Preserving an original 1962 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 EP1

Here we embark on the preservation of this original-paint 1962 Jaguar E-Type FHC while making plans for a complete mechanical restoration.
#restoration #jaguar #etype
0:00 Andy's Story
4:02 Exterior Survey
15:01 Interior Survey
19:02 Engine Bay

[@gregmorrical2283]

Make it safe and useable, it’s only original once! It can always be fully restored later.

[@jeffseidel9095]

I'm inclined to keep this one as original as possible. Overhaul the mechanicals, a new wiring harness for reliability along with replacing anything rubber that has perished over time. The interior is remarkable. Get an expert to scuff and blend in the paint issues and then just enjoy it. Guaranteed to attract the same or more attention than a restored E-Type these days. A sympathetic rejuvenation, similar to what was done to the Kjell Qvale lightweight E-Type would be my goal for this one.

[@desertpoj]

Loving Andy’s work. The Tutankhamun analogy was wonderful!

[@pgsahlman]

The most beautiful car of all time...

[@alekjuskevice]

You do a wonderful job of describing the car. Please please please leave it as is. I’ve had three XKEs, I would love this one, re chromed, new rubber where necessary. Mostly, what I would want is the underside, seams etc cleaned and repainted. I l love that you ask questions of your audience, that shows, both, that you are kind, and, more importantly that you are not an arrogant jerk who knows everything, no one knows everything, so, thanks for being human! Great job!

[@GooseDave]

Preserve as much as possible. Totally restored Jags are ten a penny nowadays.

[@philtucker1224]

Hi Richard, I thoroughly agree that it would be ideal to save the original paintwork as it is so wonderful. However, as you gradually get into making the various weathered areas good I think you may ultimately take the decision to renew it. On balance, (and because the interior is so perfectly amazing), I think the owner will secretly desire better paintwork-just to do it justice……

[@richradley2706]

Perfect survivor car. Clean and press only.

[@mauriceclemens3286]

Amazing this car has no serious rust. It would be a dream to have E Type like this.

[@robertmorales391]

Nice find, I agree preservation is the way to go.

[@Vintageguy73]

A few years ago glass-smooth paint and mirror chrome was the "hotness", now it's survivor original cars.

[@fgb3126]

Fads. Bloody fads. Forget "hotness" and all that other nonsense. Full restore it to the 1962 car. New gun-metal gray paint will be unique enough. Someone said restored E-types are ten a penny now. I beg to differ! Esp. a 1962.

[@paulohlsen3332]

Strip, clean and polish. Re chrome when absolutely necessary, you'll be surprised what a buffing wheel will do. Can only be that original once. Awesome find and a privilege to do 👏

[@davidcrouch3226]

This channel needs more Andy!

[@getover60]

I told him this too...

[@dcallan812]

Great find. Nice to see its going to get used, and not left in a barn to fade and die. 👍

[@majorscope]

Hi Micheal, I would do exactly what you are doing. Leave the paintwork alone. It is what it is. Just do your mechanicals and get the car running. The wiring loom looks salvageable. Perhaps a bit of tidying up as necessary. The car will be a very rare gem. Regards. from U.K.

[@andylaws4247]

The "O" in JSO refers to the gear ratios. I believe they are 3.37, 1.86, 1.28, 1.0 on the Moss box. -9 on the Engine number is 9:1 compression ratio. (That's the easy one!!) Hope this helps!

[@noahproblemo1257]

Amazing find. I’m sure you will get many unsolicited offers to purchase this once word get around. Well done.

[@tommaloy90]

That is truly amazing, if I owned something that special I would not touch a thing. Make it operational and safe and enjoy! Either way it's an E type, everyone likes them no matter what condition

[@jianoconnor8414]

Richard , your enthusiasm is the best. Just what these vehicles need. Happy to tune in; watch the show and learn. Preserve exactly as you are. Just minor re-chroming plus engine and drive train.

[@346Moody]

Survivor !!! Do not touch it its perfect !! Regards from the UK

[@hughtube1]

looking great as it is. I will enjoy watching you get this back on the road and learning more about these cars as I go. Another great watch Thanks Hugh

[@johndavey72]

Hi Richard . This is tricky . It' s where do you start and where do you stop ? If you really think logically it's already been part restored. The engine and irs. It's not just the door the "A"post has been painted . There's a sizeable dent in the right rear roof. ( keep the dent !) But it's the bonnet that's the real problem . Where gravel has chipped the paintwork water and salt has invaded the paintwork and caused "spidering " or in Jaguar parlance "poor hospitalization ". You have to admit it does look , at best ,unsightly and will probably continue to deteriorate. I would almost certainly find an "old school "painter and repaint the car in cellulose . Definitely NOT basecoat /clear ! If you want to keep the provenance then why rechrome anything ? Someone has wisely suggested you replace the loom and l would do that for safety ! So it really is a catch 22 . The engine and irs already compromise the provenance. I guess the owner is the one to make the choices Richard . If it were mine l would replace the seals . Rechrome everything . Cadnium the front suspension and repaint the car in cellulose . Provenance is one thing preservation is another . Thanks Richard .

[@mickannieobrien2803]

Another fantastic Owen project looking forward to watching with great interest!! Cheers from Down under. (P.S. I am with you Rich and your plan for this classic)

[@boldorboy08]

Wow. This is going to be a great project, whatever you decide to do.

[@geoffhann4109]

There are many beautifully restored E types around. You have a once in a lifetime opportunity to keep it as you have received it, and sympathetically attend to some detail that will allow you to safely drive the car. I doubt that you will ever regret keeping it as it is now but will always regret the total restoration. When will this opportunity come again?

[@dakavanagh]

What a remarkable E-Type!

[@stephenway3410]

What a find. I would keep as original as possible. The interior is incredible. Some of the rubber seals are going to need replacing. I look forward to future episodes.

[@bradcollins9647]

What a great car. If it was mine, I would take it for a daily (after mechanical restoration and some rubbers and parts). Yes, I know, some people would burn me for this sacrilege, but after all it's a car and it had learned to be a car. It should be on the road and any new scratches or dents are no problem.

[@tomfurie2996]

Ha! He already has an E-Type daily! With a “junk” engine, beautifully restored.

[@simonjones7785]

I wish we had the climate in the uk that you have there to save all these absolute classics the pity of it is anything of that era will have melted with the weather

[@estpst]

Cool interior

[@richardgreene3460]

My 62 OTS (876993) is awesome as well. I did as little to it as possible to keep it all original. I talked to the original owner before his death. As said so many times, the car is original ONLY once. It can be restored a 1000 times! You are "right on" in what you are going to do!

[@jonathanrowley8572]

Perfect candidate for ice blasting, it would totally transform the underneath.

[@smacdougall100]

Fantastic! Another RMO project I'm really looking forward to watching, thx so much Richard. Oh ya, nice to see your dad's eating healthy 😁.

[@lesprudence374]

Definitely restore it will be beautiful

[@pgsahlman]

Excellent choice of opening piano music.

[@jfrorn]

Oh dear god, of course you're going to preserve it! Haha, there, I fell for it, comment written. :) What a lovely car...

[@josephmccormack6910]

Wow.....what a find. Just preserve it. Too original to restore. Fantastic.

[@MotoLen51]

Survivor! I love it.

[@gryfandjane]

Words fail. What a gem! I’d go for preservation vs. restoration, myself.

[@latitude9.5north54]

WOW! Absolutely fabulous Jaguar E-type "Time Capsule." IMHO, no restoration. Clean, assemble and drive. One of a kind.

[@markauld9678]

I would re paint bonnet and drivers door, the rest looks good and it’s original. A good general polish and re chrome bumpers

[@richardmaundrell4726]

100% agree. That rust will progress if left untreated.

[@billy4072]

Beautiful.

[@rockydavies9555]

Full Restore it deserves it

[@markletts8802]

Deal with the rust,and keep her as she is...I've noticed at the shows here in the U.K. people give way more attention to 50yr old cars that are driven to the show than the 50yr old £50K restored one that arrived on a trailer..Beautiful,best of luck,watching with anticipation.🇬🇧

[@jeanhawken4482]

What a beauty

[@patobrien3289]

If you look at the joining plate between the right hand front wing and the bonnet centre section, early E Types had the body number stamped on it. This is the plate at the rear of the bonnet secured by two bolts each into the wing and bonnet.

[@drgdawson1]

I love it! Wish it was mine!😍

[@maxfox3399]

Full restoration in my view. Bring it back to it's full former glory...

[@EngineeringVignettes]

I think that a lot of cars that are re-sprayed and detailed end up being Museum queens, private or public. This Jag wants to be driven; the original paint job is perfect for that, warts and all. Makes it more real. Cheers,

[@Space_Reptile]

full restauration and preservation is what this chassis deserves

[@markxl]

I love the brown leather interior.

[@spookydog6959]

unreal preserve this beauty patina is perfect once in a life time find

[@michelhulzebos9278]

A Danish car? (DK) I would do as little as possible, leave it as untouched with patina. There are too many restored E-types around, and as this car is matching numbers and all original, I would just leave this as much as it is now, just making sure that the spidering and rust does not get worse. I am even conflicted about the re-chroming as it might stand out too much on the car. Amazing find! Congratulations!

[@ianalderton6683]

brilliant

[@billproud6699]

What a wonderful example and how amazing that it’s in such good condition for a 62 car. It must have been somewhere very dry. I noticed the DK sign on the back of the car which may indicate that it spent some time in Denmark?

[@brucecolby5016]

Flawless..

[@markforsellhaveyouheardasc4224]

Leave it as is, It’s nice👍

[@velviaman3206]

Renynolds 531 tube was used to fabricate British racing cycle frames at that time.

[@amham48]

My Raleigh International (full Campy) has a Reynolds 531 stickered frame (double butted circa 1970). Light and strong! I'd leave the car stock as is but fix the bad paint, chrome, etc.

[@jasongray7683]

Reynolds tubing was also used in British fighter an bomber aircraft of WWII. Bike racing frames and aircraft are both areas where the high strength to weight ratio of Reynolds tubing were valued as the cutting edge technology available for the time.

[@robertmarks7439]

Great car! Mine was a 64 4.2 in blue. Was my daily driver!

[@matthewbrown5677]

Top Work Gents…. Leave as. Precision Panel Craft U.K..

[@2541968joey]

Preserve it. That's the way I've kept my '68 OTS with upgrades for reliability these last 35 years I've owned Her.

[@georgejohnson1498]

Conserve it. Stop any potential rust underneath. It is so original that it deserves to stay that way. Totally amazing! Hopefully it will have a nice life in original condition for a very long time with an owner who takes it out on nice hot days and remembers that it needs to be "Driven." I remember these being on the road in the 1970s. On a side note yesterday serving petrol I listened to an XK 140. Driven like a Daimler! In concourse condition, and magnificent! I also like Ford Model As. Best wishes for you channel, and to you, from George in rural England!

[@itsChris65]

Enough new rubbers to keep the weather out and blend a bit of paint around the front hood and left door, like you say chrome bumpers and cad plating, job done IMHO.

[@scotty6346]

What a gem! If you re paint the car it will just look like all the other restored S1's, What's incredibly rare about this car is that it must be one of a few un welded S1's with 90% original paint, It really deserves to just be sympathetically cleaned up and perhaps get a better job done on the drivers door paint as that is the only panel that has been repainted so you've nothing to loose and stand a good chance of improving it a lot as that door is the biggest let down on the whole car, I would rather drive this as is with that Patina over a shiny over restored one!

[@kittonsmitton]

Change as little as possible keep it as is as much as you can!

[@silverc4s146]

Preservation for certain.

[@johncollier608]

I agree with Mark Auld, Greg Morrical and Geoff Hann on this one. She deserves to be preserved as is. You can't un-restore it. Thanks for sharing.

[@martin1977uk]

Fully restore!

[@paulsutton5896]

My eye was caught by the vehicle parked behind it. It looks like an Austin A50, from the mid fifties. Some of us are so nerdy that even this car is interesting to us.

[@johngledhill2970]

In 1967 I purchased my first car for £40, a 1955 black Austin A50 Cambridge, the 3rd party insurance was £60, I was earning £14 per week as an accounts clerk for the Borough Treasury. That car saw some action! 😂

[@99skychief]

I agree, keep as original as possible and get the electrics and mechanicals renewed and reliable for the road...this car has been kept in the dark too long...it wants to eat up the road miles. Great find and looking forward to your progress whatever you and your Father decided.

[@thomaslindh9971]

Keep it as it is, you can always restore later if...

[@andrepienaar6459]

This body shell is in pristine condition! I would respray the bonnet and resprayed door, and then maybe spray the whole car with clear lacquer to preserve the old paint.

[@goldmanz4852]

amazing, especially the interior, I would keep it original ... except match the door and care with the bonnet repair :)

[@jagvette1]

I'd restore it back to the original opalescent gunmetal grey(assuming that was the colour) , with the tan interior, you can see a number of blemishes and the paint currently doesn't shine very much. It definitely should be brought back to it's former glory. On the glass it is original as there is a dot under the O in the word Toughened indicating it's 1962 glass. With regard to the paint defects I would guess it was driven in the snow and rocks and salt have had their way with the paint. The logic behind my "restore" comment is you obviously will replace all the wiring harnesses or you will get a fire and your re-chroming this will look out of place if you do not restore the car. IMHO

[@fgb3126]

[New Subscriber] FULLY RESTORE!

[@josephneill9932]

Very cool ! , keep it original , it's only original once ,

[@BJHolloway1]

Fully restore

[@tagoooU]

My 1975 Schwinn Paramount bicycle has Reynolds 531 double butted tubing. It's thicker internally where it's braised together.

[@bajabell]

Keep it as is ......... !!!

[@borisbash]

Wow

[@caseytailfly]

Definitely preserve those snow tires!

[@scottc6537]

Reassemble, fix what’s broken, clean it up and leave it alone. Careful with the re-plating, it just doesn’t fit with the other survivor patina. Just my opinion.

[@camperlab6546]

Someone will eventually repaint this car. I would prefer, that someone who cares deeply about it, do it now. Someone like you.

[@peternash6206]

Bird crap on the bonnet (hood) - I would do minimum but make it look great. Nice video.

[@Uberbizmeister]

Conserve guys, conserve ... far more desirable the way it is

[@rosewhite---]

Most beautiful car ever... Why don't Jaguar make copies!!!!!!!!!!!

[@wackowacko8931]

If I remember correctly, back in the 70s if you applied certain types of rubbing compound with a buffer, combined with certain types of paint it could result in a burning or darkening of the paint in splotchy patterns - especially if the guy using the buffer was a little heavy handed. It may not show up right away, it generally took some time for it to happen.

[@Bill_9797]

Do what you’re planning. Perfect.

[@tejolisboa]

It looks great! Maybe you can use dry ice blasting to clean it rather than repaint it. In the end a thorough detail will make it shine as new. There are a lot of restored e-types but not too many original ones in such condition.

[@allanrichards6448]

Hi Richard, I noted you said an original one owner car however I did see the "DK" country oval code sticker in the rear number plate recess. This would lead me to believe that the car has spent some time in Denmark, either being originally sold in Denmark before moving to Canada or the original owner took it to Denmark at some time. I would definitely try and keep the car original with a sympathetic restoration. Here in the UK there are a lot of E Types with better than original paint and chrome jobs.

[@jorgennorrman4023]

Kepp as is !!

[@steenhansen8]

It has a DK tag in the back, did it come out of Denmark?

[@crabapple1974]

Yeah, noticed that aswell but people in the US use these stickers to show their heritage not as here in Europe where they were mandatory if you were driving abroad 😄

[@crabapple1974]

That interior is amazing 😳

[@daveglover6115]

Great find and over view Richard! Mechanicals rebuilt already, so why not finish the job, ie repaint and re chrome with new rubber gaskets at least?

[@65CJP]

I think you should fully restore it , if you don’t it will just rot away!

[@TJRacerHandley]

O on the gearbox means it's has O series gearbox ratios which are quite rare

[@petergoose8164]

What a patina. In just 40 years this will be a century old. The potential as a true artifact of a glorious era is immense - where is there another? Too much has been done already.

[@40wattgarage87]

As others have said "It's only original once"... but rust/corrosion never sleeps. You've got an unmolested original that needs a refurbishment, NOT restoration. It'll be very hard on where to "draw the line" as to where refurbish or restore is. IMO, do the necessary bodywork and repaint. Stop the rust/corrosion and save it from further damage. Do the respray to original quality - not Pebble Beach level. As far as the brightwork goes, find "survivor" parts (patina'd) that are better than what's on the car and replace (saving the originals). Rubbers/Seals/Gaskets are a no-brainer, and are to be expected.

[@alectrondorfman1057]

There are several dents that are obvious and since the engine transmission and the suspension have already been redone, and you are going to rechrome why not just correct the dodgy paint on the bonnet with a respray of the car with some bodywork to fix the dents? Im for a restoration since it is mostly been done anyway.

[@JustAlanJohn]

Denmark original I think I see the DK badge on the rear. The spidering marks are from faults in the prepping from the factory I think. Nice find just looking at Lady J gives me goose bumps. 👍👍👍👍

[@alexbrown1995]

I thought that too, but wouldn't a Danish car have a metric speedometer?

[@JustAlanJohn]

@@alexbrown1995 Yes in the UK wel sill have MPH happy to say that. 👍👍👍

[@MLC...]

Fantastic find! What would the market value be of such an original car, compared to a perfectly restored car?