4264WK
Part Three

Existing rear wing metal removed to accept RS Panels oversize racing wings

One of the most satisfying aspects of this whole restoration project dawned on me quite slowly and has eventually given me the greatest pleasure.

For the first time ever, I now have an intimate in-depth knowledge of my own classic motor car. There may well be thousands of E-type owners out there, but there are possibly just a fortunate few, now including myself, who have engineered the opportunity to carefully study, brush our fingers across, and commit every shut line, measurement, contour and spot weld to memory.

After almost three months of spare time body-building I can now go to bed planning the next day’s work schedule with a clear mental picture of how each piece individual piece of metal folds and fits.

For nigh on 90 days I have stared at, considered, disassembled, reassembled, touched up, married up, discarded, refurbished, and rebuilt virtually every single part of an E-type body. And for the most part, there is elegance everywhere you look! For instance, there is a beautiful horizontal teardrop of metal which blends and supports the inner panels of the upper boot and roof sections to give extra support to the rear door hinges.

Under normal circumstances it would never been seen by anyone other than the man who designed it, made it, and welded it into place 40 odd years ago, hidden presumably forever, under the interior trim. A basic oblong of steel would have done just as well! But no! That teardrop shaped panel is just as elegant as the outside contours of the bodywork.

In fact, on reflection it is impossible to find anything that could be considered under-designed or ugly about the interior metal make-up of an E-Type. I took apart the nearside A-post to repair damage to the outside panel and internal rusting. The three support structure plates are individual works of art. I know, I spent hours with an angle bender, a metal stretcher and shrinking tool, plus delicate hammers creating identical and burnished copies. I doubt anyone will ever see them again for another 40 years, but for the benefit of our younger readers, I can say hand on heart, they are beautiful.

Aluminium boot floor in place. Temporary pop rivets will be replaced by aircraft rivets

My own company www.netpromote.co.uk had the pleasure of being chosen to re-create their company’s web site while James made my new wings. I have to admit the web site has a certain elegance thanks entirely to my design team, but the hand wheeled wings are a masterpiece of true metal craftsmanship. To eventually cover them in paint will be an absolute tragedy!

(Don’t mention my illicit invite to Bob or James, but if you can find an excuse to visit the workshops don’t hesitate!  It is something very special.)

Preparing interior alloy panels; no carpets for this car!