[E-Type] Re: OTS Factory Soft Top Colors

E-Type
1

Roger, I still have the original soft top for my 63 OTS, rotted mess that it
is, and it is what Jaguar calls “Gunmetal” . Grayish silver sort of. My JDHC
says the car was delivered black exterior, red interior, gunmetal hood. The
soft top cover is original and is gunmetal as well. They seem to be made of
a vinyl type of material. I thought the early tops were cloth. Does anyone
know when the top material was changed to vinyl? Do you know what colour
your car’s top was originally?
Jim VanAlstyne
63 OTS #878152
(in 1000’s of pieces)

2

I thought the cloth was changed to vinyl at the intro of the 4.2.
pauls 67ots

Roger, I still have the original soft top for my 63 OTS, rotted mess that it
is, and it is what Jaguar calls “Gunmetal” . Grayish silver sort of. My JDHC
says the car was delivered black exterior, red interior, gunmetal hood. The
soft top cover is original and is gunmetal as well. They seem to be made of
a vinyl type of material. I thought the early tops were cloth. Does anyone
know when the top material was changed to vinyl? Do you know what colour
your car’s top was originally?
Jim VanAlstyne
63 OTS #878152
<<<<<<<<<From: “Jim & Brenda VanAlstyne” jbvan@king.igs.net
Subject: [E-Type] Re: OTS Factory Soft Top Colors

3

I thought the cloth was changed to vinyl at the intro of the 4.2.
pauls 67ots

Roger, I still have the original soft top for my 63 OTS, rotted mess that it
is, and it is what Jaguar calls “Gunmetal” . Grayish silver sort of. My JDHC
says the car was delivered black exterior, red interior, gunmetal hood. The
soft top cover is original and is gunmetal as well. They seem to be made of
a vinyl type of material. I thought the early tops were cloth. Does anyone
know when the top material was changed to vinyl? Do you know what colour
your car’s top was originally?
Jim VanAlstyne
63 OTS #878152
<<<<<<<<<From: “Jim & Brenda VanAlstyne” jbvan@king.igs.net
Subject: [E-Type] Re: OTS Factory Soft Top Colors

4

on 12/10/02 7:06 AM, paul spurlock at jagdood@earthlink.net wrote:
Most of you know that I’ve been working on an judging guide for Series one’s
and the available top colors and when the canvas top was changed to vinyl
remains unanswered. We could settle the top color issue if anyone with a
OTS, with a JDHC that states the top was any color BUT black would let us
know here.
Bob> I thought the cloth was changed to vinyl at the intro of the 4.2.

pauls 67ots

From: “Jim & Brenda VanAlstyne” jbvan@king.igs.net
Subject: [E-Type] Re: OTS Factory Soft Top Colors

Roger, I still have the original soft top for my 63 OTS, rotted mess that it
is, and it is what Jaguar calls “Gunmetal” . Grayish silver sort of. My JDHC
says the car was delivered black exterior, red interior, gunmetal hood. The
soft top cover is original and is gunmetal as well. They seem to be made of
a vinyl type of material. I thought the early tops were cloth. Does anyone
know when the top material was changed to vinyl? Do you know what colour
your car’s top was originally?
Jim VanAlstyne
63 OTS #878152
<<<<<<<<<

5

In reply to a message from Robert and Darlene Stevenson sent Tue 10 Dec 2002:

In Haddocks book (P.71) it states the convertible cover was changed
at #850934/5 and #881864, about 1964. It is also mentioned in the
definitive history E-Type
I have the hertiage cert for my '61 ots;exterior colour
cream ;interior colour red; convertible colour black, not much help
there really.
Dave–
David Kerr
Pershore, United Kingdom
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

6

12/10/02 5:34 PMRobert and Darlene Stevensonbobanddarl@comcast.net

available top colors and when the canvas top was changed to vinyl

It would seem that there would be no reason for the heritage certificate

to specify a hood color if they were all black.
FWIW, back in Oct. 1966 I bought a used 1964 3.8 E-type ots. It must
have had a color change as it was a rather attractive non-metallic gold that
I don’t believe was a Jaguar color. It had the later 3.8 interior without
aluminum inserts but still had the early seats and a black vinyl hood.
Shortly after buying it, I had to replace the tack strip which had rotted
away along with the tacks which had rusted to the point that they were
nearly nonexistent. Considering the deterioration of the tack strip on a car
that was only 2 years old, it could be argued that this black vinyl top was
either original or had been installed when the car was new.
Jim

7

Alas, I don’t have the latest version of Haddock’s book; can someone
provide me with the production figures for the following:

Series 3:

RHD OTS
RHD 2+2
LHD OTS
LHD 2+2

Thanks,

Roger

8

According to “Jaguar V12 E-Type, A Guide to Authenticity” by Richard Russ,
the numbers are…

RHD OTS 1S1001 - 1S2872
RHD 2+2 1S50001 - 1S52116
LHD OTS 1S20001 - 1S26120
LHD 2+2 1S70001 - 1S75183

Mike Eck
New Jersey, USA
'51 XK120 OTS
'62 3.8 MK2 MOD
'72 SIII E-Type 2+2

9

Bob,
FWIW, my JDHC says my hood color was fawn when built on 31 Dec '68.
Cliff (69 OTS - 1R8124)

10

on 12/11/02 7:16 PM, Cliff Burk at cburk@kiva.net wrote:
Thanks Cliff. I’m rather surprised that the vinyl tops came in colors.
Bob> Bob,

FWIW, my JDHC says my hood color was fawn when built on 31 Dec '68.
Cliff (69 OTS - 1R8124)

11

Blue.

Bill B

We could settle the top color issue if anyone with a

OTS, with a JDHC that states the top was any color BUT black would let us
know here.
Bob

66 S1 OTS
e mail @Bill-B