Michael Rogers's Journal

Many years ago in silicone valley I noticed a somewhat forlorn Mk-VIII sitting in a gas station, upon inquiry it was for sale. The owner had gotten it from his brother in Hollywood who had bought it off a studio lot where props from movies were dumped upon completion.

The car was straight but lacking maintenance, The paint was oxidised. the leather dried and cracked in front, Amurikuns don't all seem to know how to maintain leather, My family loved it so we all had a polishing party to revive the finish, Everything was returned to new but for the installation of H-8' SU's much larger ARB's and a 3:54 gearset more suited for roads here.

Over the years I've had two E types, a 120 and 140, a Mk-VII roadster, a XJ-6 and now a late S and three Mk-1's. After reading how frail the new jags are with all their 'wonderful' high teck I'm retreating to building my personnel MK-1.

Needless to say, I have tonnes of Jag bits and all the tools etc and now the time to do this. recently I dug out a factory S head for the 140 or 150 which has all the time consuming fettleing of the porting a three carb manifold set up and a late model 4,2 engine with seemingly no wear, I've received the new valves and such to refurb this treasure and will haul the head to the shop for their machining. The cars are straight and not rusty but for the floors, seems I'm going to get lots of practice in blasting the floor rusty bits and welding new metal in--that will keep me off the streets!

I finished a blasting chamber this afternoon so will buy a gun tomorrow to make bits pretty~~.