TWO early Jaguar E-types that rolled off their Coventry production line on the same day 55 years ago have been reunited at a specialist car restorer.
The two cars, that were built on August 24, 1961 at the Browns Lane Jaguar production line in Coventry will celebrate their 55th birthdays together at Classic Motor Cars (CMC) of Bridgnorth, in Shropshire.
One of the E-Types was the first production inside bonnet lock right hand drive fixed head coupe and the other was the first production inside bonnet lock right hand drive roadster.
But these very early E-Types have lived different lives – the coupe is in pristine condition after having been restored by CMC, while the roadster requires a full restoration after being found by the CMC forgotten in a barn in Ireland for the last 20 years.
Stuart Cardwell, owner of the E-Type Coupe Chassis No. 860005, took it to CMC several years ago and embarked on a rolling restoration.
Subsequently, the car was entered to the prestigious Salon Prive event and concours at Blenheim Palace in September 2015, where it was awarded runner-up in its class.
E-Typer Roadster Chassis No. 850092 was dispatched to a Jaguar dealership in Dublin and has spent all its life in the Republic of Ireland.
Peter Neumark, chairman of CMC, said: “This world is full of coincidences; that both the first inside bonnet lock RHD coupe and roadster to end up in the same restoration facility is one thing, but then to discover they were both produced on the same day – August 24th 1961 – is remarkable.
“It was only when the Heritage Certificate arrived from Jaguar that the same production date as the coupe was discovered.
“So we decided to invite Stuart with his car for a celebratory photo call with his car and the roadster.”
CMC brought the two cars back together on Wednesday, August 24 and even provided a birthday cake to celebrate the reunion.
E-Type Roadster Chassis No. 92 requires a full restoration but when finished will be for sale as a restoration project with CMC.
