oh and not forgetting the sound. The only downside is that it's automatic, not as fun as a manual.

Hi Ian,
Also from tiny Belgium a warm welcome to the forum. You have indeed some great looking cars although I may need to differ of opinion on s1 versus s3 ride etc.
You can guess which one I, in a very objective maner off course, prefer.

All the best !
Cheers
Erik

Hi Ian,

Shame you don't want a teaching holiday! (I don't blame you though!). I was probably a bit misleading in my post. My car is all E-type, it was merely the fact that I had the colour of your XJS and a Sunroof (not quite a convertible, but on the way), which was applied to a Series 3 2+2. Technically, I suppose the car is a little bit XJS, as the original engine was so badly corroded that I had the internals and ancillaries of my engine built into a very early XJS block and heads. I also have a 5-speed gearbox out of an XJS AJ6 fitted, replacing the original auto.

My car is not exactly a show car, recently completed with all work other than the engine and sunroof done by myself. It is nice but there is no way I can compete with the professionally restored cars and I wouldn't try.

I won't try to compare the six cyl to the V12, because I have never even ridden in a six, but I am very impressed with the V12 ride and suspension. I took avoiding action the other day and mounted a kerb (fortunately square on) and the car took it without worry, I was horrified, but no damage and not even all that uncomfortable. I also love the looks of the Series 3 and now, when I look at the early cars, find the track looks awkward and detracts from the looks. I'm not trying to start any arguments, each to their own and I initially fell in love with the early cars, which I still find beautiful, just that I am now very comfortable with the looks and style of the later cars.

Regards,

Simon