Boy's dream

February 13, 2006
Very early in the morning, checking Ebay. What's that? An E-type, and obviously for restoration! Just added to the site a few hours before, no biddings so far! And, more important: a very interesting 'Buy-it-now' price! Can't believe my eyes! Would that be for real? No typing error? And: would there be no one, anywhere on this earth, have the same thoughts as I'm having now? Wouldn't it be 'for-not-too-much-money-you-ain't-getting-much'? Much thoughts were crossing my mind, but before I knew I pressed the button! Through Paypal I made the down payment and a few seconds later I received the message that the payment had been succesful: I'm very much underway to become the owner of a '69 Jaguar E-type Series 2 2+2! My boy's dream!

Sent an email to the present owner: 'I bought your E-type! What's next?'. Then I got a call from him in the evening. He was very surprised that he sold the E-type that fast and that easy! He had bought the car for a friend in the first place, but this friend didn't want it any more for some reason. He even had to get the title from the woman he had bought it from. Could I wait that long? Haha, if I could!? Of course I could!  I have waited for many years, a few weeks wouldn't matter. And besides, I had to find out how I was going to get the Jag from sunny Florida to the Lowlands! The owner told me he was going on a business trip to Brazil for two weeks, which would give me some time to make arrangements. I sincerely hoped that he was not running into his friend, telling him that he changed his mind after all and to deliver that Jag anyway! 

         
Yep: it's in need of some hours of work, but hey: it's a Jaguar! It's an E-type Jaguar! A real one, with four wheels and a long nose!

February 14 and 15, 2006
Let's get to work: called six different car tranporters for the best offer! In the meantime I studied the extra pics I received from Florida. The nose had been in a serious accident, that's very obvious. And looking to the details, it looks like the Jags original colour has not been dark red (Burgundy Red?), but my favourite colour Pale Primrose Yellow. Later I would find out that that was in fact the case, when I ordered the certificate from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (Jaguar Cars' Official Heritage Site). From that certificate I would also learn that my Jag was a real 'matching numbers car'!

February 18, 2006
Searching for a place to stall the Jag. Found a place not to far from home. Two new garage boxes, which would be delivered and installed in four to five weeks. Not bad timing at all. But things would change fast, as we would find out not much later!

                        

February 21, 2006
Five of the six tranporters were so kind to send me an offer. Prices were rather different for the same job: transporting the Jag to the Miami harbour, clearing out the car at US customs, putting it in the container, sailing it to Rotterdam, clearing it in at Dutch customs and delivering it to a warehouse near Rotterdam (or delivering it at home, if you wish). Taxes and insurance were always excluded. Not too much thinking had to be done: the best offer by far was made by a specialised car transporter from Almere, the Netherlands. Mind you: the most expensive offer was more than two times more expensive!

February 22, 2006
Called Marlog Car Handling in Almere: 'Dennie, you have the job! Go for it!'.

February 23, 2006
Got the name and address of their man in Florida from Dennie. Emailed them right away to the other side of the ocean. Called too, but couldn't get through to Brazil. Hey, things were going all right weren't they!?

February 25, 2006
24th: no connection! Late on the 25th I finally was able to talk to the owner! He happened to be in a very remote area in Brazil, but assured me not to worry! He received my email with the agents credentials, and he had been trying to contact the agent already. Which didn't succeed so far, but Monday, when he was in Sao Paulo, he was going to try again. And from there it would be no problem! What a relief!

      

February 28, 2006
In my email inbox I receive the copies of the emails between the owner and the agent. They agree that the Jag will be delivered by the owner on the 28th or the 1st of March. I write the owner that I will wire the rest of the money as soon as I know when the car is going to be delivered. And I ask him if he would be able to send me the gear lever knob by DHL, before he is delivering the car to the agent. Just to have something in my hands!

February 28, 2006
Coming home in the evening, I read the email that the Jag is at the agent and the knob has been sent by DHL. The owner says that he will send the title and the bill of sale to the agent as soon as the rest of the money is in his account. Which I send it right away! Scary moment, but one I have to go through!

March 1, 2006
The money has been taken from my account. I can even see that it has been sent to the right person! So far for the good news. The bad news is, that the transaction could take up to five working days! Can you imagine!? Accepting and waiting is all I can do. Through Marlog Car Handling I call for a transport insurance. I will have the offer the next day.

March 3, 2006
Good news from Florida: the money arrived savely in the owners account! He thanks me for the very smooth deal. He will be in Florida by Sunday and sending the papers to the agent right away! I called the insurance company to insure the Jag from March 6th until April 15th. It should be in Holland by then, wouldn't it?

       

March 6 and 7, 2006
Talked to the owner by email and webcam! Finally, both papers and car are with the agent! And now to customs! Hurry up!

March 15, 2006
Visited the E-type FHC 3.8, Series 1 from a friend-to-be in Pijnacker! Four guys talking about a Jag for almost three hours in a cold garage! What an experience  and what a nice project! I want to start, too!

March 18,2006
Visited the E-type 2+2 4.2, Series 1 from another friend-to-be in Dordrecht! Really nice project, too. Talking to these kind of guys is so inspiring! And I feel like a little boy next to them!

March 19, 2006
Almost two weeks later: heared nothing so far! Decided to call Dennie in Almere. I want to know something!

March 20, 2006
Hooray! Talked to Dennie and as it appears to be, the Jag will be put on the boat for Rotterdam next Friday, March 24th! The APL Arabia. According to the sailing schedule the APL Arabia will arrive in Rotterdam on April 6th. It's going to happen!

                                                                               

March 28, 2006
Called Dennie again and yes: the Jag is on board! Come on APL Arabia, keep on going and don't loose any containers! That is: my container!

April 6, 2006
This should be the day but I don't hear anything!

April 7, 2006
Called Dennie again some more and yes, the Jag has arrived!! If things work out all right I can pick up my Jag in 4791 RR Klundert, Fazantweg 1, next Tuesday or Wednesday. At Marlog Forwarding's warehouse. That's where I can put MY Jag (after paying some Euro's) on the trailer and tow it to Apeldoorn. Just a few more nights before it's April 12th.

April 11, 2006
‘And Dennie, will tomorrow be all right?’. ‘Eh, no. There were more cars in the container then we expected. Friday the 14th!’.

April 14, 2006
Had a rough night, picked up the trailer at 7.30 am, 8.00 am on my way to Klundert. Arrived at 10.00 am precisely. Walked into the office, paid my money, got my papers. Then on to warehouse number 9, where they told me the Jag would be. And yes it was there! It really was! A bit sad, next to that nicely restored Series 2 2+2 in the same colour. Not only because mine has lost most of his colour, but also because of the flat rear right tire which makes that my Jag is hanging a bit to one side. But it's an E-type Jaguar and it's MINE! It's real, I can touch it! At 10.50 am the Jag is on the trailer, nicely tied up, thanks to the help of some friendly guys!

           

And then: on my way to Apeldoorn. Slow and careful. Already enjoying the ownership and yes, very proud already! Some people are looking very interested to what I'm towing. Most people however are looking at me a bit sad. I can almost see them thinking: 'Boy, oh boy, what have you done!?'. But hey guys, it's an E-type Jaguar 4.2! My boy's dream!  And it's MINE!

In Apeldoorn the Jag has to be parked at Autoschadebedrijf Möhlmann for some time first, because the house (with garage!) we bought recently is not going to be delivered before July 5th. The restoration has to wait for a bit, but the Jag is here! Finally!

           

July 5, 2006
We got the key of our new house and the same afternoon I pick up the Jag from Autoschadebedrijf Möhlmann and bring it to its new home! No time to loose!

           

           


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