Jaguar E-Type 1966 owner seeks history of restored car that started life in Forres
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A WARWICKSHIRE man is looking for information about a classic car he is restoring that started out in Forres.
IBM technical support manager, Chris Wynne, from Leamington Spa is living out his life-long dream of owning a Jaguar E-Type, having bought one at auction in 2016 for £16,000.
Four years into its restoration, he is interested in finding out who owned it initially, when it was supplied in 1966 by Rossleigh Jaguar, via PS Nicolson, Forres, to a buyer known as F Shower & Sons.
He said: "I'm not your typical E-Type owner. I'm just an ordinary bloke trying to build his dream car, doing as much as I can myself. I'm trying to restore it to how it would have been when it was first supplied but I have a long way to go yet!
"I'm looking for anyone who may have known the car from the dealers. Even better, someone from F Shower & Son's who may recall their boss parading about the high street in it Where has it been in the 50 years between being supplied in Forres in August 1966 and ending up in an auction in Warwickshire in 2016?"
The British sports car was manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. On its release in 1961, Enzo Ferrari called the E-Type the most beautiful car ever made.
Chris bought his Jaguar E-Type series 1, 2+2 at an Everyman Classic Car Auction in Warwick Exhibition Centre, around two miles from his house.
"I had always dreamed of owning one," said Chris. "As an eight-year-old, I used to sit at school looking outside to the car park where my teacher parked her boyfriend's red E Type.
"Then, for many years, when my wife and daughters would ask what I wanted for birthday or Christmas my standard answer was always an easy life and an E-Type jag! Both daughters have moved out now ... and I have Jag'!"
He added: "I had never spent £16k on a car before and certainly not on one that we didn't need, had no history of and didn't even know if it was in working order. Fortunately, my research paid off and most people congratulate us on a fine purchase."
While test-running the engine, Chris discovered it was only using five of its six cylinders so an engine rebuild was needed. However, during fetting, he also found that all of the engine and chassis numbers matched the Jaguar heritage certificate, meaning that, although it had no registration or history, it was a sought-after 'matching numbers car'. More good luck came in the form of the DVLA issuing Chris with its original registration number DSO 672E.
He said: "Sadly, we also found a lot of filler covering rust and previous repairs. Most of the floor, inner and outer cills, boot floor and rear quarters had been replaced with new panels.
"It could go to a body shop now to be finalised and painted. All I have to do is clean the mechanicals and trim, find what's missing as most of it was in boxes, then figure out how to put everything back on. The target is later summer 2021."
Now the project is in top gear, Chris wants to know about his pride and joy's past.
He said: "Back in the 1960's, people and vehicles were less mobile so this car would probably have been in-and-around the area it was first registered for the first 10-15 years of its life.
"Back then, if somebody wanted to sell a car, they were far more likely to sell local. F Show & Sons ordered it new with a lot of special options so I doubt they did anything to it. Operlesant dark blue was not a standard colour and it had a full-length webasto sun roof and grey leather interior.
"There were only 900 made for owners in Britain in 1966-1967.
"F Shower must have been successful in what ever business they were in ... and I would guess the car would have stuck out when being driven about Forres!"
Email cwynne68@gmail.com with any information.
