Perforated leather seats

[speedyK]

According to A. D. Clausager's "Factory Original E-Type" book, perforated leather was introduced in early '69 on the Series 2 cars.

If a Series 1 US import has such seats fitted rather than the original Vaumol non-perforated seats, is that a big minus point on the value of the car?

[Heuer]

I assume we are talking about an S1 with the 4.2 seats here rather than the 3.8 buckets?

Whilst they could be the later S2 seats (should have headrests, recliners and Ambla covered backs) it could also be a previous owner had the original ones recovered and specified the perforations. Certainly when Suffolk & Turley restored my S1 seats they asked if I wanted plain or perforated leather as a matter of course because the latter are more practical if you intend to use rather than show the car. If they are later S2 seats and you want to fit the original style S1 versions expect to pay ?500+ for s/h frames plus up to ?1,200 for re-trimming. So if you are negotiating a price ask for a ?1500 discount for the 'wrong' seats. To be honest, if you intend using the car regularly, you would be better off installing MX5 seats and keep the originals in storage.

[speedyK]

I assume we are talking about an S1 with the 4.2 seats here rather than the 3.8 buckets?

Yes, sorry - should have made that clear.

If they are later S2 seats and you want to fit the original style S1 versions expect to pay ?500+ for s/h frames plus up to ?1,200 for re-trimming. So if you are negotiating a price ask for a ?1500 discount for the 'wrong' seats.

Thanks. But the original Vaumol leather is not available for re-trimming, so it could be argued that even re-trimmed S1 seats are not correct...

To be honest, if you intend using the car regularly, you would be better off installing MX5 seats and keep the originals in storage.

I'm not looking for a daily driver. The stock seats would be fine. :)

[Heuer]

But the original Vaumol leather is not available for re-trimming, so it could be argued that even re-trimmed S1 seats are not correct...

Neither is the paint Jaguar used on the bodywork, the thermo moulded plastic dash covering, the Bradite 'Old Gold' cylinder head paint, Cheyney hose clamps, Butler number plate lamps plus numerous other ancillaries. Vaumol leather has not been available for 15 years but that has not stopped recently restored cars winning concours events. If you start going down the "not correct" route you are in for a lot of heartache as Jaguar changed the specification on almost a weekly basis. There are very few cars remaining that have not had some work done to them although Harry at E-Type UK had a couple a few months back. In particular a yellow LHD OTS which Angus lusted after from first sight and languished on eBay for several months.

[speedyK]

Please don't misunderstand me ? I can happily live with non-original ? certainly if it works as well or better than the original and retains the original look. If the appearance is not the same as the original, but offers an improvement of some kind, it is not necessarily bad in my book ? especially on things where the looks are not that important (to me) such as suspension bushes.

Though even there it can be argued that polyurethane bushes do not give the original feel to the car...

it boils down to what anyone wants from a car. To me, it should retain the character, looks and feel of the original as much as possible. How much one is prepared to sacrifice "original" for "convenient/low-maintenance/stronger, etc." is something everyone has to decide for themselves. I'm open to (reasonable) compromise :)

[Heuer]

Then my list would be:
Rubber bushes
Rubber steering rack mounts
Standard 5" wire wheels
185 tyres
Cast manifolds
Standard 16" wood rim steering wheel
Seats - standard are OK, but if you are rear ended your E-Type driving days are over. MX5 seats are ideal.

From there you can modify what suits your driving style. For me that included a fast road engine, better air filter, 5 speed box, 2.88 diff, Zeus calipers, S3 cross drilled front discs, Kenlowe fan, CMS ally radiator/header, EDIS/Megajolt, Fiero fan and a few other bits. The E-Type has a wide palette so you can build it to your own preferences. One size does not suit all.

[speedyK]

Seats - standard are OK, but if you are rear ended your E-Type driving days are over. MX5 seats are ideal.

I'm very up on safety as a rule. I don't intend to do high mileages in an E-type and I'm choosing one as a contrast to the near-perfection of my modern cars.

I'm aware that accidents will happen. A few years ago, one October evening, I took this car (which I used mainly on track)


up an alpine pass to take a pic for a calendar


Summer tyres and unexpectedly frozen dew ended about 5 minutes later in this


If I'd been driving my MGC ? or an E-Type OTS, I wouldn't be here now.

I replaced the Opel Speedster with a supercharged Exige Cup ? with factory fitted roll cage. Once bitten, twice shy!


But neither that nor my Aston DB7 V12 Vantage were really rewarding to take for a gentle drive


And even sports cars which are virtually faultless only encourage you to drive them at a speed suitable for the car's abilities but not for your licence! The problem of speed traps is getting worse every day here in Switzerland. That's why I've just sold my 997 4S


My regular use cars are now:
my 7-seater Dodge for long-distance/high load-carrying stuff


my RenaultSport Clio 200 for general local use


and my Smart Brabus Xclusive Roadster-Coup? for flitting about in (love it!)


I do have a few old cars too apart from my MGC (which my wife won't allow me to sell!)


Lancia Beta Spider


Matra Murena 2.2


Peugeot 106 GTI

and an old Dodge 7-seater

but they are going to be sold and the E-type will be used for gentle, savouring drives in nice weather ? and to simply admire in my garage. Mazda seats and a 5-speed box would be be "improvements" that would detract from the authentic experience for me ? but I can certainly see the rationale for such moves. :D

I suppose it is fairly clear to all from the above that I am an incurable petrolhead. I'm not trying to fight it, just keeping my self out of trouble

[Heuer]

I am more likely to lose my licence in the E-Type than either our 911, Alpina B5 or Range Rover Sport. The 1969 Lotus ?lan is most fun and the safest because 30 feels like 50, 50 feels like 70 and 70 feels like 100mph. Having done 35,000 miles in the E-Type without a problem with the standard seats I decided to give the MX5 ones a go for comfort and safety this year. Wife loved them during our trip to Europe so they can stay for the moment and it only takes 30 minutes to swap back. I know of one E-Type owner who owes a lot to the MX5 seats -say no more.

[speedyK]

I am more likely to lose my licence in the E-Type than either our 911, Alpina B5 or Range Rover Sport. The 1969 Lotus ?lan is most fun and the safest because 30 feels like 50, 50 feels like 70 and 70 feels like 100mph.

That is very hard to understand. To me, 100mph feels like 60mph in a 997, whereas 60mph feels like 100mph in an E-Type (somewhat like the Elan)! That's one of the attractions!

Having done 35,000 miles in the E-Type without a problem with the standard seats I decided to give the MX5 ones a go for comfort and safety this year. Wife loved them during our trip to Europe so they can stay for the moment and it only takes 30 minutes to swap back. I know of one E-Type owner who owes a lot to the MX5 seats -say no more.

I will probably not reach 4-figure mileage per annum in an E, so my requirements are slightly different. As you said, one size does not fit all.

[Heuer]

My E-Type is, quite frankly, too quick for this country. It has the same performance as our 911 but sounds a lot better. Unfortunately it encourages you to keep your foot down whereas the 911 divorces you from what is going on - which having driven 911's for over 200,000 miles says a lot. This is what happens when you goose the engine, add a 2.88 diff and a 5 speed box in a 25 cwt car. Hence we head for Europe's greatest test track - France.

[speedyK]

France is not such a safe bet either.
They got me about 15 years a ago in my Range Rover 4.6 HSE ? they clocked me at 187km/h. Asked me if I was in a hurry to catch the ferry. When I said; "No...", they were quite bemused as to why someone would drive so quickly by choice...

and they got me earlier this year in the 997 too - and in my Dodge this summer (though not heard anything yet).

Which 911 do you have? My 4S had almost limitless grip in the dry - and was a blast in the snow too
[/i]

In the seventies, I did cross France from Geneva to Calais on the back roads flat out all the way ? but those days are long gone...

[Heuer]

We rarely exceed the speed limit on the Autoroutes because with the roof down anything much beyond 140kph is too noisy. Besides there is no fun in going quickly in a straight line. I use the SatNav speedometer which actually allows quick progress compared to other cars whose speedo's over estimate by about 10%. They think they are doing 130kph when actually they are doing about 115kph so we go blasting past at a true 130 (or maybe 140kph) and they think we are bound to get caught. Rules for the Autoroutes are to keep to the limits within a couple of kilometers from a peage and watch the locals who know where the traps are. I nominate a 'rabbit' (usually German, Swiss or Belgian) and follow in their wake because they will be the target. The frontal area of the E-Type is actually very small compared to modern cars so people (Police) do a double take to understand what it is - seems to have worked so far, touch wood! They also seem to cut the E-Type a lot of slack, something I have found in Britain as well - only stopped once on an A road: "I clocked you at 97mph Sir and you were pulling away from me. I don't quite know what to say to you other than go test it on the back roads. Nice car though, off you go". Been paced a few times by Police interceptors but they seem to want to just look at the car and always have a smile on their faces.

We quickly tire of the Autoroutes and my wife, who is an excellent map reader and observer, usually finds us a D or C road that takes us in the direction we want. They are not policed, are invariably deserted and well maintained so progress is fun and quick. Again, we never exceed the speed limits in villages and towns and press on when it is not witnessed. Route Nationale should be avoided at all cost although some of the Bis routes are engaging and quiet.

Our current Porsche is one of the very last 993 C2's built and I bought it after being totally disappointed with the newer models and disenchanted with 4wd. The 993 is what the original 911 family were all about - it is waiting for you to make a mistake, so it can kill you!

[speedyK]

(Police) (...) seem to cut the E-Type a lot of slack, something I have found in Britain as well (...) seem to want to just look at the car and always have a smile on their faces.

Our current Porsche is one of the very last 993 C2's built and I bought it after being totally disappointed with the newer models and disenchanted with 4wd. The 993 is what the original 911 family were all about - it is waiting for you to make a mistake, so it can kill you!

I have yet to meet a Swiss police officer who "cuts slack". When I was caught in the Exige Cup, they were very interested in the car ? but fined me anyway :?

Our current Porsche is one of the very last 993 C2's built and I bought it after being totally disappointed with the newer models and disenchanted with 4wd.

I'm surprised that you didn't like 4wd ? you can chuck it about readily ? on a track at least :

The 993 is what the original 911 family were all about - it is waiting for you to make a mistake, so it can kill you!

An previous employee of mine has a Ruf 964 RS TwinTurbo ? but he says it is just too ancient to use vigorously ? always hoses, etc. failing, so he's got a 997 GT3 RS now and is looking to sell the 964. Another mate has recently been out with Walter R?hrl in a 997 GT2 ? and has now sold his Gallardo Superleggera and bought a GT2 himself. 530+bhp and rear-wheel drive... now I can easily believe that that could still bite back!
Personally, I don't fancy cars that are waiting their chance to kill me ? that's why the 997 4S was my first Porsche :D
But it would be boring if we were all the same :)