Possible new car

[Stevemorris]

Good morning all,

Can anyone tell me how they would go about tracing the history of a car please? I’m looking at a car that the current owner has had for 13 years, it’s had quite a bit of work done including a full restoration in the 1980’s, but I know very little about the car before then.

Who do I ask?

Many thanks,

[mgcjag]

Very difficult finding history....if its been added to xkedata it may tell you something....and a Heritage certificate will confime details of how it left the factory....you need the chassis number as a starter.....maybee tell us more detail someone here may know it.....Steve

[Stevemorris]

Hi Steve, Its in Shrewsbury, not far from you by the looks of it? Ill PM you.

[mgcjag]

Don't worry about putting the details here on the forum...the more members that get to look at it the better your chance of gaining info.....Steve

[Stevemorris]

Thanks Steve,

OK, Chassis number is 1E 20441, Reg No is HPT 888C. I am viewing the car Sunday, it looks nice, fairly original features retained, I wondered if anyone on this forum recognises the car and can fill in any history gaps please?

I know the present owner (thoroughly decent chap) has had the car for some 13 years, it was purchased at auction in 2013, has had some work done by someone called Bob Bates? And a bare metal spray in 2012.

Can anyone offer any information on this car please?

Many thanks,

Steve.

[Tech396]

There are many ways and I've done this several times. It literally takes hours, days,weeks and months of due diligence.
With todays "privacy" concern it's very difficult. but
In both of my cases, the cars came with one piece of paper. No names, no numbers, just a town and date on a document found with the car. In the case of the Etype the paperwork found were from 1981 and another from 1991
I contacted the museum in a town on one document to ask for a possible newspaper archive for the date shown, and asked them to look for a "65 Etype For Sale" ad. in their local newspaper & They found it !
From that ad I joined a Facebook group for the same area and posted a generic photo of a similar car. I got many responses, but one reply turned out to be correct and someone remembered the cars owner.
I then looked up that name on Facebook and literally sent 20 random people with the same name a message asking if it was theirs. I never gave up.
I'm now in contact with the second & third owners and now I'm searching for the Original owner. Between all the conversations, follow ups, leads, and wrong info it took me about 20 hrs of time.
The other car took triple that !!
Good luck with your search.

[tim wood]

Bob Bates, that’s a name I remember.
I bought a gearbox that was rebuilt by him- superb.

A quick google of “Bob Bates Jaguar” shows a fair bit of good info.


https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co ... ering-ltd/

[Stevemorris]

Thanks Tim.

I tried calling Bob Bates today, number not recognised. I checked the company and it ceased trading in 2024…

[tim wood]

Hi,
I’m not surprised at that - he had been around a while
If you type “Bate” into the search tab on this forum you will see some other comments on his work. I appreciate that this won’t be relative to your car but is an indicator .

Good luck with your car

[Stevemorris]

Thanks Tim, I will do..

[Stevemorris]

OK, So I viewed the car today. Initially its a very nice looking car, body has had lots of money poured into it and on the whole its been done fairly well. There is signs of old corrosion beginning to bubble on the lower part of the tailgate, fairly usual stuff and the under bonnet is quite scruffy, but saveable.

Interior is tatty, but it just needs some TLC really, a couple of closing panels re-trimmed and a generally good tidy plus new carpets, so not too much drama on the whole.

The Engine number on the head corresponds with what it should be and also what's on the V5c, 7E ****-9, but the number on the block is different, 7E ****-8.

Am I correct in thinking the -9 denotes a 9:1 compression ratio? If so, does this mean someone has replaced the block using a non E Type block? Or, is the compression ratio set in the head??? I found in the cars file and old typed bill of sale (no date) stating that the car had been fitted with a new 'Short Engine', which I am assuming it means block and pistons, which explains why the numbers dont match, but is the wrong block fitted?? In my experience the compression ratio can only really be effected by the piston crown, or the shape of the hemisphere in the head??

Any help would be appreciated thanks!

[mgcjag]

Hi Steve....The V5 should show the actual engine number of the car as you are looking at it.....from the factory the head and engine number should match....yes the 9 is the compression ratio....a replacement block does not tell a full story unless you have the build details and know what pistons etc were used....If the car had lots of money spent on the body I wouldnt expect to see corrosion comming through....Steve