Jaguar - 1962 XKE Roadster - RESTORATION

Starting at the bottom picture, see the gradual evolution of Joseph Middleton's '62 E-Type Jaguar from June, 2006 through October, 2007. Body work by Brad Oliver and mechanicals and all restoration by Richard Disher.

What The Finished Product Will Look Like!!

This is what the Jag should look like when it's done!!

It'll be Opalescent Silver Blue with a navy blue interior and fabric top. The engine will be totally rebuilt and almost evey part and system re-worked!

On its Way to the Restorer

On May 23, 2006, the Jag was flat-bedded from Raleigh to Greensboro, N.C. for restoration. AJR was recommended to restore the car to running condition. However, that did not work out for several reasons.

First, the restorer, who was a Jaguar mechanic with limited experience in trestoration, was not up for the difficult job.
Second, the body was discovered to be too rusty for driving even if the the engine, brakes, cooling system, electrical, etc. were restored.
Third, the restorer had a "friend" who wanted to "buy" the car and, for that reason, he was not inclined to start serious restoration for just an hourly fee.

Sensing this, Joseph searched madly for a restorer who was trust worthy and who had a strong reputation for restoring an early series XKE. Bill Terry and his partner, Dan, of Terry's Jag's recommended Richard Disher who was only about an hour from Greensboro. Joseph was impressed after talking with Richard who was willing to take on the huge job.

So, on June 22, Joseph flat-bedded the old Jag to Richard where it found a loving home for its rehabilitation.

Here is the 3.8 engine when I first got the car. It actually had acorns in the cylinders where the squirrels had store them. The former owner had taken the head off and left it loose for about 35 years. It made a good storage space for the critters.

Nonetheless, all the parts were there, except for the horns and the old exhaust, and we were able to disassemble it and re-build it as you'll see.

Joseph's Jag

April, 2006. The 1962 XKE Jaguar Roadster arrives at Joseph Middleton's home in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Originally discovered at the home of Jim and Claudette Petty in Raleigh by Tony Colon, a friend of Joseph's who worked for Time Warner. Tony was wiring Jim's house for cable TV when he discovered the old sports car underneath some tarp in Jim's backyard.

The car was bought new in Washington, DC by Jim's father at a Jaguar dealer in 1962. Jim then bought it from his father in 1969.He and Claudette used it as their wedding get away car. They kept mainly in Wilson, NC and Jim drove it until it developed a compression problem in 1974.

Jim & Claudette put off fixing it until their teenage sons had left home. They reasoned the car was too dangerous for teenage boys. The ole Jag sat in his garage until about 2004 and Jim rolled it outside to make room for his wood working hobby. It sat there rusting until Joseph discovered it and took it to his home.