2003-06-20 19:15:05 | Paul Wigton writes:

This car has a long and checkered past! My mom used the car for many years as hers: It will be painted "Wild Plum" purple, an AMC color, in her honor and for her memory! It's also known as Tweety, since it 'tweets' through its exhaust at idle. It has been raced, rallyed, autocrossed, JEEPED!!, and hit! Still all original factory components at approx. 160,000 miles. This latest restoration includes Wilwood fronts, a Mallory Unilite, modern cooling fan, and a general cleanup. The bodywork will done to a daily driver standard...what I refer to as a '20/20' paint job..lo.oks good at 20 feet OR 20 MPH....check back to see progress!

2003-07-11 23:33:43 | Paul Wigton writes:

OK! I *think* this is working, now!

2005-05-11 23:49:35 | Paul Wigton writes:

Well, Tweety is STILL awaiting his completion. Probably not gonna happen till 2006, at this rate!

2005-05-12 09:25:25 | Steven D. writes:

Car seems to be moving from Brighton, Colorado to Keenesburg, Colorado.

2009-05-07 09:56:51 | Wiggy writes:

Indeed, as June 2009 approaches, the car is ready for paint! I HOPE I'll have it roadable in late June! It's licensed, insured, all mechanical systems are finished..it's just cosmetics and trim, now!

2011-10-21 14:39:37 | Paul writes:

Well, Tweeety completed ~2200 miles, between 25 Sep-2 Oct, 2011, as one of 13 E Types that took part in the first Southwest Oil Leak tour, in honor of the marque's 50th anniversary. Nothing fell off, nothing failed (other than the wipers, in a rainstorm!!!) and a good time was had by all! This is (was) Tweety's 3rd season of use, after finishing its resto in 2009. The car is now close to, if not exceeding, 200,000 miles.

Go to chuck.goolsbee.org, and look for the "SOL Tour" link for really god pictures and the story.

2016-06-17 19:35:13 | Peter Miller writes:

Paul -

I believe the correct engine for your car is currently on eBay: www.ebay.com/itm/Jaguar-Engines-E-type-9-1-3-8-Blocks-Cranks-1962-1964-R-RA-Trip ...

Seller is hotrodlab68 out of Michigan.

2016-09-30 00:52:21 | pauls writes:

Paul just sold the car on BAT 9/29/16 For $57,500.
bringatrailer.com/listing/1963-jaguar-e-type-fhc/

Sales description:
This 1963 Jaguar XKE is a mildly modified Series 1 coupe powered by a 3.8L inline-six and Moss 4-speed manual gearbox. The original owner took delivery from the factory and drove it around Europe for 5k miles before importing it to the US for a brief stint as a race car. The seller's parents purchased the car in 1965 and it remains with the family today, having been used as a daily driver, road racer, rally car, autocrosser, and occasional off-road vehicle. The seller has been a professional mechanic for over 40 years and began a light cosmetic and engine overhaul in 2005, followed by use in the 2011 Southwest Oil Leak Tour. Reportedly well-known in Jaguar circles, the car is described as a solid, well-maintained driver that has been worked on only by the seller and his father. Its sale includes original spares, European border badges, and a clear Colorado title.

The body shell, bonnet, hatch, and doors are original according to the seller. Metalwork performed during the refurbishment included a new passenger-side rocker panel and sill, while other panels were free of major corrosion. All joints and repaired surfaces were leaded, and while doors were smoothed over, little other filler was used in the project. A rear-end damage repair dating to 1967 was also revisited, though rumpled sheet metal remains visible under the license plate. After metal repairs, the body was primed and coated in two-stage Ford Thistle metallic using PPG products.

The resulting finish looks presentable overall, showing a nice gloss over smooth panels. Regular use has resulted in a handful of blemishes including stone chips and road marks on the nose, along with occasional dings and edge chipping. A lead repair on the passenger-side rear wheel arch has also cracked slightly as detailed in the gallery. The rocker panels and lower rear quarters wear 3M clear protective film. Dayton 15″ wires with stainless center-laced spokes wear new Rudge-Whitworth knockoffs and at 6″ wide can use a variety of modern tires, though they currently wear Yokohama radials.

Front and rear bumpers have been replaced along with the "hockey stick" A-pillar trims, and all present well, as does the original side window and drip rail brightwork. Glass is said to be original aside from a new windshield, which uses an aftermarket seal that is incompatible with included original chrome finishers. All other exterior rubber was replaced with new material as of 2009, and the windshield wiper system is refreshed and functional aside from its auto-park feature. Lighting looks clean throughout including clear headlight covers, bi-color front signals, and small aftermarket fog lamps.

The passenger-side recessed floor was replaced and covered in a combination of Quiet Solution, silicone-backed padding, and Q-Mat to block sound and heat. Updated materials have replaced the originals over time, including a muted yellow ultrasuede covering correct early barrel-backed seats. The upholstery has collected marks and dirt but looks intact, and the seller is able to acquire additional material if desired by the new owner. Black vinyl on the dash pad is joined by beige on the door panels and binnacles, which show some body-colored overspray.

A thick-rimmed Moto-Lita wheel has taken the place of the also-included original, and a Kamei golf ball shift knob was fitted in the 1980s. Early dot-style aluminum dash and console panels appear worn but serviceable, and are combined with a later vinyl-covered armrest. All dash-mounted toggle switches are said to be stock and original as is the wiring harness, which has remained largely reliable according to the seller.

A period Stewart-Warner mechanical oil pressure gauge is plumbed with AN-grade line while all other instruments are original including the clock, which has been rebuilt and works well. The tachometer has been modified with electronic internals but still receives its signal from the original AC tach generator. LED strips were installed in the larger gauges for increased readability at night. The speedometer has been inoperative for years due to a broken angle drive, resulting in an inaccurate odometer reading. Used regularly until 1983, the car reportedly covered almost 180k miles in its first 20 years and is thought to have approximately 200k total miles.

A four-point padded roll hoop is left over from racing days and serves as a mounting point for a camera and fire extinguisher. Occupants are strapped in by 3″ G-Force racing belts. The rear compartment is covered in vinyl-wrapped plywood and while its original behind-seat storage top is included, the front piece is missing along with the floor rails.

The 3.8L twin cam inline-six reportedly bears matching numbers on its cylinder head and block, and was given a light in-car overhaul 10k miles ago at approximately 190k. Grant rings were installed between the bores and pistons, which still measured within spec. New rod bearings were installed with mil-spec bolts and nuts, and fresh lower timing chain components were fitted. The cylinder head was rebuilt with tappet bucket sleeve hold-downs by Coventry West in Georgia and capped with later ribbed cam covers, though the original smooth covers are also included.

Ignition is from a custom Ford-based EDIS system paired with a programmable MegaJolt control module and powered by a Delco alternator on a custom CNC mount. Induction is via rebuilt original SU HD-8 carburetors which are working well, while exhaust is muffled solely by a pair of SuperTrapps that emit a distinctive growl. The fuel tank was boiled out and houses an XJ6 in-tank pump supported by an external electric backup and three inline filters.

A large five-pass NASCAR radiator was custom made during the car's racing days and is augmented with a CoolCat fan with a manual underdash switch. The car reportedly does not overheat in heavy traffic or triple-digit temperatures, and a winterfront is included to achieve operating temperature on cold days. A broken glass washer bottle was replaced with a modern repop with an auxiliary pump supplying improved squirters from a Geo Metro. The engine bay retains the original hue of Opalescent Dark Maroon.

Braking is from lightweight Wilwood front calipers over cross-drilled front rotors. The brake master cylinder was rebuilt in 2010, while the Kelsey-Hayes power booster is original along with its associated vacuum components. Suspension rubber is fresh up front aside from the sway bar bushings, and while rear bushings are original the car is reported to drive well in its current state.

The original Moss 4-speed gearbox with non-synchromesh first gear is described as functional but temperamental, taking some effort to shift thanks in part to a sintered-bronze racing clutch and heavy-duty pressure plate installed in 1963. The clutch master and slave cylinders were refreshed in 2010. Power is sent to the the original rear 3.07:1 differential, which is said be somewhat leaky along with the engine's original rear main rope seal. The underside shows overspray and grime from decades of use, but no major rot is evident in photos.

All original parts are included in the sale aside from the stock radiator. The seller offers a comprehensive verbal description of any aspect of the car and is happy to help facilitate a PPI by an independent shop if desired. He says he would drive the car anywhere and further offers the possibility of personal delivery to the lower 48 states.

2017-10-03 20:24:56 | Paul Wigton writes:

Car was sold to a customer, in Switzerland, September 2016, and is now there.

2019-02-09 11:27:52 | Paul Wigton writes:

Peter Miller, Tweety had its correct engine, from day one.