1963 Jaguar E-Type OTS
The story of a ground up restoration of a classic "XKE" Jaguar roadsterUseful Resources
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Useful Resources (updated 5 July 2008)
This is a list of web resources that have been helpful in varying degrees from the beginning of our adventure in restoration. I don't warrant the information on any of these sites, and they are of variable quality. But they are worth a look. As with anything on the web, let the browser beware! Mac OS X Dashboard Widget and RSS feed
If you're one of the many who use Mac OS X "Tiger," you can add a "Dashboard widget" that will check this website for updates. It's easy to download and install.
In order to make these tools even more worthwhile, I'll be trying to update the website more regularly. Restoration Information & Services
Jag Lovers
Classic Jaguar Classic Jaguar (known as "CJ" among Jag owners and enthusiasts) features Inside the CJ Workshops which is a presentation of projects currently underway at CJ. You can often resolve many questions of restoration by looking at the pictures from the workshops. Classic Jaguar's restorations have been interesting to me because they also include upgrades of varying form — some virtually invisible and others truly enhancements. But, by and large, CJ's restorations preserve the classic in the E-type, and it is a company that has provided E-type enthusiasts a great deal of information in addition to restoration services.
Eagle E-type Eagle GB are the UK leaders in the field of E-Type Jaguar restoration and reconditioning offering an extensive range of beautiful E-type Jaguars for sale.
XKEdata.com Last time I checked, XKE Data had information on nearly fifteen percent of the E-types to roll off the line. Quite an achievement! Check out the E-Type Color Picker (also by Los) and the data services ("Enter Data. XKEdata.com is a good and central resource to us as we contextualize our own cars, if only with car numbers. (The thought of others Out There, perhaps, will introduce some light into the Dark Nights of the Soul that E-type restoration brings with it!)
Jaguar Links Jaguar Links distributes the official release of Mike Powers' E-Type Owners List. The list is in Microsoft Excel format and contains much information that helps E-type enthusiasts figure out more about the history of their cars, in spreadsheet format so it's fairly easy to sort and search. Mike has been collecting this information for years, and he would very much like to make his list as complete as possible. If your car isn't listed on his list, contact him through the Jaguar Links website.
E-Type Lovers This site includes an assortment of useful "technical" information (production number information, paint codes, gas tank removal tips, and such). The information provided on this site is very useful for the usual changes and fixes that E-types sometimes require.
Easy-To-Make Rollable Bonnet Stand Storing that E-type bonnet is a pain, and people have gone to great lengths to get it out of the way. Here's my solution, made from wood that's probably just lying around. You will have to fetch some casters, though.
The Most Famous Car in the World I reviewed this book on inetogether.net. It tells the story of the early "life" and the eventual restoration of the first production E-type "Fixed Head Coupe" known by its UK registration "HD9600." The car made the E-type's world debut in Geneva in March 1961. It is currently owned by Philip Porter, I think, who wrote the book. The review is now published in inetogether's first volume.
RepairNation.com Although this site does not specifically focus on Jaguar cars, the skills and methods that it details are of great use to the amateur car restorer. Topics covered include fixing rust damage, use of body filler, painting, and buffing. The site also includes an Automotive Encyclopedia. Sections on mechanical repairs, maintenance, and troubleshooting are "under development." Enthusiast Sites
Full Restoration of a 63 Jaguar XKE FHC Bill's site is very useful because he's taken care to photograph lots of the steps, and he's had plenty of opportunity to take pictures since he's done an amazing amount of the work himself. I've corresponded with Bill, and I believe his restoration is one to watch, since he inquired about BEES and GKN bolts I might not want anymore. Bill's done with his restoration now, though I imagine he still is tinkering away on it. Bill's is a must-see website for the new restorer and certainly an informative one for restorers of all stripes.
Glen's 1969 E-Type Series II Roadster Restoration Glen took on a Series II roadster that seems to have had a bit more rust than mine in places. His website is a step-by-step account of his work, from the pictures taken before purchase, to the construction of his engine stand-based rotisserie, to sheetmetal repair. It's nice to see that I'm not the only one in the world crazy enough to attack a late-stage rust project!
1964 Jaguar E Type FHC Construction and Installation Details Jerry Mouton's E-type site has loads of pictures that are very useful to refer to as a restoration proceeds. I've found that getting a glimpse of the real ways that things were put together is something to treasure. Jerry's site has useful photographs of the frames, wiring routes, and hose routes as well as detailed shots of interior fitting, including seals. His car is "Fixed Head Coupe" (FHC) — a coupe, so there are some differences between it and the roadster.
Jaguar E-Type An adventure in the making, this one. Marcel bought his car online from a person in Cailfornia, and had it shipped to the Netherlands. It is now a work in progress. Click "Home" to hear a car — though you'll have to reload the page to get rid of the sound.
Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art It's refreshing to know that a car can be considered enough a work of art to be held in a major museum's permanent collection. The Jaguar E-type has that distinction. This page is part of a web rendering of a special show held at MoMA in 2002 called Autobodies: Speed, Sport, Transport. The Jag is the same year as ours (1963) and it is a beautiful Opalescent Dark Blue. The exhibition was done at the new museum site in Queens (of all places). Part Suppliers USA
Classic Jaguar, Austin, Texas UK
E-Type Fabs
|
Jag-Lovers has a lot to offer the
Jaguar enthusiast, and E-type enthusiasts in particular. The
(Uckfield, East Sussex, UK; http://www.eaglegb.com/)