The Angus Moss Collection

[Simon P]

Yes, but go into any tool shop and tell 'em it's a screwdriver for breaking into an E-type and watch the price miraculously double :D

[Mark Gordon]

DOUBLE? Where can you buy an E Type screwdriver for only twice the price of a Ford one?

[1954Etype]

I hate to say this, but if that paint is original I'll eat my hat . Look at the sealant ( sprayed silver ) on the shut face of the bulkhead, and even more so, the runs on the slanting face of the footwell near to the fuel filter . Furthermore , I would lay odds that the bonnet frames have been off the car, as I do not think the factory ever used sealant between them and the bulkhead

any chance we can video your hat munching Chris? I've seen a number of original cars now with paint and sealant applied in this manner. On the beige S2, there is even a run on the inside of one of the front wings.

[markc555]

Did they really throw them together that badly! The pics suggest it needs a paint correction miracle

You can keep your original un-restored cars, even if all the collectors and speculators go giddy for them, I'll take a properly put together nicely restored example every time. Angus, tear it apart and do it properly :?

Cheers

Mark

[Heuer]

Interestingly people who have owned and enjoyed their E-Type for many years and succumbed to restoration 'itch' are invariably disappointed with the outcome. The car never drives or performs as well as it used to. I think Tony Brown, who has done a superb restoration (chronicled here) of his long term ownership S1 OTS, will echo the sentiment. That grey car is going to be a pleasure to own and drive - take it to any Club meeting or concours day and I guarantee it will get more attention than any other car there.

[1954Etype]

Did they really throw them together that badly! The pics suggest it needs a paint correction miracle

You can keep your original un-restored cars, even if all the collectors and speculators go giddy for them, I'll take a properly put together nicely restored example every time. Angus, tear it apart and do it properly :?

Cheers

Mark

Mark, it is really tempting but I honestly dont want another shiney E type. This is a factory car that i will commission and get back on the road. It will look, well, used. I am in the process of organising a detailer to sort out the paintwork first. It can be restored but can never go back to factory original.

[markc555]

Interestingly people who have owned and enjoyed their E-Type for many years and succumbed to restoration 'itch' are invariably disappointed with the outcome. The car never drives or performs as well as it used to. I think Tony Brown, who has done a superb restoration (chronicled here) of his long term ownership S1 OTS, will echo the sentiment. That grey car is going to be a pleasure to own and drive - take it to any Club meeting or concours day and I guarantee it will get more attention than any other car there.

I get the whole preservation class thing I really do and totally agree that a battered, lived-in survivor makes interesting viewing/conversation at a show or meet. I even think it's a good, nay important, thing to do. However, I can't agree that a 50 yr old car will drive and perform better than a recently and properly restored version of the same thing. That freshly restored car will of course take a little time and some miles under it's tyres for everything to "bed-in" so that it all operates homogeneously and flows as it should but it will be better than the geriatric version that is just waiting for the next worn bush/spring/bolt/hose/wire/seal etc to fail completely. In the same way that Grandad's old hammer is(n't) the same one despite having had 3 new heads and 5 new handle's over the years, unless an awful lot of parts have been replaced, renewed, refurbished or perish (pun intended) the thought upgraded over the years, the old survivor will drive like a bus, potentially a dangerous one! And if those parts have been replaced etc it's just not the original item it's reported or pretending to be, just an old car in continuous or periodic use.

So either stick the timewarp barn finds on plinths in museums so we can all check our own examples for originality, correctness and laugh at how badly they were put together in the first place, or admit they need putting right, do it properly and let them terrorise the streets as they should. 8)

Cheers

Mark

[Gfhug]

We saw changing attitudes in the restoration of old aeroplanes I was involved with. Many veterans would say their Spitfires and Hurricanes never looked anywhere near as pristine as the ones coming out of the modern restorers, especially the paintwork. Many parts are no longer available so had to replaced with modern items. Then thoughts changed, especially on the cosmetic side and some were allowed to look like they did back in service.

Of course, just like the cars, the need is to make them safe to operate in today's skies so modern avionics are a necessity. The same with cars, uprating lights and brakes, fitting wing mirrors, all help make the car safer on today's roads. It goes without question that anything worn out will be replaced, but I, for one, quite like the idea of an IRAN approach, 'inspect and repair as necessary'.

But it does come down to who pays the piper.

[David Oslo]

Or do as RatEEEE has done, keep the exterior as-is but fully sort the mechanics. Overhaul brakes and steering, maybe do engine work if required, but leave the matte paint and less than perfect chrome just as it is.

Keeps the survivor / preservation brigade happy, and keeps the safety and ride & handling brigade happy.

That's what I've done in the past with TR's and Land Rovers and currently with my FHC, but I'm not a huge fan of Primrose so am considering shiny OSG. Maybe I should drop the clear-coat and let it look like a matte survivor car.

[1954Etype]

No, the RatE look is too far for my taste. Mechanically the car will be sorted out and the chrome looks really good when polished. It should look smart when finished.