Early shell?

[dxke38]

Hi all. Just wondered if there's someone who could give me a fairly accurate age/date of a series one shell that I've had for a long time. It has no identifying numbers at all so I did consider building a track car but it would be helpful to have an idea of its age. Please see pics.

[Robbiee]

Hi
Well the grab handle bracket is early (my March ‘62 car has one) Mine is chromed. There is no bracket on the dash, just 2 bolts. I’m not sure when it was changed

The rear heel board is flat(as on mine)…they were later scooped out to allow rearward movement of seat. Again, not sure of change date

The rear door hinges are early

[1954Etype]

Whatever you decide to do with it is important as if it is a very early FHC shell (and therefore rare) it could be historically important.

[Allrand]

Looks like the remains of clips on the boot floor stiffiner for the Shelley jack handle, so could be quite early.

[tinworm]

Late '61 I think - I believe the earliest cars had the small brackets on the base of the screen pillar pop riveted in place. Also the boot floor ribs.

Barrie

[Robbiee]

I think the bracket is welded on in the picture
The rear “heel boards” didn’t change to scooped until May ‘62 so it’s probably before then

[tinworm]

Thats why I said late '61 Robbie - I had a 'Dec 61 some years ago with spot welded brackets (as norm) so this one cant be much earlier than that - it could be slightly later of course so late 61- early 62 is about it I reckon.

Barrie

[Robbiee]

Agreed

[poofacio]

September 61 to Jan 62 from all the features showing.

[dxke38]

Thanks very much guys. The reason I'm looking into the shells age is because I thought it might be early enough to be interesting but mainly because without any numbers or ID I need to prove the age of all parts to get an age related reg number. The only number on the car was a body number on the bonnet to wing plate but Jaguar Heritage said that number was allocated to a roadster registered in Sweden? Condition of the shell is pretty poor and will need lots of repair but it was a complete rolling chassis before I dismantled it for blasting etc. There's no sign of a body number having been fitted to either the bulkhead or the rear inner wing and no number on the picture frame. Any suggestions as to other points to look for appreciated and I'll try to post a few more pics. If I can't gat a reg number then it will either be a donor for another car or a track car. Thanks again.

[tinworm]

Body number written in crayon on the back of rear door , front of bulkhead and on back of centre dash panel in pencil. You should see the two rivet holes where the body number plate was fixed to the lhs inner rear wing. You will have a job on trying to register the car on an age related plate.

best of luck Barrie

[dxke38]

No rivet holes Barrie. Searched for ID everywhere.

[Robbiee]

I found the body number pencilled on the back of the speedo/ Rev counter dash AND the same on the glovebox side of that helps

[Philk]

I think the bracket is welded on in the picture
The rear “heel boards” didn’t change to scooped until May ‘62 so it’s probably before then

The modification to the rear bulkhead (to increase seat travel) was documented in Service Bulletin N.16 (June 1962) and Spares Parts Bulletin (SPB) P.61 (June 1962). It applied from FHC Chassis Nos 860581 (RHD) / 886093 (LHD). That therefore is the latest point your car could have been built.

If it has a flat floor, that was documented in SPB P.51 (March 1962). That was from FHC Chassis Nos 860176 (RHD) / 885504 (LHD).

A bit worrying though that the bonnet reinforcement bracket had an OTS number on it and that the picture frame had no number on it.

[dxke38]

Phil I would be worried if it was a complete car but with it being a rolling chassis I have no doubt it has been messed with over the years. I am more interested in the history of the shell as I was concerned it may be significant. Heritage at Gaydon said that bonnet numbers were sometimes mixed and incorrect but it could have just been fitted with another bonnet following a prang.

[tinworm]

Are there any holes on the RH screen pillar bottom pertaining to the grab handle bracket you show in the first photo ? Just trying to see if the body was originally RHD as the bracket will have moved sides if LHD.

Barrie

[dxke38]

Hi Barrie, yes there are the two holes on the drivers side, not sure it means anything as they don't appear to have ever been used. Maybe the panels are both predrilled for either side.

[tinworm]

Hello Derek - not on my '61 they weren't - check out any other witness marks you can where LHD fittings were mounted.

Barrie

[dxke38]

Hi Barrie, definitely RHD. Just had pointed out to me that the hole in the bulkhead for the sevo exhaust has a blanking plate fitted on the side not used, The blanking plate was fitted on the left side and no sign of it ever being fitted on right side. I enclose pics of bonnet frame also as this is slightly different to my 64 car.

[tinworm]

Yes your blanking plate is a good marker. The bonnet frame is the second type I believe - the first had the plate brazed straight on to the tube then they realized more reinforcement was needed so they came up with that. The third type is the normal E-type frame available .

Barrie