E-type Car SOS

Carole Simpson-Hadley · June 27, 2017

Hi everybody

My partner and I have just watched the repeat of the Car SOS (on Channel More 4) where an E-type 2+2 was rescued as a "bit of a mess" and turned into a splendid and immaculate beauty.....all, apparently, in the space of 3 weeks.

Now we know that wonderful things can be done on TV and imagination has to be stretched somewhat, but a complete rebuild of an 'E' in 3 weeks? Really?

What do other folk think? Don't want to detract from the programme in any way but it would be interesting to hear what other views there may be.

Also, on a similar theme, was the recent Car SOS on, we believe, National Geographic channel, of a Mk2 the vehicle that appeared in the recent Practical Classics Guide to the Jaguar Mk2. That's an excellent read but never in a month of Sundays would that have been done in 3 weeks!

Over to growlers everywhere........

david moore · June 27, 2017

yes, ive just watched it too. but don't believe everything you see ? to do a car like this it would take a team of very skilled men/women to complete this.....even working day and night 24/7. so plan what car shall we rebuild! then assess by looking at the car before the show goes out! order parts/materials etc. then lets make a (car sos program. ) to me that seems more realistic.......so that's my thoughts people....any body else with there thoughts.

Carole Simpson-Hadley · June 28, 2017

Hello David

Yes, that seems a good thought.......see the car, do the research, source any parts that could be possibly needed, make arrangements for specialist work beforehand etc etc. Even then, what a task. We imagine that if you turned up at one of the well-known Jaguar Specialists and said "here's my E-type, I want it back in 3 weeks", the response would be, well, interesting. Not to mention the bill.

Us? We'd probably take 3 weeks just to get the bonnet off! Ah well.

Any other thoughts?!

Carole Simpson-Hadley · July 15, 2017

Further to the above, we have established that the Mk2 featured in the Practical Classics Special book on the Mk2 is not the same one as featured on the recent National Geographic Car SOS.

Also, having watched several of the current repeats on More 4, my partner discovers that he was working at Dudley Bus garage at the same time as Fuzz Townshend and, having seen a short clip of Mr Townshend in the 1980s included in a recent Car SOS, the light came on, and he recalled him clearly........and always thought he wasn't the stereotypical bus mechanic! Small world, and all that.

Wonder what the SOS team would make of a recent auction entry, which was a 1936 SS Jaguar described as "with later engine". Imagine our surprise when lifting the bonnet revealed a Ford Crossflow "Kent" lump complete with banana exhaust manifold! As stated in another thread, no we didn't bid!

As always, happy growling

M50RSR · May 17, 2020

I haven't seen this episode, but on another channel a few years back, the former vet Mark Whatshisname did a complete renovation of an E Type roadster over quite a few episodes. The car was found with a tarpaulin covering it and in a complete mess. What the programme did was amazing and the car finished up looking absolutely beautiful. I think it was valued at about £90k from memory.