CASE STUDY BUILDS - 1971 JAGUAR E-TYPE
Enzo Ferrari described the e-type as the ‘most beautiful car in the world. Hear about why Mike Amos
purchased the car and why he chose to work with Concours Classics on his 1971 Jaguar.
A CONNECTION TO DAD
By Mike Amos
Growing up in Austrralia, Dad was an early teenager in the late 1960’s and he really got into building plastic model kits of his dream cars. A hobby he very much passed on to me. 20 years later when I was a similar age, we built some of the same cars together. The first kit being a Jaguar E-Type which we painted in a deep burgundy red.
Around 15 years ago, I moved to Los Angeles for my job as an animator in feature films. Dad loved to visit and check out Bob’s Big Boy on a Friday night to see the beautiful cars.
Unfortuantly, my Dad never got to graduate from those model kits and own a classic of his own. He very sadly and suddenly passed away four years ago and whilst visiting Australia and family, I came across some boxes of slides he took as a kid.
To my surprise and joy, two slides showcased the models he had built and featured was a burgundy Jaguar E-Type! It was at this time I decided I had to get one, a real one to fulfill the dream for both of us.
FINDING & RESTORING
After two years of searching, I finally found the car - a 1971 Jaguar E-Type 2+2 (my favorite body shape) in its original factory color, Regency Red - the same deep burgundy both Dad and I painted our models.
What I love about this car is its totally untouched and original. The paint and interior are all intact, however, with that also came the unrestored mechanical and electrical components too! I needed someone to bring my Jag back to life.
I was so lucky to find Cannon at Concours Classics. He had spent some time living and working in Australia, so we instantly had a great connection and his love of these cars really shone through when discussing my car.
He understood and very much supported my vision for the car - to preserve the originalty of it whilst making it mechanically sound and safe and fun to drive as often as possible.
Cannon and his team took the time to really help me understand and explore the possibilities for the car. I loved that there was no dumb questions and I felt I could ask anything. They are always open to dicuss the available options and budgets with no pressure.
THE CAR TODAY
The great thing about such an original car with only 38,000 miles was cosmetically there was very little to do. But the car had been sitting for a long time and every hose, wire and fluid needed to be replaced.
Cannon and his team took this on, along with so much more. We didn’t do it all at once, but got it safely back on the road so I could enjoy it, and then over time throughout the last two years, continued to upgrade and replace required elements including:
• Upgraded ignition kit
• New aluminum radiator and fan set-up
• Electronic fuel pump
• Upgraded and replaced the power steering rack
• Brake calipers, pads updated with EBC Kevlar
• Stromberg Carb sync and tune ups
• Replaced Master cylinder and brake Servo assembly
• Replaced exhaust system with an original refurbished system
A classic Jaguar is not always known as the most reliable car! But with Cannon’s amazing work, I drive this car almost daily. Of course, it goes to car shows and events, but also out to dinner and often to the studio to work. Most importantly though, it is a car I know my Dad would have loved and I am so proud to own it and the work Concours Classics has done.