1965 JAGUAR S-TYPE
After spending nine years restoring his S-type, Ian Boyd can account for every minute of time and every penny that he’s spent on it, which makes this a true classic keeper
‘Iwas stationed in Germany for my final year of service as a Royal Air Force engineer when I bought this 1965 Jaguar S-type from an officer for £70. I’d driven to Germany in a Jaguar Mk2, so wanted to go home in another. Despite only being seven years old, the S-type had rotten sills and floors, which I replaced with help from the lads in the metal shop. I covered holes in the inner wings with glassfibre to stop water getting into the interior, and drove it back to the UK.
‘I then used it as daily transport for my job with British Gas. It cost £14 a week in fuel and my employer paid me six pence a mile. ‘I bought a house in 1975 and with most of my money needed for the mortgage, I took the Jag off the road in 1976 after 14,000 miles. It needed new brakes and tyres, which cost £70 that I couldn’t really afford. Ten-year-old Jags were worthless then – I could have bought an E-type for £300…
‘The Jaguar’s restoration began in 2006 with a complete strip-down and I followed my RAF training by keeping meticulous records. I removed the outer panels, running gear, interior and wiring, bolting the body onto a metal trolley that
I’d made. The bonnet and boot were in great condition, but I’d bought four new-old-stock doors in 1985 for £100 along with new front wings for £300, then stored them in the loft for 30 years.
‘New cars stop so much better than classics so I fitted four-pot Zeus front calipers and refurbished XJ6 ones on the rear – they were cheaper than a set of S-type pistons. All of the brake parts, along with their pipework, were also replaced.
‘Then I turned my attention to the 3.8-litre engine. Every bearing and seal was replaced, then I refitted every nut and bolt myself once the body had returned from the paint shop. I finally finished the Jag on 2 May 2016. I held a street party and invited all of the neighbours who had watched the re-build with such interest.
‘The Jaguar may have been an old banger when I put it away but it had become a classic during the time I’d had it stored. Gradually more aftermarket parts have become available but I doubt I’ll ever do another car to this extent.
‘I logged every job along the way – it took more than 2572 hours in total and I spent exactly £27,750. My Jaguar was a real labour of love and worth every penny.’