Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) E-Type launch 60 years ago.

Thankfully, my two mates got away relatively unscathed.

I had a spell in Intensive Care (it was a bit touch and go, and I woke to see the entire family sat round the bed waiting for the inevitable), a further week in hospital, and 60 odd stitches in my head which left me with a fairly impressive scar. It was all my fault so see it as a touch of Karma

Brilliant find Jens!

I was so amused that I decided to translate it so that the chaps from up north could benefit from this magnificent prose.
Find it here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/z3uk2sxgd...e%20%20Fritz%20Busch%20story%20.pdf?dl=0



Busch is the automobile Tucholsky of his time!
Don't judge the humble translator. He's but an artificial intelligence.
THANK YOU AGAIN!!!

Cheers

Mich

My first E Type - Newly married - it was either the car or new furniture for our first house. No contest.



V12 - Fuel injected and over 400hp. The engine was so smooth that the car was a lot quicker than it felt.



The S2 - The least favoured but I loved this one. A few mods made all the difference and it was lovely to drive.



And finally - The twin headlight car. I had the chance to buy this but declined - two were made for Scottish nobility - Abbey panels did the conversion on new cars.

Not the most enjoyable cars to work on, great pose value for sure but when you have done one too many rear main seals your love starts to twitch.

We used to hide when an E type came in under warranty as they nearly all had a long list. Oil leaks, AC issues, water pump bearings and rear disc issues were almost pre printed on the pinks! Warranty job cards are pink at BL Dealers and as I worked at P J Evans in Birmingham (largest Jaguar dealership in the U.K.) we saw lots of pink job cards.

Happy days though when there was unlimited overtime 🤣.

BR
Colin

By the way all the stories about Norman Dewis are true. I had moved on from a BL dealership to work for BL at the Midland Service Centre at Bickenhill (just behind airport). After 9 months I had been offered an instructors job at the product training school but had to wait for the next person to leave as it was headcount restrictions period.

The only other staff job open to me (union would not allow anyone offered a staff job to return to shop floor with the hourly paid staff) was a test driver at Jaguar Experimental, but I was told I had to pass the assessment.

One day I was called to reception to give a chap a lift to Browns Lane and it was no other than Norman Dewis, we jumped into an S3 XJ12 and he said ‘right lad, give it some and tell me what’s wrong with it’...... I nearly cra**ed myself but felt a rear rumble, just down the road was Stonebridge Island which I went round twice and the noise changed....

As I parked up at Browns lane Mr Dewis (never ever Norman! to us testers) said ‘well lad your like a f****ing accident waiting to happen’ and I just said N/S/R wheel bearing plus it smells like a coolant leak (sweet sickly pear drop smell)...

As he got out he mumbled ’I suppose you will do’.

When I got back to Bickenhill I was told I had passed the assessment but would have to go on the MIRA high speed course the following week ;-)

Never spoke to the great man again as the plant was very hierarchical and 12 months later I was working at the training school.

BR
Colin

Cool story Colin

Fun times to be around cars for sure.

Every Etype I’ve ever had leaked oil inc my current S1.

I always thought it was part of Jaguars anti corrosion system

Great recollection Colin, always interesting to read your motor trade life, you should write a book, DW can advise

Sounds just like the great man. I only met him once and he was a surprisingly small chap for such a big character. Nice story Colin, brings him back to life for just a short while.

Jeez, I'm glad you made a full recovery, hope I didn't offend with that post, it must have been a worrying time for your family.

No, no offence at all. I was a young reckless idiot and got my just desserts! My family eventually forgave me

Made a full recovery thankyou, and was back behind the wheel within three weeks. Got 7 points on my licence for my troubles, thankfully the Feds didn't take any further action on the 'TWOC' due to the extent of my injuries. They made the assumption that I had learned my lesson. They were correct.