The 'E' Type Forum

Hi There,

Hoping a Series 1 expert may be able to assist here. I have recently purchased a 1966/7 ? Series 1 4.2 OTS RHD for restoration. It comes with a hardtop. The hardtop is black vinyl covered. The car was delivered as dark blue from the factory. Is there any way to determine if the Hardtop is a factory Hardtop? Was black Vinyl rather than paint an optional finish from the factory? Cant seem to find much reference to vinyl covered hardtops.

Also I have seen a lot a variation in what may be "Light blue" as an interior finish. from almost dark blue to light blue/grey to baby blue. Is there any authoritative color swatches to reference that anyone knows of?

Many Thanks

Mark.

Hi Mark,

If your hard top is similar to the left one.

David confirm me that it was an after marker.
Regards
Mich

Black vinyl was certainly never offered by the factory, so either someone has covered a factory hardtop, or , as is much more likely, it is an aftermarket product

factory "light blue" interior is in fact a pale bluey-grey, and unfortunately it is one of the most vulnerable colours to scuffs and general deterioration particularly on the sills which inevitable get kicked when you get in and out

Thanks for the replies,

I don't have the hard top handy at the moment it is all still in the "barn" some distance away. From best memory it appears like the one on the left but I can only distinguish the difference there by what looks like a vinyl finish on it. I will keep investigating if it is a factory vs aftermarket. Is there any way to tell if it is a factory hardtop (that has had vinyl put on it) from specific features or markings? I will look more closely on the next visit.

Regardless, it sounds like I should strip the vinyl off and paint. Black? or Car color (dark blue)?

Re: Interior trim colour... (edited)

I found a swatch of Connolly leather here http://connollybros.co.uk/vaumolrange.html

Also a swatch at https://classicregister.com/id-guides/h ... 8l-and-42l

Image attached.

There is Dark Blue, Blue and Blue/grey Vamoul but no "light blue" in the Connolly swatch but after looking at the "Light Blue" from the swatch at the second link I am wondering if Connolly Vaumol "blue" may be the alternative to the "blue/grey" suggested that would satisfy the original "Light Blue" description of "as delivered."

Any opinion on how much the value is affected by such a change in interior color if it was different from as delivered?

Thanks again for the fast replies.

Couple of photos for everyone's amusement...

Mark