2005-11-22 16:45:17 | Steven D. writes:

Car was discussed on XK mailing list as follows:

I found the car in a field (barn find, but no barn) here in Austin, TX back in 1977 and finally bought it in early 1978; I traded a client $1,000 credit toward his unpaid legal fees (tax problems) for it. I put it in a barn and there it sits until I have time to work on it.

JDHT says the date of mfg was 24 Sep 54 so you're pretty close. The numbers, which were previously provided to John are:

Chassis - S810002DN

Engine - G1021-8S (gone by 1960)

Body - F10002

Gearbox - JLN24812

Since I got the car I have managed to provenance (that may not be a verb, Texans are a little weak on grammar) it back to 1960 when it was purchased between

January and March by a Cecil Webster in response to a Detroit Free Press newspaper ad for $550. Brief history as follows:

CECIL WEBSTER, Detroit, MI bought the car from an unknown seller between January and March, 1960, for $550 in response to a Detroit Free Press newspaper ad.

Mr. Webster sold the car in Jan, 1962, through Mitchell Motors in Muskegon, MI for $550 (in "basket case" condition) to HAROLD SPEED of Shelby, MI and

Chiefland, FL, who did a 3 year body off, engine out, restoration. Mr. Speed said the restoration was complete and before and after pictures were taken by the publisher of the Shelby, MI paper. Mr. Speed sold

the car in December, 1972, to his distant cousin NILE CARROTHERS of Conroe, TX, for $1,500. Mr. Carrothers immediately drove the car to Shelby, MI from Texas for

the Christmas holidays, but had to tow it back to Texas. Mr. Carrothers repainted the car white (from gray, original color was cream), put rings and valves in the engine, and redid the interior in Connolly leather! He said that when he sold the car in 1974 to

CHRIS MARSHALL of Lubbock, TX for $3,000, it was entirely original except for the wiper motor. The car deteriorated to "field find" condition under Mr. Marshall's ownership which continued until 1978 when he sold it to my client, HOWARD RAGLAND of Austin, TX for $550 who immediately sold it to me for $1,000.

Anyway, current, and 1978, condition is as follows:

body is straight, not rusty, interior is a mess;

gauges are gone but car is otherwise complete.

According to PO who restored the car in early 1960's, all rust was repaired including, at least, new floorpan (of aluminum) and rocker panels. Doors open and shut smoothly and hinges appear to be okay. Engine is complete (original engine was gone by 1960).

Car was shipped from Liverpool in October, 1954, to Max Hoffman. No original owner was recorded. Mr. Hoffman became a BMW distributor after Jaguar. In response to a March, 1978, inquiry to BMW, I was given the name of a Tom Kelly who was listed by BMW as being Mr. Hoffman's lawyer and agent. His telephone number was no longer in service and Hoffman did not respond to my March, 1978, letter inquiry (does anyone know when he died?).

That's about it (thankfully, some of you are saying). Because the car was a basket case and had a new engine by 1960, I have dreamed that it has a significant racing history, but who knows (maybe someone on the list!)