2003-04-10 21:34:01 | Chuck Hadley writes:

I purchased this car as restoration project from Kevin Fernsler, of Wilmington, DE in May of 1986. I was 14 at the time and this was my first car. At that time, the car was semi-disassembled, had no engine or trans, body was very beat up but solid. Car had been repowered with a small-block Chevy by a previous owner, but there was no engine or trans with the car. My father and I planned a Chevy re-power anyway, so this worked out.

I restored the car over a 2.5 year period - it hit the road again in October of 1988 - chevy/muncie 4 spd powered - it was red at that time. Being 17 with what was essentially a brutal monster, two semi-large bonnet-killing wrecks quickly followed. The second re-do treated the car to a Brand new bonnet and a BRG paint job. A later wreck also followed (ridiculous, I know...), and I was forced to hammer out the bonnet as I could not afford a replacement at 20 years old.

During all of this time, I worked after schhool, Summers, and through all of College at East Coast Jag in Delaware for John Digiacoma. We became and remain close friends. I also moonlighted as a mechanic, etc. for Bill Terry of Terry's jag for their vintage race cars - #88 and Trent's midget - lots of fun.

Although I came to know and love the original Jag-powered cars, mine will remain Chevy-powered as that is the only way I have ever known it.

I have worked on dozens of E-types, and as an obsessed youth, once knew the cars sickeningly well - like every part number.

I'd love to get some history on my car, which I never did have. When I got the car, it had last run with Chevy power in 1973 and was registered in Colorado. It may have been yellow in this configuration. It was originally painted bronze, but was painted many different colors in its first 10 years - all on top of each other. These included Bronze, willow green, light blue, BRG, and yellow - in that order.

Thanks for reading - the second restoration is now underway, and I intend to go as original as possible with the exteriro and interior, and for the engine bay to be re-powered, but appear as 'period-looking' as possible.