2005-01-21 08:54:20 | Chris writes:

This is my car that I bought in October 2002. It was in its original colour but showing signs of repair work over the years and lots of crazing over the rear arches. A professional inspection found the car to be very sound but in need of TLC. Following a strip down of the head to convert to unleaded fuel it was sent to Phil Smith in Bedford to restore the shell and repaint the car, again in original colour. Phil began the work in May 2003 and the car emerged in June 2004 resplendent in a new coat of Regency Red. In November 2004 it was decided to bring the interior up to the standard of the exterior and a trim kit was ordered from BAS. In hindsight the car should have been re-trimmed by BAS as the attention to detail isn't there with the trimmer I used. Oh well i'll just have save up to get parts redone as necessary. I cannot praise the bodywork of Phil Smith highly enough and will add photos to the sight in due course

2005-08-17 12:35:23 | Robert writes:

Sold at Brooks Beaulieu 10th Sep 2000 estimate £10000-£12000 hammer price £10925 incl prem Reg # EGC 544H Engine # 7R37037-9 Cond 3 Year 1970

2005-08-17 13:10:36 | Robert writes:

Sold at Bonhams Goodwood festival of speed 12th Jly 2002 estimate £10000-£12000 hammer price £8500 Reg # EGC 544H Engine # 7R370379 Cond 1 year 1970

2006-11-06 06:42:42 | Chris Kingston writes:

I have at long last added photos of my car to the site. They start at the beginning of the restoration work and end with the Jaguar London to Brighton run in April 2006. I am very interested in the comments of Robert, as the history of the car is mostly unknown to me. If Robert or anyone else can fill in the gaps I'd be grateful.

The car was originally sold on a registration BJD 348H to a company in the UK, Ready Mixed Concrete Ltd. of Feltham Middlesex. At some time the registration number was changed to a private plate before being given the current mark.

I have a copy of the catalogue entry when it was auctioned in 2000 which states that it had been in the previous owners hands since 1972 and the mileage was 29,000, When I bought it in 2002 the mileage was 32,251 and it now reads 35,338

2008-01-24 02:29:47 | Chris Kingston writes:

A year has gone past since I last looked at the site and very little has happened with the car. Other commitments and conflicting diary entries have prevented much use this year. The season started badly with the car's first breakdown in the 3 years that it has been on the road in my ownership. The culprit a burned out ignition switch. Thankfully the recovery service got both us and the car home safely. Racing Green Cars replaced the switch and said it's not unusual on a Series 2 as the original switches were made out of a substance resembling cheese! Whilst with Racing Green they also fitted an electronic ignition which has improved starting and running immensely.

2009-12-17 06:36:30 | Chris Kingston writes:

How time flies! it's two uneventful years since I last visited the site. In the Summer of 2009, the car was returned to Phil Smith in Bedford, whom I trust without reservation, to correct some blemishes in the paint collected over the years. Phil's eagle eye spotted that the car needed some remedial work to the bonnet edges (hood for those in the USA), where the sheet metal was folded over a metal rod and where Phil's previous rust removal efforts couldn't get to. Phil performed the necessary surgery and returned the paint to pristine condition. I'm not sure whether a professional sprayer could see the joins to the old paint but I certainly can't. On the day I delivered the car to Phil we noticed a strong smell from the engine bay and discovered that the battery was very hot. When I collected the car after a quick phone call I took it straight to Southern Classics at Sunbury who maintain the car for me. On arrival they dropped everything and checked the electrics. It turned out only to be the control box although they got in a replacement alternator just as a standby. Steve, Leigh and the team at Southern Classics get my vote for excellent customer service. Earlier in the year they had replaced the radiator and refurbished the cam covers and heater box. We sourced heater matrix and fan from Clayton's and the heating and ventilation, whilst not up to today's standards, is vastly improved.

2014-10-29 05:47:06 | Chris Kingston writes:

Another year passes. Four months of which the car was laid up having a new drivers door, sill and supporting metalwork. The job was great the bill upsetting as the owner of the garage (NOT Southern Classics) failed to up-date me as costs spiralled from the original estimate. Time taken to do the job was also far too long. I'll be looking for a new garage to look after the car as I've fallen out with the owner but will be sad to lose the expertise of Lee Newman and his colleagues. Mileage now reads 39888.