2006-03-08 00:58:28 | PETER writes:

Purchased with 1 yr old GA title. Previous title from PA. Carrying CA reg plate 3VGN637, no date sticker. Stored for many years? Would like to contact previous owners including the first, initials J.P.E., who was probably in the military at Ft. Eustis Suffolk VA. Would like to know how it got an engine 218 later S/N than on the plate.

2006-03-08 01:16:36 | Roger writes:

Peter, looks like an interesting project...the original color scheme would be quite handsome, I think!

You might send away for the heritage certificate, a number that close might just be a production line "adjustment." The two numbers would have left the factory probably the same week, and it would be a pretty unique coincidence to drop a used motor in that was so close in serial number. I guess stranger things have happened...

2006-03-08 08:10:48 | Peter writes:

Roger, The upper information is from the Heritage cert I just received. I mentioned in the application that the actual engine was 218 later than the ID plate and they wrote, "originally 7E5200-9" for the engine number. As the replacement number is so close, I think there may have been an early problem under warranty and a dealer made the swap while it was still in the UK. The personal export scheme enabled somebody who was leaving the country in the near future, like a US serviceman as in this case, could purchase the car and drive it in the UK for up to 6 months without having to pay the equivalent of sales tax, before shipping it to the US. That is why it had a UK registration DKV 505C, C is for 1965. The export license plates had a colored strip round the edges to make them identifiable. It was sold to me as a 66, which is when it would have first been registered in the US, and I see a similar time difference in some of the other cars on the database.
It has been resprayed, probably carmen red, over the pearlescent green, but as it is going back to bare metal, my present thought is to repaint in pale primose and legitimately retain some of the usable black interior (although the headliner is still suede green with mold highlights!) . Thanks for your interest, this site has an amazing amount of really useful information and contacts.

2007-10-08 09:48:29 | Peter writes:

Unable to start the rebuild because a fire in my basement workshop damaged two of my other cars and they now need restoration again. Sold on to Gullwing Motorcars NY who are currently offering it as needing total restoration. I have purchased 67 XKE coupe 1E33815, also carmen red, as a good driver and will be posting details of that soon.