The 'E' Type Forum

Let's have a bit of fun. Since this car is rumoured to be for sale for about £400,000 spot the mistakes:-

http://www.jdclassics.com/showrooms/Jag ... dd24ae.htm

I dont think there are any. I have seen this car and it is probably one of the best restorations i have ever seen.

There's one or two I could find (at least to the "untrained" eye - I reckon I've done my apprenticeship by now ).

1) Incorrect spark plug caps - should be Champion "dot" for the early cars
2) Marston radiator tag facing the wrong way - it should be read from the front of the car
3) Coopers air sticker - I believe that is incorrect being there?
4) Made in England tag - not added to RHD cars?
5) Repro spinners - squashed U and A
6) Is the T-piece of chrome around the front of the windscreen the wrong type with the cover or is that just a really early thing? I don't have my Factory original book at uni! (Edit - that's the correct earlier version I believe, the later ones has the blunt edge)
7) Philips thread on the side lights, although they have flat head on the headlight surrounds
8) Repro "silvery" horn push - at least it looks like it in that light
9) Is it missing the little metal lozenge on each door to receive the courtesy light sensor, or was that a later thing?
10_ Are the shock absorbers the correct colour? I remember having a discussion with Paul Brown about this but not the outcome of the conversation!
11) Does it have all the SU carb tags? AUC ____ F/C/R?
12) Bluemels or Ace plate logo on rear number plate missing?
13) Non-original motif bar growler logo
14) Front number plate font incorrect?
15) Washer bottle top is on the wrong way round!
16) convoluted hose to header tank not present

Did note the correct black wishbones, and coil sticker placement. Also interesting to note the colour of the fuel filter bracket, being that grey/green which was original on Richard's FHC (860927) - probably an early feature?

Can't tell if it has Butler number plate light chromes


Nevertheless, a very nice car!

Good list Simon, adding some:
. air plenum
. upper door chrome trims
. door cards with a unusual side recess

Thanks, Ralph - I guess I've learned something on here

Isn't the air plenum correct, without the strengthening ribs? Saying that, are those the weedy looking repro wing nuts on the air plenum too?

Also, your reference to the upper door chrome trim; I presume you're referring to the interior and their fit?

I agree with what has been observed and would add the following incorrect items:

* Engine lifting brackets
* Sparking plug wire organizer
* Radiator overflow tank flange too wide
* Battery decal
* Washer bottle cap should be metallic blue
* Heater Case side panel - incorrect number of bolts
* SU Damper nuts not cad-plated
* Coolant hose on right side to overflow tank not correct
* Clutch reservoir bottle cap should be black
* Black upper wishbones?
* Red buffer around emergency brake handle

Kudos for the wide-flange air filter housing plenum, the X-stitched carpets, and the original reservoir bottles.

Bud Marston
Alexandria, Virginia - USA

We've probably got most of them, but add otter switch should be horizontal and I am not convinced that the bonnet hinges are the early thinner type.

Simln,
The air plenum doesnt have the Slim lip.
Yes, for the door chrome trim I was meaning the upper one on the door cards.
And by the way I forgot the horn push...

FWIW I think the otter switch is where it should be....the remainder of the observations I bow to others better knowledge...tis a lovely car though...is it me or is it sitting a tad low at the front? Maybe Bruce wanted it that way....four hundred grand though.....ouch....

Good grief, Simon (is that your name?)

I hope you never see my car! Your notebook wouldn't be big enough to list all the 'faults'.

I remember one guy in the JEC used to delight in pointing out the 'problems' with other people's cars. He didn't like it when the tables were turned though.

That is a very lovely car and a great ambassador for the marque.

Regards

Be interesting to know what percentage of the £400k asking price is down to it bring a 99% superb restoration, and what percentage is down to whose car it once was.

From the looks of the period paddock shots the non-standard bonnet motif badge is original. Wonder what the story is?

Nice car - great history!

You are absolutely right Stu , but this statement in their presentation is absolutely killing it:
...has recently completed an exhaustive 4500 hour JD Classics restoration to factory original specification... is presented in absolute concours condition...

No mention of the original documentation though: owners manual / service booklet / pouch / ...
Or tool roll, jack, key fob.

I am only picking fault in this case since if the car is being sold for the rumoured amount (and given its history) then I’d want everything to be correct! Assuming it’s a concourse car - if I were to drive it then maybe certain things may be changed.

Richard’s cars are not perfect - there are sensible modifications or things which aren’t perfectly original, but these are usually done for a reason.

My E-type one day will likely have just as many faults

I am a scientist which means (largely) I look at facts, which in this case I would say is fair. At the end of the day it is still a superb car, and will give someone a lot of joy hopefully. We should all be enjoying cars, that’s why we have them. I am not one to criticise usually - I don’t have an E for a start!

Cheers

Simon

I always have a giggle to myself about concours tarts and the correctness of this or that on any particular car. A lister on another site calls such criticism ‘concours d’arrogance’. I’ve lost count of the number of times someone has pointed out the things that are ‘wrong’ with my car. They aren’t wrong, I have made changes to the car, as have previous owners. That is not wrong, it is my car.

Chassis 15 is a nice shiny car. And no one will ever drive it anywhere. At this point it has ceased being a car with any utility value, and has become an object. To some (me) it is a beautifully prepared example of an iconic car, that deserves to be driven. A lot. To others (who’ve already made themselves known) it is a failure as a restoration because it hasn’t got the right plug caps. To the next owner it will be an investment opportunity. It may never see the light of day again, except to a select audience at a car show.

Personally, I would love to be in the position of being able to afford a 100 point restoration such as this (ok maybe 90 points given the eagle eyed criticism it has already earned), and to be able to drive it until it required another £100k restoration.

I am well aware of the sheer effort, determination and financial commitment to the restoration of an E-type, having seen two at that standard first-hand with one being worked on sporadically by myself. If and when I am fortunate enough to be able to have an E-Type I intend on driving the nuts off it. Concourse cars frustrate me because from my point of view, it's one less car on the road for me to see or enjoy (or anyone else for that matter), one less car joining in in social events and it pushes the already fairly unrealistic price tag (for me) up further, simply adding to the time it would take me to get one anyway. - The original log books, service manuals and the like only serves to highlight this to me, that's a HELL of a lot of money changing hands.

However, if a car is being sold for the amount of money we think this one is going for and is presented as "factory original", then I would expect details to be largely correct - this is coming from someone who hasn't spent 1% of the time around E-types as you lot have and knows very little! If you tell me something "needs" changing on my car one day and I've missed it - great - I am a bit of a perfectionist by nature. Rules of common sense apply though!

I do not intend on making myself unpopular here

Wrong plug lead conduit
Poor repro horn push
Cross head screws on side light lenses
Missing sticker on washer motor
Wrong radiator hose - should be convoluted
Bolts and washers securing heater inlet to bonnet should be black
Wiper blades should be 11" and square section
Brake servo bracket should be painted grey/green
Ditto header support bracket
Sparkplug organiser ring in wrong place
Headlamp bowl mounting screws wrong way around
Wrong routing of engine breather pipe
Wrong heater blower motor
Later type generator
Bonnet hinges should be cadmium plated
Bolts/nuts should be black not silver
Coopers air filter logo should not be there
Wrong key fob

Plus all the other things listed above

Such a shame as more attention to detail could have resulted in a true concours restoration. Another £5k spent could put some of these right but it makes you wonder what lies hidden and where other shortcuts have been taken. The point is this company are advertising it as "an exhaustive 4500 hour JD Classics restoration to factory original specification" which certainly falls foul of the Trades Description Act and leaves them open to being sued by the high net value probable owner. Certainly not worth £400,000 in this condition despite the provenance but no doubt some mug will be swayed by the shiny finish and new (Connolly?) leather.

For those who decry our comments on originality bear in mind Jaguar did things in a particular way for good reason, a lot of which we do not fully understand. If you want proof go and drive Angus's highly original FHC which will make you realise you have never driven a real E-Type!

SEJohnson95 wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 12, 2018 11:39 am

I do not intend on making myself unpopular here

Far from it!

Well done Simon, you have used the post 15 for the 15th car!
The paint finish looks stunning on this car, highlighted by the perfect shut lines.
Seems odd though that early cars were lacking the rear hatch seal.

I want it.

Not as much as I want £400k though. £200k would be better.!

I would settle for that E- type if I could keep £200k change.

Then again £200k is plenty as well for a poor family man like me.

ralphr1780 wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 12, 2018 12:00 pm

Seems odd though that early cars were lacking the rear hatch seal.

Early cars had the seal glued to the boot lid.

What puzzles me is how an acclaimed marque specialist can claim to have spent so many hours on a restoration and then still not get it right?

Also, how does the time necessary to restore a car increase? I'm sure these experts have previously said it takes 2000 hours to restore a car properly.

I'm intrigued but mostly because buying anything in that price range is completely beyond me.

Regards