Growing up in Detroit my dad would take me to the Sport Cars in Review show at the Henry Ford Museum. One year there was a D-type Jaguar on display. Jags had won Le Mans and the D-type was the hit of the show.
For me, it was love at first site.
A few years later the show featured the Jaguar E-type. It was black with a red interior and wide whitewalls. I promised myself one day I’m going to own one of those! I shared my promised with my dad. He just smiled.
Years later I came across a rusting 1969 E-type and purchased it. After a full restoration the (red) car won its class at numerous JCNA Concours, but I still remembered that promise of the covered headlights and wide whitewall tires.
A few years ago I kept that promise to myself and bought a 1964 Jaguar E-type. I restored it and it has been a national JCNA champion. I know my dad would be proud.
— Frank Ligon, Detroit
Nice cars and story
Congratulations! He would be very proud. Loved your story.
A beautiful, eye catching car! I know your dad would be extremely proud of you! 🙂
I’m sure your dad would love your devotion to something he shared with you as a child. Keep enjoying!
Reading this and noting what words like “restore” mean to me. Nothing gains greater understanding of a car and it’s manufacturer than that process. Cars that I loved I could never criticize but the manufacturers I would curse for short-changing such beautiful machinery by failing to rust proof key parts. Even cheaper cars, I would forgive their foibles, such as cheap upholstery material and focus only on the righteous aspects of their design. “Restored” by my definition means “had a great love affair with.”