Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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Dblebill
Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Surrey
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Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 4:55 pm Post subject: Hi from a newbie - Jaguar E-Type S3 Roadster |
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Hi Folks,
I’m new to this site and wish to say hi. I recently bought my first Jaguar, a S3 E-Type roadster - a car I’ve dreamed of owning for 40 years!
Since I bought it I have used it only a couple of times due to the awful weather.
I joined the JDC and went to my local area’s meet a few weeks ago and met a lovely crowd of like minded car nuts and through them, I was introduced to a guy who restores classics at a reasonable cost.
Because we’re now approaching winter I thought it would be a good idea to spend some money and get a few jobs done, so it’s getting a bare metal respray, seats retrimmed and a general tidy up.
Hope you enjoy javascript:emoticon('')
Here's a pic taken shortly after I picked her up
and here's one taken this week in the early days of the restoration
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22477 Location: UK
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Dblebill
Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Surrey
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 11:02 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Rick, she's a auto, not everyone's cup of tea I know, but suits me |
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bob2
Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1728 Location: Malta
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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It looked very nice even as bought why sand it back to bare metal and respray?! |
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Dblebill
Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Surrey
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Bob,
I'm afraid the camera makes the car look nicer than it actually is. I was thrilled to discover a month after I bought the car that it had a new body shell fitted twenty years ago. Unfortunately when it was painted it seems that some water condensation got in the paint line and the result is that all these years later the car is full of raised bubbles the size of a fish eye underneath the paintwork. Fortunately the restorer found no rust apart from a tiny bit on the rear wheel arch, which he's going to sort out.
The seat leathers were ripped and torn, plus the hood was shot to pieces so I decided to bite the bullet and get the work done. If you would like to see them I'll post some more pics as and when the work progresses. |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22477 Location: UK
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alan 869
Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 388 Location: Linköping Sweden
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Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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When I drove busses in London and lived on the Kentish Town Road I used to pass a Jag dealers on the way to work. One of these in Primrose for half the list price. I got 35 quid a week so it could have been 25% list as far as I was concerned. Took them a long time to -get rid- of them. I went another way to work as I couldn´t stand seeing them nearly every morning......... So close, but so far. Keep the pics coming mate |
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Dblebill
Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Surrey
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Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Alan, my story is similar to yours, I can still see them lined up on Henly's forecourt in Chester with the price displayed by those big orange numbers stuck on the inside of the windscreen. You could have any colour you like, they couldn't give them away, the trouble was I earned peanuts back then and simply couldn't afford one. Every time I see them on the road or in a museum or a salesroom I tell myself, "one day". Through lots of hard work and a 40 year wait I finally made it a few months ago and I can hardly believe it, so if you really want one don't give up, I didn't and I'm so happy I got there in the end. I'm never going to sell this car I love it so much and even though I've only driven it a few times, each time I have a big grin on my face and a lovely warm feeling inside, just as well as the heater is not up to much
I'll post more pics as the restoration develops |
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alan 869
Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 388 Location: Linköping Sweden
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Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 9:35 am Post subject: |
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Yes, I can still see them aswell. Big -half list price- signs on the windscreens. Might just aswell been on another planet. I had a bog standard mini from 1961 (YCG 90). Wonder where that is. Last decent car I had before I moved to Sweden was a -Damson- 2.5 PI (money from the Army - long story -).
Get one now??? Scare me stiff. V12? The Stag will do nicely. It´s pretty much all together now and is a very nice drive. All -new- clocks and new wood bits being the latest. Along with a new screen
[img][/img] |
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Dblebill
Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Surrey
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Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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Well I returned to the restorer today and here are a few more pics for you to see, if you look closely the front of the bonnet looks like it's been used as a dodgem car with all kinds of bumps and bruises, but I guess that's normal with E Types. My man told me he is not too concerned as he can sort them out without too much fuss, he went on to say that apart from some rust the size of a forefinger on the near side rear wheel arch, there was nothing else. He added that the car has had a seriously good waxing years ago which has paid massive dividends. I can't tell you how lucky I feel at having found a car in such good (rust free) condition.
Hope you enjoy this instalment, please feel free to pass on any comments, I'm new to the classic car scene and this is my first restoration so any tips or suggestions you may have are always welcome. I'll post more pics as and when the work progresses.
Last edited by Dblebill on Wed Jan 16, 2013 11:24 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22477 Location: UK
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Dblebill
Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Surrey
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Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for your kind comments Rick and thanks for the useful tips, I'll be sure to take your advice. Bill |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22477 Location: UK
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Dblebill
Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Surrey
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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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Well folks I returned to my friendly restorer today to find my car wrapped in a large yellow plastic bag, which when removed revealed the first coat of primer. I guess the hard work of preparing the bodyshell i.e. the removal of those "blemishes" on the front of the bonnet, together with any other bruises are about to be tackled.
I'm happy to take a small active part in the restoration so I've come home with quite a few pieces of chrome trim and light fittings which I'm going to clean up. Stopped on the way home to get a load of fine wire wool and preparing myself for a busy weekend.........
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Dblebill
Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Surrey
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Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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After my previous update where I mentioned taking home some parts to clean up, I can now report that the feeling in my fingers has just about returned back to normal after spending countless hours with the wire wool. So yesterday I went to see the car and came home with two of the wire wheels so I can get back to that numb feeling in my hands once again....
The car has been sprayed with epoxy primer and the work on smoothing everything down has been taking place. The bonnet needed to be re shimmed in order for it to sit properly and the doors have been adjusted so the gaps are as they should be. I understand the car will be in the paint shop soon, so with a bit of luck I'll have some pictures of a nice shiny E to post next time.
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