Authorized Imported Cars – (908) 788-1982
If you are an E-Type owner (or want to be one soon) in the mid-Atlantic region of the US, that is a name and number you need to know!
George Hughes has owned Authorized Imported Cars for many years now – he is a great guy with a great team, and together, they have built several VERY impressive Jaguar E-Types and XK’s over the past few years!
Recently, I had a chance to visit their shop when George and I worked together to rescue a wrecked 1968 Series 1.5 E-Type OTS. He will be restoring this car his typical, impeccable quality level – while converting to full Series 1 specs – triple SU carbs, covered headlamps, smooth cam covers, etc.
As a matter of fact, George is currently restoring no less than FOUR E-Type Roadsters that are available for sale when completed – OR NOW! Make arrangements to purchase one of these cars now, and have it built to your cosmetic and mechanical specifications – like ordering an E-Type brand new! George’s team is in the process of building two ’67 Series 1 roadsters, and two ’68 Series 1.5 roadsters (but BOTH will be converted to Series 1 specs!)
Like Monocoque Metalworks, Authorized Imported Cars suffers from 2 major problems – too much work and too little space! Take a look at all of the COOL STUFF they have on site! I was definitely in my “sensory overload mode” – not knowing where to look next – Enjoy!
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- Started out after the morning traffic cleared out… Here I’m coming down to the Potomac river on the South side of Washington DC.
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- Here is a shot looking North while going over the Potomac – you can see downtown Washington DC in the background, including the Washington Monument!
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- Once across the Potomac, you leave Maryland and enter the state of Virginia.
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- Here I am at the collision center, preparing to load up the old girl while the previous owner checks the boot for anything that might have been left in there…
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- All loaded up now and headed back up the road. Here I am stopped at a rest stop back in Maryland. This car wouldn’t fit on the trailer, so I just MASHED it on there! Just Kidding – but that’s what it looks like! It fit by about 2 inches…
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- Here’s another shot of my rig today. Five months now, and I am still LOVING the new truck! Especially on a hot day like this one with working AC!
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- OUCH! We MIGHT be able to salvage a few pieces of this bonnet, but it’s a long shot. Of course, theoretically I COULD bring it back, but it is just not economically feasible…
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- Another shot of the carnage – YIKES!
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- Back on the road now, coming through Baltimore again and going North.
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- Some cargo ships in the Baltimore harbor.
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- A photo across Baltimore Harbor – look at all of the cranes along the skyline!
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- Headed into the Fort McHenry Tunnel that takes I-95 UNDER Baltimore Harbor!
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- This is a shot taken from the Millard Tydings bridge across the mouth of the Susquehanna River. Just beyond that second bridge is the upper end of the Chesapeake Bay.
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- The states come and go FAST in the Mid-Atlantic region! Now, we’re a little farther North, in Delaware, but once we cross over the Delaware River on this, the Delaware Momorial Bridge, we will be in New Jersey! So far, that’s FOUR states today!
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- In New Jersey and getting close now, I thought these giant American flags were cool…
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- We’ve finally arrived at her new home – Authorized Imported Cars!
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- After George and I looked over the E-Type a bit, we started the “shop tour” – and it was GREAT! There were vintage Jags EVERYWHERE! I’m pretty sure this is an XK-140MC…
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- And across from it was this TVR 2500.
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- Down one level and there was a stunning Jaguar Mark IX…
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- Another shot of this great vintage Jag saloon!
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- Judging by the blue color, I am assuming this is an 8:1 engine?… It does match the car’s scallop color almost exactly!
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- You have to love these walnut interiors of the old Jag saloons- especially in this condition!
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- Next up was this low-mileage and very original Series 3 V-12 E-Type.
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- Man, I need to get some lifts! The shop was full of cars, but they were all up in the air, and walking around in there made it feel like it was empty – now there is a solution to your space problems!
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- Next we headed outside to the “storage yard” – but basically, it was kind of a “British sportscar junkyard” – aka HEAVEN! This Daimler SP-250 Dart was a “parts car that came in with another one we are restoring for the customer.” – someone please call George and save this from that fate! Yes – these are UGLY to the N-th degree, but kind of cool in their on right – especially with that all-aluminum Buick-Old-Pontiac V-8 under the hood! And in case you aren’t familiar with these cars, that is the STOCK ENGINE people!!!
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- Right behind it was this ’55(?) Buick – and a late-model Jaguar XK…
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- More BIG American Iron – I think this is a ’52 Cadillac.
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- This picture is out of order – this was actually the fist shot I took, and the camera lens was fogged over. This is a tired 3.8 E-Type bonnet – but restorable, and George and I will probably do so this Winter – or Spring… or Summer… of 2020…
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- One of the many wrecked XK8’s on hand.
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- Another of the many gems in their yard…
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- A customer car? There was just REALLY COOL stuff EVERYWHERE! I was in sensory overload! I sounded like a little kid – “What’s that!?!” – and then before he could even answer, “Hey’s what’s that over there!?!”
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- This is a Morris Minor. The ONE thing I know about these cars is that the Scarabs built by Lance Reventlow (aka greatest front-engined sports racing car of all time…) used a steering rack from these cars – one of the VERY few non-American parts in the cars.
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- Another shot of that Morris Minor – not really my cup of tea, but I could still appreciate it – and this was a nice one – AND a convertible to boot!
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- Another bonnet – this one has seen better days. This is from a ’68 Series 1.5 roadster that is being completely restored and converted to Series 1 specs. This car is getting a brand new bonnet.
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- Another shot – she’s gone…
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- OH MY GOD!!! The cars just kept going, and going, and GOING!!!
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- MGA…
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- This is a numbers-matching 1967 E-Type OTS that is alo being restored to concours condition by George’s team. The bonnet and doors are being restored by us and are about halfway completed.
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- Original parts and pieces from that ’67 OTS.
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- Another shot of the interior – I’ve seen Georg’e finished restorations, and I can assure you that this car will be PERFECT when it is completed!
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- Every car had a story which George was rattling off one after another – so unfortunately, I foorget the story behind this one…
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- XK-150 Roadster, and another E-Type cooupe that we never even pulled the cover off of.
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- Here is a shot of the front of that car – a little dusty, and just waiting to have her legs stretched this Fall!
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- E-Types GALORE! Another beautiful V-12 roadster.
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- …with a pristine engine bay.
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- Another shot of this Series 3 roadster – a very late car judging by the large black rubber over-riders.
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- This is the NEW jaguar Heritage bonnet for the 1968 E-Type OTS being restored. This shot shows just SOME of the poor workmanship on the new bonnets – note how the headlamp cover flanges are WAY too soft and just “sloppy” in general…
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- UNREAL! It just never ends! I was having a ball…
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- This business used to be “Don’s Jaguar Service” before George purchased the company years ago…
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- This is a Series 2 E-Type OTS driver that is being freshened up and treated to a covered headlamp conversion with our pieces.
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- George’s team has installed several of our headlamp conversion kits – so many, that they have formed up these fiberglass blanks to help them align things. Those are our parts there on the bench – it was cool to see them being used out in the world!
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- This is the bonnet they will be installed in. The work is just starting, and it is being chemically stripped – for starters.
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- This is the 1968 E-TYpe OTS that we saw the wrecked green bonnet for earlier, and will be receiving that new bonnet. This car will be completely restored, converted to Series 1 specs with covered headlamps, triple SU carbs, smooth cam covers, toggle switches, etc. – and will be available for sale outright when completed. Give George a ring NOW to stake your claim on it!
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- In addition to a brand new bonnet, the car will also be treated to new rame rails from E-Type fabs, and the body shell will be restored with Monocoque Metalworks panels!
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- Here is a shot of the tail – don’t focus on the current condition of these project cars, because…
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- …THIS is what George’s E-Types look like when they are completed! This is George’s last car that was just recently sold. It is a Series 2 OTS, with a nod toward the SEries 1 cars with the covered headlamps and triple SU carbs. This car is PERFECT – the restoration quality is right up there with the best I have seen – it is as good as it can be done! And George’s cars RUN too – this one SCREAMS – and the new owner spent very little time racking up nearly 2,000 miles already this Summer – that’s only going to happen with an E-Type that starts and runs perfectly every time. If you are in the market for a properlt restored E-Type that you can take pleasure in showing AND driving – OR if you need a reliable shop to have your E-Type serviced, give George a call – you won’t regret it!
