From the earliest XKs to the newest XK – Workshop update

Here’s a nice, if rather E-Type-heavy, view of the workshop. Fear not though, there are plenty of XKs out of shot, in the workshop next door and upstairs. Such fun and beauty seem in stark contrast to the strange times we are living in though.
I struck a rather upbeat and positive tone in my previous update, which was, somewhat ironically, published on the day the US/Iran conflict began. I had noted how the market appeared to be picking up as some sense of normality and stability crept back into our lives. I also mentioned my intention to get out and about in classic cars more this year — visiting shows, using them for everyday trips, sharing them with the younger generation and generally enjoying them.
Clearly, current events will present challenges, not least rising fuel prices, but I won’t let this dampen my spirits. We are fortunate to live in a peaceful and beautiful country where we are free to enjoy our cars, and I fully intend to do so — and encourage you all to do the same. To help in our own small way, we will be holding our collection and delivery costs at current levels and absorbing the increase in fuel prices for as long as we can.
In this update we have a truly diverse array of cars, including XKs, E-Types, a D-Type, X100 XKR, X150 XK, a Gordon-Keeble and a little MGB. Who could ask for more?

Jaguar X100 XKR

Here we have an XK of a rather different sort to those you might be used to seeing in our workshop. For those who aren’t Jaguar geeks, this XKR is an X100 model from the late 1990s. The main difference between the standard XK8 and the XKR is the addition of a supercharger, along with other sporting enhancements. This particular car is especially interesting as it has been breathed on by Paramount.
This isn’t the first more modern XK we have worked on, and we are receiving an increasing number of enquiries for this type of work. It seems the main dealer network is no longer particularly interested in maintaining these cars (and can be rather expensive), while many independent garages are reluctant to take them on. They do require a degree of specialist knowledge, along with some dedicated equipment.
We are keen to support our customers, so we have been doing our research and are now pleased to say we are happy to work on more modern XKs such as the X100 and X150. We are fortunate to have a former JLR main dealer technician on the team, and we are investing in the equipment required, putting us in a strong position to care for these cars.
If you have an XK8 or XKR and have been struggling to find a garage to look after it properly, please do get in touch.

Driven at Beaulieu

I recently had the pleasure of attending the grand opening of the new “Driven: Britain’s Motoring Story” exhibition at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum, and it proved to be a thoroughly worthwhile visit.
The new gallery offers a fresh and engaging look at how motoring has shaped life in Britain, from the earliest pioneering vehicles through to the modern era. Rather than simply presenting cars in isolation, the exhibition explores the wider story — highlighting the social, cultural and technological impact the motor car has had over more than a century.
The display is thoughtfully laid out, with a mix of significant vehicles, previously unseen artefacts and interactive elements that bring the story to life. Visitors are guided through key periods of motoring history, with personal stories and archive material adding real depth and context.
It’s clear a great deal of effort has gone into creating something that appeals not only to enthusiasts, but to anyone with an interest in how the motor car has influenced everyday life in Britain. A well-considered and engaging reimagination of the museum, and certainly one worth making the trip to see.

XK150 3.4 S engine rebuild

We seem to be inundated with engine rebuild work at the moment. Pictured here is a Jaguar XK150 3.4 S engine which has just been fully rebuilt to fast road specification. This unit has been upgraded with camshafts, a reworked cylinder head and fully balanced components. It also benefits from our single-piece rear main oil seal and a custom-made flywheel.
Here the engine is fitted to our test rig, ready to be run and tested before installation in the car. We test all our engines in this way to ensure they are in top condition prior to fitting. While it is rare to uncover any issues, we believe this process is time well spent for the occasions when it does highlight something.
This particular engine arrived with a noisy top end. We are pleased to report it is now smooth and quiet. Since this photo was taken, it has been refitted and returned to its owner to be enjoyed.

Gordon-Keeble servicing

Those of you who have followed us for some time may recognise this distinctive Gordon-Keeble; a car we’ve had the pleasure of caring for over a number of years. It has recently returned for its annual service, and we’re pleased to report it continues to provide reliable and enjoyable motoring, with very little to note over the past twelve months.
Captured here in our front car park, it is joined by an E-Type and XK150 in the background — a fitting trio of British classics.
The Gordon-Keeble remains a rare sight, with only around 90 examples produced between 1964 and 1967. Developed by John Gordon and Jim Keeble, it combines a spaceframe chassis, independent front suspension and all-round disc brakes with a Chevrolet V8. Its styling also has an interesting story, with the original body designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and built by Bertone before production moved to the UK with a glass fibre body.
A unique and capable machine, and always a privilege to have back in the workshop.

Jaguar XK120 hood chromes

This Jaguar XK120 has just had its hood retrimmed. This is always something of a challenging task, requiring the brass beading to be carefully fitted and shaped to the car before being chromed.
In this case, the work was slightly more involved due to the fact that the owner had the car’s original chromes, which he wished to have refitted. We are very much in favour of preserving originality, so were happy to reshape and refit the original components.
The first step was to remove the old chrome from the brass beading. Once stripped, we were able to repair the beading where necessary, resolder any missing, bent or damaged pins, and then reshape it to the hood. It was clear that the previous removal process (carried out before the car reached us) had taken its toll, so this stage proved crucial. Once completed, the beading was sent off for chroming.
Pictured here is the finished result. The gaps are slightly larger than we would normally aim for, but as mentioned, these are the original chromes. It is widely accepted that these cars were not built to the same tolerances we work to today.

Jaguar D-Type cylinder head

In our previous update, we shared a photo of this very nice Realm D-Type, which came in for investigation of a noisy engine. It was immediately apparent that the noise was coming from the top end.
With the cam covers removed, we found clear wear in the camshafts, followers and valve gear. With the owner’s permission to investigate further, we discovered that the cylinder head was warped, forcing the camshafts to follow its shape and wear unevenly.
A warped cylinder head is almost always the result of overheating, but in this case there was no indication of any recent overheating. Once the head was removed, it became clear that it had previously been refaced during a rebuild, but the camshaft journals had not been line bored to suit. It appears the head had suffered some form of issue in the past, but this had not been properly addressed during the rebuild.

Jaguar E-Type accident repair

This 3.8 Series 1 Coupé has been with us for repairs following an accident. By all accounts, the brakes failed while on a motorway, and the driver had to use the barriers to slow the car. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but it serves as a reminder of the importance of regular maintenance and fluid checks.
It appears the car had not been serviced or checked over for some time, likely due to its low mileage. Once the repair work is complete, we have been asked to carry out a full inspection and service, as well as investigate the cause of the brake failure. We will then report back to the owner with any further recommendations and agree a plan going forward.
Returning to the work in hand, the bonnet and rear quarter have now been repaired and repainted to match the rest of the car. The repaired chromework is currently being trial-fitted before being sent off for plating. We are dealing directly with the owner’s insurance company, Haggerty, who have been supportive of our approach, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free process while maintaining the highest standards of repair.

MGB servicing

This MGB GT is another regular annual visitor. It belongs to the son of one of our longstanding XK customers.
The car had suffered from carburettor issues for several years and, despite visits to a number of garages, had never run properly during his ownership. Unsure where to turn, he asked us to take a look last year, which we were very happy to do.
Although we specialise in classic Jaguars, each member of our team brings a broad range of experience and enthusiasm for classic cars. It’s fair to say that between us, there are few classics we haven’t worked on or owned. This is particularly true of British cars such as this MG — from Ford Cortinas through to Rover V8s and Wolseley 1500s.
We were pleased to hear the car has run faultlessly since we sorted it. It even took part in a track day at Goodwood, which has resulted in slightly warped front brake discs. Alongside an oil service, we are now replacing the front discs with drilled and grooved items, along with track-ready brake pads.

Jaguar E-Type factory hardtop

In a previous post, we shared a photo of our Jaguar E-Type during the trial fitting of its factory hardtop. This was the only aspect we hadn’t addressed during its refurbishment a few years ago, and as I have always liked the look of an E-Type with a hardtop, it felt like the right time to complete it.
At the time, I asked for opinions on colour. The hardtop was originally red, but I wasn’t sure if that might be a little too much.
We received plenty of feedback, with the general consensus being to keep it red for originality. As you can see, despite that advice — and it is now black.
We are very pleased with the result, although it may prove divisive. The black roof has also got me thinking about the wheels — perhaps a set of black painted wires might look rather striking. What do you think?

Jaguar XK140 door alignment

This Jaguar XK140 FHC was restored by its owner, but he was never entirely happy with the door fit. As such, it has come to us to see what improvements can be made.
Ideally, door fit should be addressed during the dry build stage prior to paint. That said, there are often ways to improve matters afterwards. Adjusting hinges, changing door seals, altering window frames or even repositioning wings are all possibilities, though they require a skilled and experienced approach.
We are pleased to report that we have significantly improved the door fit, and we believe the owner will be delighted.
Door alignment issues are quite common on XKs, particularly the XK140 FHC with its longer doors, and the XK150, where doors are prone to dropping on their hinges. While some may suggest cutting into the wing to rectify this, in many cases we can achieve excellent results without such invasive measures.
If you have misaligned panels or dropping doors, please do get in touch.

Jaguar V12 E-Type coolant leak

The owner of this Series 3 E-Type contacted us after noticing steam coming from under the bonnet following a long period of storage. While this can look dramatic, it is often caused by a relatively minor and common issue on these V12 engines.
That said, it’s always important to proceed with caution, as running with low coolant can lead to serious damage.
In this case, the cause was leaking coolant hose unions located above the exhaust manifolds. These are not easily visible and can be difficult to access, so are often overlooked. They are particularly prone to leaking after a car has been standing, allowing coolant to drip onto the exhaust. Once the engine is started, the manifolds heat up quickly, causing the coolant to evaporate and produce steam.
While it can appear serious, it is usually a straightforward fix when correctly diagnosed.

Jaguar X150 XK

As mentioned previously, we are seeing an increasing number of enquiries relating to more modern XKs. This car is one such example, having come to us for inspection on behalf of a long-term customer.
We have been looking after this customer’s cars for over 25 years, including two XK150s, the most recent of which we sold as he found driving a manual increasingly difficult. We initially explored sourcing an automatic XK150 or E-Type, but concerns remained regarding ease of access. As a result, we suggested considering an X100 or X150.
He ultimately chose this excellent X150, which has low mileage and has clearly been well cared for. These cars tend to age well, no doubt helped by their aluminium construction.
We have carried out a small amount of work, including refinishing the subframes and exhaust, and fitting a trickle charger socket in the boot. Beyond that, it appears to be a very sound car that should require little more than routine servicing.

Jaguar E-Type Series 2

Here we have what is probably the finest Series 2 E-Type I have seen. I believe I shared a photo of its underside last year, as it is remarkably clean.
I had previously commented that we seem to see fewer Series 2 cars compared to Series 1 and Series 3, although recently we appear to be having something of a run on them. Given that significantly fewer Series 2s were produced than Series 1s, perhaps this is not so surprising.
Whatever the reason, we are always delighted to have one in the workshop.
On this occasion, the owner wanted to bring the engine bay up to the same exceptional standard as the rest of the car. We have fitted polished stainless steel exhaust manifolds to replace the original cast iron items, along with polishing the cam covers and dash posts. While refitting the cam covers, we also installed upgraded gaskets to help prevent the oil leaks that can detract from an otherwise immaculate engine bay.