I bought this Jaguar in California, in San Diego area in 1998. It had been stationed there for ten years and had not been running for five years. The engine was running although it seemed to need valve job. The body was in great shape, doors and bonnet fitting still well, but it had been very badly painted in light blue. Anyway it was complete and worthy for a ground-up restoration to have a perfect car.
Everything being put apart, the body and frame have been entirely sandblasted (RW Little Co, San Diego). No hidden surprises : as expected, only footwells and trunk that were partly rusty needed to be replaced. The car is absolutely rust free. Suspension mounting and arms have been powder-coated in the same shop.
Body work and paint job has been done by International Car Connection, San Diego). They
changed the footwells, put a new trunk, replaced the front sub frame that supports the bonnet as the wheldings on the old one seemed to be weak. Once prepared, the body received the gorgeous original Jaguar Regency Red paint. The Regency red is an original Jaguar paint, used from 68 up to the end. Both chassis and body painted in the same color and in the same way.
Engine
By the meantime the engine has been rebuilt by British Parts Depot, San Diego: Cylinders were found in perfect condition and only valve, rings and bearings job, and head surfacing were necessary. Obviously, timing chain, oil pump....were also replaced. The 4-speed manual gearbox and final drive inspection have been checked in the same shop and were in perfect condition.
All mechanical, electrical, rubber parts were replaced with brand new ones, coming from XKs Unlimited, San Luis de Obispo, CA or from GB Auto Parts in UK.
- Carburetors: rebuilt
- Front and rear suspensions : rebuilt with new bushings, ball joints, shocks...
- Brake system : new servo brake, master cylinder, calipers, hoses...
- Direction : new tie rods, bushings and universal joints.
- Clutch system : new master cylinder, slave cylinders, and clutch
- Cooling system : new radiator and water pump.
I don't have any problem of overheating, that was a problem on Serie 1. Rather than add a double fan, I've prefered to keep the original fan and to replace the core of the original radiator with a more thermal efficient one. Even in summer I haven't noticed any overheating problem.
- Hoses : all hoses replaced
- Electrical : new wiring harnesses, all electrical senders replaced, new alternator and regulator. All electrical instruments are working fine. All gauges are working fine and are accurate. All lights are working correctly. Tachymeter and speedometer are accurate.
- Exhaust : new exhaust manifolds (not on the pictures as I just replaced the old ones) and complete new exhaust system (downpipes, muffler, rear chrome pipes)
- Rubber mountings : all mountings replaced by new ones
- The actual interior is one of those (cinammon, biscuit, tan, beige) were specified to fit with the Regency red color. I have had the seats rebuilt and covered with leather by Pacific Highway Upholstery, San Diego. The center console, the cubby box and the radio console have also been trimmed with leather, and the doors and inner sills with vinyl. The convertible top is Everflex black. It is not new but in very correct shape. I don't have the hardtop.
- New light biscuit leather and Vinyl
- New carpets
- CD player
- Chrome replated or new
The chrome plating has been done by Master Plating, San Diego: engine head covers and carbs polishing, front bumpers, chrome on top of doors, starter escutcheons, windshield tension rod. The right rear bumper the left exterior mirror would need to be rechromed to be perfect (some light pitting). For the other chrome they are in very good condition. I have planned to buy new knock-offs, and to replace the right external mirror (not yet in place) by a new one.
- New Dayton Wheels (British Wire Wheels, Santa Cruz)
- New Redline Michelin tyres (Coker Tyres)
- All rubbers replaced by new ones
The Jag has been built on Oct. 29, 1965, and dispatched by Jaguar Cars New York on Nov. 12, 1965. It has been purchased on Jan 18, 1966, by the first owner. I don't know how much time he kept it. I only know the last owner before me who kept it during 24 years. Body and chassis numbers are exactly matching. The engine is a 67 engine and the gear box is a 66 one.