THE INTERNATIONAL JAGUAR 'S'-TYPE REGISTER FORUM

Hi to everyone and sorry for not updating the progress with the restoration in the last few months.

I have done some bits of the front part and it's nearly finished. I sandblasted the boot interior and then I gave the primer coat. Please, see pictures of the whole process (I was only able to upload two of the sandblasting process because of the limit to 10 pics maximum). There is rust in just two places. Under the grill and in one of the sides at the top but the body expert / painter will fix them both. He said it's not really bad and easy to do. In fact, he was positively surprised of the great condition of body for a 1966 car. He expected it to be in much worse condition.

Now, I have to send the car to the painter but he asked me a great question I don't know how to answer. What colour?

I don't know what the original colour was. I asume that it was the same colour than the outside but I'm not sure and I don't have a clue. He also asked me whether the colour should be gloss or matte. Could you please help me with these two questions?

Thanks.

Un saludo,

Fernando.

Colour can be a very personal choice and the best way to choose a colour is to look at all the S Type Jaguar pictures on Google or in the picture gallery on the S Type register and then pick the one you like best. It does not even have to be a Jaguar colour. My mates 1953 Alvis is painted with a modern silver and blue paint from the Peugeot range. If he ever needed to repaint a panel he knows the Peugeot paint code and the paint is easily obtained.

If you want to identify the original colour you will have to post a picture of a panel you have not rubbed down yet. Perhaps one of the inside of the boot/trunk or inside a door or under the dash panel.

One of your pictures of the engine compartment inner wing looks like original paint and if it is the paint looks as though it might have been Warwick Grey. Not the most inspiring of colours that Jaguar did in the 60s. It is the original colour that my car was but I repainted mine in Old English White for two reasons. One I like the colour and two I was going to use it as a wedding car and this was the ideal colour for me.

Having a choice of Matt or Gloss has to go with gloss and metallic gloss with a modern paint really makes the car shine. I love a deep red or midnight blue with a bit of metallic sheen to it.

My only advice to you is if you are painting the car it has to be done properly so everything is the same colour. Not just the outside but the engine bay, inside the boot/trunk, door jams, under the dash and so on. There is nothing worse in my opinion than to see a well painted car on the outside, then open the bonnet/hood or a door to find the the original and different colour inside showing. There are too many bare sections of painted metal work on the S Type that you just cannot hide from. Some people get around this by painting everything else black, again in my opinion it still looks bad. Like half a job. If you are only doing half a job, keep the original colour, otherwise do the job properly and paint the whole thing. Chrome off, engine out, screens out, wiring set to one side, remove all the brake pipes and renew after painting. Front and rear subframes off, inside the doors, inside and under the boot/trunk lid, underside of the bonnet/hood. Have a look at Joe's rebuild of Miss Kitty. This is the only way to repaint a car if you are changing the colour.

If it's worth doing it's worth doing well.

it looks like Golden Sand in my screen, the most desirable color in the S type.

I used to have a golden sand S Type (3.4) back in the 70's, only cost me £100.

my favorite color for any Jag

From favourites to extremes. The S Type looks great in many colours. Two cars I used as minimum standards to follow.

Best of Aus
One of the greats of NA