Sobering news
Al visits E-type specialist Barbary Hill – then they visit him
Irecently headed to E-type restoration specialist Barbary Hill to meet William Heynes, the grandson and namesake of the engine designer and chief engineer of our Series 1.5 Jaguar E-type. On arrival I came face to nose with a low mileage, one owner and unrestored 1962 Roadster. Sharp, clean, completely unmolested and still sporting the builder’s crayon marks that it came off the production line with. Barbary’s workshop is spotless and MD Scott Nicolson explains: ‘We prepare concours cars that can go straight onto the lawn at Pebble Beach. Our goal is to restore any E-type to the specification that it left Browns Lane with.’
As we toured Barbary Hill, William joined us. The dedication to ‘getting it right’ became infectious and William agreed to come to the studio to see what it would take to put our car back to ‘Heynes Specification’. I agreed to pass the spanners and make tea – it was a good deal!
William told me: ‘Originality means retaining the value in your car, ensuring that all parts fit together, that components perform and wear as expected and that all parts patinate together.’
What have we got here?
William turned up at the workshop a few days later. When confronted with our car his enthusiasm was undeterred. ‘I’m really excited about this E-type,’ he said. ‘It’s a very rare car in its own right and the second rarest E-type after the early flat floors.’ After a quick check of the VIN plate, we were soon poring over the car using our ‘matching numbers’ as a guide. He told me the bonnet isn’t original but mainly it was good news. Most of it is original and I learned lots of useful information, too.
Then we hit bad news. Patches of ‘bondo’ are hiding a long and ugly weld over the propshaft tunnel. It had been prized open like a tin can and then welded back together. Plus, the engine has been pushed backwards resulting in catastrophic propshaft failure. ‘The whole body could be out of alignment,’ warned William. ‘On top of that your steering, suspension, driveshafts, IRS components and even the brake pedal – they’re all going to need crack testing.’
Moving swiftly on. The brakes are original, as are ‘unobtanium’ items like our cant rail trim above the doors, wiring looms traps and satin finish Us-spec wiper blades. Then, a real breakthrough and a fitting end to a day’s sleuthing. Behind the rear door card are the builder’s marks and, clearly visible in red crayon and probably last seen on the production line at Browns Lane in 1967, is the legend: ‘27322’. Will’s verdict? ‘I’m worried about fabrication. That’s the tough part. Not just getting it straight but getting it right. You are going to need some serious help, but I’d still go back to specification though. It’s a really interesting project.’