The 'E' Type Forum

Dropped by to see Angus today and his fleet of cars continues to grow:


All rust free and very original. The first three are the most interesting however - the green 3.8 FHC, white S2 FHC and the silver S1 4.2:


You could restore these with a screwdriver and a few spanners as every fixing is the way it left the factory and nothing is corroded in place. So dismantle, repaint body shell, overhaul mechanics, chrome, reassemble and trim interior. No welding, no finding parts! The jewel in the crown is the silver S1, a car I would kill to own. Everything is in place, it has just been loved, maintained and used by the previous owner. The jack has never seen action, the tool-kit never opened and the complete owners wallet is there with dozens of period receipts. Panel gaps are perfect, the chrome is superb and all it needs is re-commissioning, a set of suitably aged seat covers and a pair of floor mats. The cadmium plating on almost all the parts remains as do the Cheney clamps. A couple of days with a skilled detailer would get the paint good enough to make it a gorgeous usable car - but so original it would be unique. So good in fact I intend to use it for the 4.2 'Factory Fit' thread. This is a car that must not be 'restored' and I have told Angus he needs to insist potential buyers to fill in a questionnaire and attend an interview if they want to be considered as a suitable custodian More pictures to follow.

Edit: forgot to add - the tyres are new.

Does he realise he could buy 1 decent car with the money he has tied up in that scrap metal?

I think he is being led astray by your brother.

Thanks David, it was good to see you today. All of the cars are pretty much rust free (and belong to customers - with the exception of the Beige S2 and Silver S1). Buying cars that are unmolested gets more and more difficult (particularly Series 1s).

We normally have to replace bent footwells (due to ham fisted jacking) and deal with dents but generally, nothing more serious than that. Taking apart a car, not having to struggle with seized bolts, repainting it and putting it back together again is really rewarding and the finished result is as close to factory finish as you can get, 50 years on. The next 2 cars to go through the process is one of the yellow OTSs and the White FHC.

I'm pleased to see you are fussy who you sell too, I've not mastered that yet.

Ah, yes, but these are true 'barn find' cars as can be seen by a) the barn and b) the large amount of rat bait in the background to develop patina. You can't buy that sort of English heritage Harry!

I could build a barn in CA

Harry, building the barn isnt enough. I have to employ someone to sprinkle dust on them every other night.

harryetype wrote:I'm pleased to see you are fussy who you sell too, I've not mastered that yet.

Harry ...he is not...you may remember that he sold me the yellow S2 OTS, which is just about to go through his process..ready for spring? .Angus assures me that as its one of your cars...it will only need a quick polish and re tune to become stunning :o :) It seems a very original unmolested car..but we shall find out in a month or so when it goes through a refurbishment.
Seriously, it will be prepared as a driver/ tourer, so we are going to carry out an interesting set of modifications ..more later
David

What a great looking collection of E Types...all ex-Californian I'll bet.

Once you've played with rust-free cars that have their original clearances, chrome-work and plated suspension, as well as the original paint on the sub-frames and other suspension parts, it is hard to get quite as enthused with a poorly and rusty UK car needing the vast majority of it's metalwork replacing. But how many of these straight and rust-free cars are left in California / Texas and Arizona? There can't be too many now.

Mark

ernie wrote:Seriously, it will be prepared as a driver/ tourer, so we are going to carry out an interesting set of modifications ..more later
David

EFI, mapped distributor-less ignition and cable throttle maybe?

MarkE wrote:What a great looking collection of E Types...all ex-Californian I'll bet.

Once you've played with rust-free cars that have their original clearances, chrome-work and plated suspension, as well as the original paint on the sub-frames and other suspension parts, it is hard to get quite as enthused with a poorly and rusty UK car needing the vast majority of it's metalwork replacing. But how many of these straight and rust-free cars are left in California / Texas and Arizona? There can't be too many now.

Mark

I think the western states still have a lot of barn finds. On a train trip from southern California to Seattle, Washington, a few years ago, I was able to see into a lot of back gardens and was amazed at the quantity and variety of classics just sitting outside.

Hey Angus, whilst you're at it find me an unrestored 4.2 OTS (preferably a 65 or 66) then there's just the small problem of the finance! But if you had one taking up too much space I'd gladly relieve you of her...

Its getting harder, and every time there seems to be more people bidding on them.

SEJohnson95 wrote:Hey Angus, whilst you're at it find me an unrestored 4.2 OTS (preferably a 65 or 66) then there's just the small problem of the finance! But if you had one taking up too much space I'd gladly relieve you of her...

No problem. What colour combination would sir like? I see them all the time, only problem is the jacks are normally scratched.

Heuer wrote:

ernie wrote:Seriously, it will be prepared as a driver/ tourer, so we are going to carry out an interesting set of modifications ..more later
David

EFI, mapped distributor-less ignition and cable throttle maybe?

now theres a thought.....

Yes David, but EFI...too extreme / expensive for the benefit for me, throttle yes will do, electronic ignition yes (but possibly only 123), modified seats. 5 speed box only if existing one needs rebuilding, windbreak, rear lights treatment including number plates exhaust treatment etc. Maybe revert back to closed headlamps with upgraded light units. LED where they provide benefits, upgraded electrics including alternator and starter, variable wipers. Aside form polybushing probably leave suspension set up standard. Upgraded modern stereo with retro looks with bluetooth...as although I love the XK engine....will be going on long trips and need to keep the wife quiet.
Just trying to balance the superb original spec with sensible modern day upgrades that make the car more reliable and comfortable...without spending tons...happy to discuss any suggestions out there...?

1954Etype wrote:

SEJohnson95 wrote:Hey Angus, whilst you're at it find me an unrestored 4.2 OTS (preferably a 65 or 66) then there's just the small problem of the finance! But if you had one taking up too much space I'd gladly relieve you of her...

No problem. What colour combination would sir like? I see them all the time, only problem is the jacks are normally scratched.

Carmen Red with Biscuit leather would be marvellous please I'd change the colour and trim to that anyway so just a reasonably
Complete example would be perfectly satisfactory :)

And don't worry about the jack, there is a reliable source offering original ones on another thread at modest cost.

Obviously an original UK car, FSH, provenance, famous owner, all docs and tools I assume? Hold on, have I woken up in 1975? :D