WINTER 2021 NESLETTER

Collectors
Showcase

Join us for a brief question and answer session with some of our favorite collector clients talking about their wonderful cars...

Mark & his
1965 E-Type Roadster

In this issue we speak to one of our Southern California collector clients about his love of Jaguars and the classic car hobby. Classic Showcase has been assisting Mark with his Series 1 E-Type for several years, and we finally got a chance to sit down and speak with him about his passions in the hobby.

QUESTION 2: Can you tell us a little about your 1965 Jaguar E-Type?

It’s a ’65 Roadster that was originally white. Dad took it down to the metal and resprayed it with eight coats of lacquer --British Racing Green (with biscuit interior). He eventually specialized in working on Jaguars only. He liked to tinker with the car. He put heavier XJ6 disc brakes on the front, an alternator, a bigger cooling fan and he creatively fit a “non-Jaguar” 5-speed gearbox into the drivetrain. Since his passing, I’ve been gradually restoring much of the car, but some bits will always stay as is – as he left them.

QUESTION 3: Do you remember driving in your E-Type or working on it with your dad when you were growing up?

He let me take the car to Prom and to use it to drive the Homecoming Queen around the track in high school. And, in 1987, he let me use it to drive away, with my beautiful bride, from our wedding reception. I remember around 1974, he took me to see Golden Gloves Boxing at the Anaheim Convention Center. On our way back home to San Juan Capistrano, the E-type lost all electrical power. We were going around 70 mph on the San Diego Freeway in Mission Viejo, with no lights and no engine. As bad luck would have it, there was a cop on the side of the road who had just finished giving out a ticket. He sees us go by in stealth mode and figures it’s a stolen car trying to sneak past him. He pulls us over and asks, my nervous Dad, “Where are you coming from?”. He says, “The Golden Gates”. “Hmm, that’s a long drive”, says the unconvinced cop. Luckily, he asked me and we straightened it out and he left us to tinker with the fuses and wiring. Eventually, we sorted out the Lucas riddle. That’s why I always keep a flashlight in the boot.  

QUESTION 4: What are your future plans with your E-Type - will you be campaigning it in future events? Do you drive the car? Is it for an investment, etc.?

The car is a legacy piece, an heirloom. I’m just the caretaker. I like to take her out and exercise her every weekend -- up and down Pacific Coast Highway in Orange County. People seem to like to see her. It seems like everyone has a story of an E-type that their family or friend had and they all say they wish they still had theirs. I’ll do Cars-n-Coffee gatherings and some very low-key car shows. Afterall, she’s not a Show car, she’s a very nice Driver.

QUESTION 5: What is it about E-Types that excites you?

The sound of the motor as it goes through the gears – it’s a unique sound that just roars of Jaguar power. I love my Classic Rock, but I don’t play music when I drive – that throaty growl of the 4.2 and the dual exhaust is better than any heavy metal riff from Zep, Sabbath or Purple. And then, there’s the dash! I don’t know what an RAF Spitfire’s cockpit looks like, but I’d expect it to look just like the instruments on the ’65 E-type dashboard!  

QUESTION 6: How did you hear about
Classic Showcase?

With Dad’s passing, I needed to find new craftsmen to take care of, what to me, is a very special car. I asked around and did some research. I needed a few small jobs, so I thought I’d test out Classic Showcase. I was and have been very pleased with the quality of work, attention to detail and overall knowledge of the nuances of the marque.