771 Series 1.5 w/ covered headlights

Unfortunately this kind of convenient misinformation isn't rare among some 'classic' car dealerships. I wrote to GR Auto Gallery of Kentwood, MI a few weeks ago informing them that their 'Series 1 2+2 Coupe' was in fact an open-headlight series 1.5, and that the production numbers they were quoting were completely off the mark. I never got a reply, and it has now disappeared from their website. Hopefully someone with more money than knowledge didn't get hoodwinked into buying it.

The practice seems pretty rife. There was also a Fiat Dino for sale at another classic dealer, with what was clearly a humble Fiat 124 4-cylinder lump installed where the glorious Ferrari-based V6 should traditionally reside. Didn't see any mention of that in their description. Funny they never replied to thank me for pointing it out...

Edited on 2013-02-14 13:58:59

I emailed him asking for clarification or documentation on his claim of originality and also the 771 figure. His response was that he never claimed there were 771 made with covered headlights. I directed him back to his own listing and again asked for any supporting documentation and received no response.
The typical cop-out with these types of claims is that the guy he bought it from told him a story (he knew was untrue) that he is now using

I suppose 771 intended to modify Series 1.5, and not glass covered headlights, since any Jaguar enthusiast would know there weren't 771 of those. My mother always told me beware of people who announce they have integrity.

As I said before--I spoke with them. My comments are not going to be here! The correct answer is C.

What caught my attention was: "There were only 771 examples of this 1968 Jaguar e- Type Series 1.5 Roadster with Glass Covered HeadLights ever made. These cars were built at the factory near the end of 1967 then US titled 1968."

If it was only this one car I'd assume just another less than scrupulous used car dealer, but this is either an a) outrageous fabrication or b) he has info of considerable importance to Jaguar historians. One wonders of course where the other 770 cars have been hiding for 45 years.

George, is it reasonable to conclude tha answer's not b)?

Guys I actually called. Will not post response here but open to taking a call.

I agree that, without some type of official documentation, this is nothing more than a sales tactic. I own 1E14928, which is an open headlamp series one. I also have intimate knowledge of several other cars built during this time period with the same configuration. It's amazing how many cars built well after mine have been converted to closed headlamp during restoration. I understand that most people like the closed look and hold nothing against anyone wanting to change the look of their car; just don't try to present as something it is not.

Follow the money. If the error decreased the value of the car you could just about believe it was just a genuine descriptive mistake. Since it increases the profit, a less generous interpretation is far more likely to be true. Apart from which, the term 'covered headlight Series 1.5' is an oxymoron.

Pete

There were late 1967 Series 1 cars that were supplied without headlight covers, so I find it hard to beleive that there was a series 1.5 with the covers. So, as someone else pointed out, unless this is a car that even Jaguar does not know about.... I would need to see some serious documentation for it. If there is no docummentation than you have to think of it as a made up car. Just my 2 cents.

Made up? either that or theyknow something that Jaguar is not aware of! I just wrote to them and asked the sourse of their information, what's the chances of an answer?
Bob