Visit to Authorized Imported Cars – E-Types EVERYWHERE!

On Monday evening I stopped by to see George at Authorized Imported Cars in Flemington, NJ – and it was like stepping back into time, because it felt JUST LIKE the shop I had worked in as a kid!

“AIC” is a Jaguar and Land Rover service shop, but they also specialize in E-Type restoration, and are doing a great job at it! We have sold them MANY panels over the years, restored some bonnets and doors, and even sold them a project car 2 Summers ago…

On Monday, I was headed home from our Summer place in upstate New York, and I decided that I would FINALLY “swing by” George’s place and give him the FHC rear hatch that I have owed him for over a year. AS it turned out, George had taken the day off, and his guys were all away as well on a road trip (they are a close team I guess!), and so the whole shop had been closed up for several days over the long weekend…

And it just so happened that the past three days were just about THE WORST of the Summer – 90-95 degress out, but with a humidity level that drove the heat index up to 110! So needless to say, even at 7:00 at night, it was HOT inside the shop buildings! And THAT is what made me feel like a kid again…

I spent MANY, HOT Summers in the late 80’s and early 90’s at East Coast Jaguar when they were still down in Newark, DE, and let me tell you, there was NO air conditioning there! But what it did have was and absolutely ridiculous amount of E-Types and E-Type parts – just like AIC! And so when I walked into that hot shop, filled with E-Types – and that Jaguar-specific mix of gas, 90W oil, leather, fresh paint, etc. – It really brought back the memories – and so did the sweat running down my back!

Keep up the good work, George, and keep pressing on! I doubt there are many shops like this one left – it was like Heaven on Earth for an E-type nerd like me! And thanks for the glimpse of the past!

P.S. George always has SEVERAL E-Types for sale – everything from project cars to drivers to 100-point freshly restored show cars! If you are in the mid-Atlantic area or the Northeast, he can fulfill any of your E-Type needs – or desires! Give him a call – and tell him I sent you! – Chuck

: Right out front, this Series 1, 4.2-liter FHC project car is looking for a new home!

: And so is this Series 1.5 OTS!

: AND – so is this Series 1 4.2-liter OTS!

: This Series 3 V-12 E-Type is being stripped for a new paint job – after it is converted to covered headlamps and a Series 1 tail using Monocoque Metalworks conversion panels.

: A Series 1, 4-2-liter triple-SU XK engine and close-ratio gearbox – patiently waiting to be rebuilt and restored.

: Next we walked into this large room that contained several E-types waiting for their turn…

: …like this Series 1 2+2…

: Further back into this room, and the E-Types just started popping up all over the place!

: This Series 2 OTS is undergoing bodywork and new paint.

: Here are some E-Type bonnets – the one in front being a new aluminum bonnet.

: Two original bonnets – the one under the blue cover is one that we restored for them almost 2 years ago – still waiting to be married to an E-Type monocoque.

: Maybe it will be this ’67 OTS!

: Here is a Series 3 V-12 hiding up in the ceiling.

: And down on the floor is this Series 1.25 OTS – that looks JUST like our Monocoque Metalworks 2+2 sister car!

: This is the next E-Type that we will be providing a full set of repair panels for – a Series 1 4-2-liter FHC.

: It has the typical E-Type issues around the rear wheel arches…

: …and the all too common “removable tunnel” – compliments of a lazy shop in the past doing a clutch job… BUTCHERS!

: The next room contained this original and complete Series 2 2+2.

: This was actually a decent car – and a great E-Type that can be gitten into on the lower end of the financial scale.

: Next was the body/metal shop.

: In the back is this ’68 SEries 1.5 OTS. We sold AIC this car 2 Summers ago – it was very solid and original, but had suffered a front-end collision that was a real “bonnet killer”…

: George pointed out that he has had to “adjust” the OTS top door chrome on the last few cars – apparently, the reproductions are a bit long.

: Another shot of the tail.

: The inside of the boot and the cockpit have already been painted the body color – which is this deep opalescent gunmetal.

: …which can also be seen on the completed frame rauils.

: George also pointed out that this “new” reproduction bonnet carrier bracket seems to have some issues as well with alignment. I also did not like this brackets – it doesn’t look quite right…

: …and neither does the lower one.

: This E-Type is being treated to a NEW bonnet – and I’m sure you already know that I am NOT a fan… Look at this headlamp mounting ring – the flange is too wide, the spot welds are sloppily placed, and the whole thing is in there twisted clockwise a bit!

: The other car in tbhis room is also a ’68 SEries 1.5 OTS – but with Series 1 covered headlamps…

: …thanks to a set of conversion flanges and panels from Monocoque Metalworks!

: Here is the engine – it still carries its Series 1.5 cam covers, but has been upgraded with a set of Series 1 triple SU carbs… These are original exhaust manifolds that have been blasted down bare and then treated with a special high-heat coating that george said you RUB on with a rag! he said it is a good coating and in the rare case when it does discolor or fade, you just rub some more on!

: …AND an alloy radiator to keep it cool, and even a high-output Lucas gold coil.

: This VERY solid XK-150 Fixed-Head just came in from California.

: It is ROCK solid considering the usual condition of XK’s, and you just DO NOT find them like this anymore!

: Just another E-Type parked out front waiting for service – they were EVERYWHERE!

: This room is where I really started to feel at home – this was the main work area of AIC – and the hottest – OMG it was a SAUNA in here!

: This red SEries 1 OTS was recently treated to a full restoration here at AIC – and is still not QUITE done, waiting for just a few finishing touches…

: But one NICE touch is the pair of new CERAMIC exhaust mainfolds. I REALLY like these – thematte finish looks just right to me,, and they are gauranteed for life!

: Next is another Series 1, 4.2-liter OTS restored by AIC. (WAIT – I JUST realized that I don’t think there was a single 3.8 E-Type on the premesis!)

: Excellent work under the bonnet –

: – and inside the cockpit as well! This car was taken to a car show on Saturday where it came in second to a Series 2 2+2 – because – wait for it people… – according to the judges, “Jaguar never used metallic (opalescent ring a bell?…) paints… The ignorance of people judging these cars never ceases to amaze me! If you REALLY want to know what is right and wrong on vintage Jags, you need to talk to the poeple who make their living working on, restoring, and selling them. I have a short list of people who KNOW E-Types – and we are all still CONSTANTLY learning about these cars. So when some moron says something like this, it drives me CRAZY!