Restoration
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.
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.