Last Updated April 29, 2022
The Dr. Beasley’s Team recently had the pleasure of detailing a 1969 Jaguar E-type. This finely crafted British vehicle is a fixed head coupe with a hatchback. Although we get the chance to work with cool cars all the time, it’s not very often we get to tell the story behind the car. This time, we had that opportunity… and it was awesome.
The Birth of the Jaguar E-Type
Debuting in 1961, the E-type was designed by Sir William Lyons, also known as “Mr. Jaguar”, one of the co-founders of the Jaguar company. The styling of the E-type was revolutionary, with its wind tunnel design and flowing lines. It was featured in New York’s Museum of Modern Art because of its unique look.
The E-type Today
We were lucky enough to be able to talk to this car’s current owner, Bob Niesse, who gave us its personal history. This particular E-type came from the manufacturer with black paint and a beige interior. Its original owner sold it in Virginia, and 10 years later the car appeared in Colorado. While resting near the Rockies, the Jaguar was rotisserie restored. A rotisserie restoration means that the entire car was taken apart, the engine taken off, and the car placed on a rotisserie, allowing mechanics to work on every part. This is also when it was painted the ferocious red it wears today. The E-type eventually ended up in Sacramento, where Niesse bought it in 2000. When he purchased it, it had vinyl seats which he immediately changed to leather.
Since owning this Jaguar, Niesse has had it re-painted 2 or 3 times, but always sticking with the vibrant red. “The red really does justice to the lines and design of the vehicle”, says Niesse. We definitely agree.
Caring for the Masterpiece
Niesse has the car detailed by Dr. Beasley’s regularly, and swears by our Nano Resin. He trusts this modern, high tech coating on his antique treasure because it’s eco-friendly, hydrophobic, and lasts up to 2 years (but can be applied more often). It gives the Jaguar its resilient shine and trustworthy contaminant resistance. Once he’s ready to take the E-type for a drive, Niesse always protects his hood with a track wrap to prevent any stone chips or other possible damage caused by the open road.
Showing The Jaguar
Niesse regularly shows the car around the Midwest. In 2014, the Jaguar Clubs of North America (JCNA) awarded the ’69 E-type Jaguar #1 in the country for Driven Class, receiving a score of 9.987 out of 10. Pretty impressive if you ask us. The car has attended shows in Louisville, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Columbia, Indianapolis, and other cities. It won the People’s Choice Award at the invitation-only Milwaukee Masterpiece the first year Niesse brought it. When we asked Niesse, a lifetime Jaguar owner, why he had stuck with this particular model for 15 years, he had a concise but understandable answer; “I love driving it, and the shows bring me a lot of camaraderie”.
