We are deep into another fun restoration here at British
Sports Cars. This time it’s a 1967 Jaguar XKE Coupe. This project is for a long-time
client and friend of the shop that has had the car for many years. This is a
Series 1 car but is unusual because it’s a non-covered headlamp Series 1.
Between 1967 and 1968, Jaguar was gearing up for production of the Series 2 XKE
which officially came out in 1968. Midway through 1967 they changed from
covered headlamps to un-covered headlamps, which would become standard on
Series 2 cars due to regulations. As months went by, Jaguar was getting ready
to unveil the Series 2 and slowly made changes to Series 1 cars that would
become standard features for the Series 2. Officially, Jaguar only made Series
1, 2, and 3 E-Types but these cars have been nicknamed “Series 1.5.”
As you’ll see in the photos, this is an extensive restoration that will be done to nice show standards. The car will be going back to its original color of Cotswold Blue, which in our opinion is a fantastic color. The upholstery will also be fully restored back to dark blue. The car is a fantastic, relatively unmolested example that is a perfect candidate for restoration. The car had a little bit of rust that was not evident until the paint was stripped off, but nothing major.
We have a long way to go on this restoration, so please stop back and check on the progress. Comments and questions are always welcome, and make sure to check back for updates. You can also hop on over and like us on Facebook where we announce new posts on all ongoing restoration projects.
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