2012-02-28 09:48:21 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 2/28/12
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Documented-Original-Warranty-Plate-and-Invoice-4-Speed-A ...
Current bid $20,100 reserve not met $20,100 reserve not met, 17 bids 4 days left in auction. Car now said to be in Hot Springs, Arkansas. 36k miles.

Sellers description:
The IDENTIFICATION PLATE which was unique to this car and its owner remains in the sleeve inside the back cover to the PASSPORT TO SERVICE booklet that was issued with the car.

The car was titled in the name of the original owner or his company (he titled it from his company to himself later) until he caused title to pass to his agent a few days before I acquired title from the agent. As was not uncommon in the era, there is a brass plate on the glovebox door with the owner's name engraved.

I have a three ring notebook which contains the "carbon" copy (literally the yellow sheet made by virtue of a sheet of carbon between the original and the yellow sheet) of the INVOICE of SALE of the car from Overseas Motors Corporation of Houston to the original owner. First the gentleman's name was written, then stricken through and the name of his company written above his name as the owner. Dated 3-19-74 $10,378 for the car, $400 for the hardtop, after taxes and doc fees the sales price was $11,235.42

The original hanging tag, PASSED FINAL INSPECTION, was removed from behind the center switch panel and placed in the 3-ring binder for safe keeping by myself upon purchase of the car.

Although I don't have a copy of the title issued based on the original invoice, I do have a copy of the title issued when the car was transferred from the business name to the individuals name (as was first written on the invoice over a decade before).

There is what passes an an affidavit from the original owner to his agent from whom I purchased the car verifing the miles as original and that the car had not ever been wrecked while under his ownership from 3-19-74 until Febuary 2005.

There is a significant work order history from the original owner. The first on 4-8-74, just 20 days after purchase, sorting out new car issues like a rattle, and other little new car glitches. Afterward is the 6 month check up.

There is a gap in service records of eleven years when it appears the car had major service, as well as paint in 1985 and '86. The records indicate the car was primarily a show piece not driven enough resulting multiple tows. It looks like every few years he would try to drive it, spending a significant amount each venture since it wasn't being used.

I took possession of the car in the spring of 2005. I have a business partner the does frame up restorations of British cars, specializing in Series I E types so I was able, without a lot of pain to get the car in running order and keep it that way.

The switches on the aux fans both were inoperable when the car came home. Those were fixed within the first week, followed by a new Stainless Steel exhaust, various "Jaguar" electrical issues which were worked through one by one. The clutch was replaced since I have had possession of the car.

I have been able to drive the car on a regular basis, meaning as much a a hundred miles a week during the season, much less in the cold. With the hardtop in place the car becomes an entirely different automobile but is difficult for me to ingress and egress because of multiple back surgeries fusing much of the lumbar making it difficult at over 6 ft tall to duck in the car with the hardtop in place. So, it has primarily been a pleasure cruise, warm weather toy for me.

I have kept a stablemate with this car much of my time with it, either the '76 XJ12L or the current '79 XJ12L. The sedan was often preferred for passengers or when very warm during Arkansas summers. So, although I have driven the car often, I have not piled on many miles.

Along with the documents named above, I have, of course the HARDTOP, the original "Operating Maintenance and Service Handbook", the lube and wiring diagrams.

The paint is 25 years old. The car is rust free, with the exception some minor surface rust where paint was for one reason or another lost and dent free. I have tried to show any rust in the photos. The paint shows surface imperfections. The car had a repaint in the mid-eighties according to the invoices. It is obvious now that it was not a bare metal repaint as some crazing can be seen. Also, where the winshield washer fluid is squirted out on the bonnet the paint shows wear and the original red primer can be detected. This is shown on a photo as well. The wire wheels clean up very well, they are also new from the mid-eighties. The tyres are several years old but have significant treadlife. The softtop is all but new and like all of them I have seen, it leaks along the top of the windscreen in the rain. A new gasket would probably eliminate much of it but it has only been driven in the occasional, unexpected summer downpour.

The cockpit is all functioning with the exception of needing a new a/c compressor as this one has an oil leak as can be seen on the underside of the bonnet, some rubber stripping in the interior could be replaced. The leather shows its age from heat wear and new seat covers would be in order.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to find a car with this much known history, as well as the little things, I have seldom, if ever, seen like the PASSPORT TO SERVICE id plate, invoice and the HARDTOP sold on delivery with a car.