kvc@scgvaxd.UUCP (07/12/83)
I just got ahold of a 1967 Jaguar XKE and was wondering if anyone else out there had something similar. So far, no troubles and it drives like a real charm. I realize maintenance will be expensive, but for the time being I don't care. One thing I worry about is how I find someone who can work on a car like this when something too rough for me to handle comes up. Any recommendations for ways to find qualified mechanics for old Jags? If anyone in the Southern California area knows any, that'd be an even bigger help. Also, what sort of things should one do to take care of old, old leather upholstery? The interior is in pretty good shape and I'd like to keep it that way. The driver's seat is a little worn (as can be expected), but still nice. I'd like to protect it, but would rather not go all the way to seat covers because I like showing the leather. Thanks in advance, please follow up with any useful info you might have. It'd be appreciated and I want to keep the Jag as nice as it is now, for as long as I can... Byt the way, they sure new how to use chrome in those days... Twin chrome dipsticks are just too much!! /Kevin Carosso Hughes Aircraft decvax!trw-unix!scgvaxd!engvax!kvc allegra!scgvaxd!engvax!kvc
kent@decwrl.UUCP (Chris Kent) (07/13/83)
Congratulations on joining the world of masochistic British sports car owners! (Or, as a friend of mine puts it: "I own a Jag. But, if I wanted to keep it on the road all the time, I should own two.") The first thing I recommend you do is buy the book "E Type: End of an Era", if you don't already have it. This excellent book was written by a true lover of the car, and has a seemingly endless supply of trivia and hints. As regards your specific question about old leather, the best thing to use is Neat's Foot Oil. Rub quite a bit of it into a cloth, and just soak it into the leather. Chances are you can soak up quite a bit of it. If you can arrange it, bind a well-soaked cloth to the leather overnight. It will bring back the original suppleness like nothing else. For cleaning the leather, use saddle soap. Enjoy! Cheers, Chris Kent Digital Equipment Corp.