Just bought a S1 OTS to restore, must have the bug !

[Alty Ian]

Hi everyone

I think E Types are magnetising and I couldn't resist getting another one! Now that I have completed restoring my S3, I had been looking for a S1 4.2 OTS to restore with my youngest son and have acquired a "barn find" for restoration. Its a very early S1 4.2 OTS, so early that it still has the 3.8 S1 boot badge and various other 3.8 parts as it must have been during the transitional stage in mid 1964. I have the heritage certificate and it appears to be an all matching numbers original low mileage US car that hasn't been on the road since 1971 and has 21777 on the clock but time will tell if that is right. Not much rust visible and mechanically no great signs of heavy usage, still got original paint on the head, bulkhead clean. Somebody started to restore it 10 years ago in US and bought a lot of new parts some have been fitted, the rest were in the boot.

The plan is to do a very good restoration and try and retain as much of the original car and interior as possible. I will post some pictures soon, the car is being delivered tomorrow

[Alty Ian]

The car is Opalescent Golden sand with a Tan interior, black hood, original chrome wires which have been sprayed over and all as original on heritage certificate. A recent picture is shown below.



The engine is clean and it has had some new parts like radiator, header tank, fuel tank etc.



The original interior is partly saveable with some restoration and some new carpets and trimming, but I think the hood will need replacing.



The chrome is all pretty good so I need to decide which parts need a re-chrome.



The wheels I will replace but I might see if the originals can be restored.



The IRS is pretty clean with much of the original paint visible and should be easy to restore, new brakes etc.



Can't wait to get started on it this weekend

:D :D

[1954Etype]

Well done! Looks a good car. What is the chassis number?

[SEJohnson95]

Very nice, plenty to get started on there. Look forward to seeing the pictures of the rebuild. You said you're going to try and save the interior, do you think you'll repaint her in Opalescent Golden Sand too?

[Alty Ian]

Well done! Looks a good car. What is the chassis number?

Hi Angus

The car is 1E 10012 but it doesnt have the 1E on the plate (like all the very early 4.2 cars). The car has two chassis plates as it has a 3.8 blank one under the 4.2 one with like a slot cut out for one row, I assume Jaguar hadnt got the new plates in time. Manufactured 21 Aug 1964, dispatched 5 Oct 64 so is the 12th 4.2 OTS made, the engine is 7E1026-9 and box EJ123.

Cheers Ian

[Alty Ian]

Very nice Ian, plenty to get started on there. Look forward to seeing the pictures of the rebuild. You said you're going to try and save the interior, do you think you'll repaint her in Opalescent Golden Sand too?

Hi

The car is going to be sensitively restored to be exactly as built in all respects, colours etc and as much of the existing body, parts and interior retained as possible. My 21 yr old son and I are going for a very good standard of restoration (within our limited skills and knowledge) so I hope we can call upon the brilliant knowledge base on here from time to time. The only upgrades we are currently planning to do are converting to RHD and using Coopercraft front brake calipers but we are keeping (and restoring) all LHD parts and brakes so the car can easily be converted back in future. My son has started a blog for the car and I will post the address for it soon. Cheers Ian

[1954Etype]

That IS early! I restored the 504th 4.2 and that had the same bulkhead as the 3.8s. My current car 11497 has the servo holes blanked out so no removable plates. I would fit the S2 alternator heatshield (paint it matt black) as it is only held on with 2 nuts.

[Alty Ian]

Hi Angus

The car was delivered today and we just couldn't resist starting on it straight away It seems to have a new alternator but no heat shield in sight, it seems to have a voltage regulator as well but none of the wiring is connected so god knows whats going on. I have got a new RHD wiring loom with the car so none of this matters. What should the car have? a dynamo/regulator or an alternator?

Took the bonnet off and stripped it down, wow, NO RUST at all anywhere even the bottom section and inside the headlights just factory paint, it has never been repainted since new and is in great condition. The frames are like new and the suspension looks like its never been near a road. Only real problem is the left side floor and cill both of which I may need to replace. Both doors are fine, boot floor not brilliant not sure whether to replace or repair it at present, when it been blasted I will know for sure.

cheers

[PeterCrespin]

All 4.2s were alternator. If there is rust anywhere (you mention left floor & sills) the frames are suspect.. Looking nice is a poor guide - they rust from the inside out.

Pete

[1954Etype]

As Pete says all 4.2s fitted with alternators. The early ones had no shields fitted as standard. The bonnet support and picture frames can be repaired but not the side frames.

[Alty Ian]

Thanks for the info, once the car is fully stripped down I will know the extent of any rust for sure but I note Peter's concerns about the frames and I will check them out thoroughly. I will post some pictures when I get chance.

[Alty Ian]

All 4.2s were alternator. If there is rust anywhere (you mention left floor & sills) the frames are suspect.. Looking nice is a poor guide - they rust from the inside out.

Pete

You were right Pete, the frames need replacing. The RH frame has corrosion under the sloping tube, the other side must be similar but not come thro, the bonnet frame bottom rail is bent due to someone jacking the car under the radiator, the picture frame is Ok but one of the captive nuts has gone,....so I am going for the e type fabs frames.