Think Spring! – Part 4 – ’69 OTS

On Monday AM, it was time to start the LONG ride home…

However, on the way down last week, I received a call from an E-Type owner who was ready to let go of his project – a ’69 Series 2 OTS. Since I was passing through his area on the way home – with what was essentially an empty trailer, I decided to swing by and check it out!

I planned to purchase the car, but in the end, I didn’t… Looking back on it, I think I was just feeling a little overwhelmed and out of space. In addition, I was DOG TIRED when I got there, and I think I just didn’t have it in me – let’s face it, if you’ve read the rest of the blogs on the Florida saga, it was a LONG weekend!

But don’t let the fact that I didn’t buy it myself scare you off – it’s a good solid E-Type roadster project for someone, and the metalwork is DONE! Take a look at the photos below, and if you like what you see, contact me and I will put you in touch with the owner!

: Up and out the door early Monday AM, and headed North on Route 75 out of Fort Myers.

: This is what happens when you get up at 6 AM, have a bowl of oatmeal and a coffee, and then drive non-stop for 4 or 5 hours just thinking about how hungry you are! Yes – I ate EVERY BITE!

: This is where I really started having a good time – Monday afternoon was GREAT!

: The weather warmed up and the sun came out just as I got off the highway and was cutting diagonally across Florida on Route 301.

: The scenery was alot better, and things were slowed down about 10 mph and alot less hectic…

: So I pulled over and changed into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, and was soon driving down the road with the windows down, in bare feet, and listening to Oldies! At this point, I was as happy as a clam, and I could have driven down this road forever!

: My typical passenger seat – all of my clothes, my notebooks, and empty coffee cups… Check out the outside temp – and the song that is on – it sure is!

: And the typical back seat, filled with E-Type GOLD!

: Just cruising along through Orange country!

: Here’s a great tune – this used to be my “go to” song for Karaoke in college… Check out the temp now – Yeah, Baby!

: And there was plenty to look at as well – lots of “good junk” – including this ’57 Chevy!

: The fun finally ended and I was back on the highway. This is a WW2 Torpedo at the first Georgia rest stop on I-95 North.

: The truck and trailer – still plenty warm out among the Palm Trees!

: A few hours later and we’re entering South Carolina…

: Soon into South Carolina, it was time to jump off the highway again, and onto 321 North.

: 321 just went on and on and on! It looked alot shorter on the map than it was in reality… But it was a FASCINATING drive! The sun was just setting on the left, and the shadows were long, but stil warm out. This road took me through the heart of lumber country, with alot of acres of pines, and several lumber mills. Unfortunately, I did not get any photos of those, but the SMELL of the pine was overwhelming!

: Eventually I made it to a nice family home, where this ’69 OTS was parked in the garage. The engine is matching #’s, but at a friend’s house down the road.

: Firewall and forward bulkhead were rock solid.

: Car was complete, and had 51,000 miles on the clock…

: Seats have seen better days, and somewhere along the way, this car acquired a Series 1 3-bow top frame – weird…

: Lots of parts in the boot…

: The RH rear wing was replaced, as was the boot floor and the rear lower valances, and the work was good.

: The cockpit metalwork was also completed. This was a more amateur job and older work – completed with THICK metal – close to 1/8″ It was not quite as fancy as the work we do here, but it was good, solid work, and it all gets covered up with carpeting anyway. from a strength and alignment standpoint, I would say it was fine.

: Many repairs had been completed in the cockpit…

: Both doors were reskinned with new skins.

: The bonnet has a new lower valance – a nice plus!

: Overall the car is straight and solid, and the metalwork just needs some fine tuning and alignment before moving forward.

: Aside from the motif bar, the bumpers looked straight and to be good, rechromable candidates.

: The car originally came from the factory with steel wheels – perfect for replacement with strong, accurate vintage alloys!

: Overall, just a great project for a driver E-Type roadster. The bonnet center section did have some heavy metalwork that will need filler, but again, the work was solid and overall, the panel was the correct shape.

: This might seem excessive, and I only took tis because Janie had asked via text what was for breakfast – it’s a joke between us because I don’t really eat like this at home – I usually skip breakfast. but here is the CRAZY PART – Terry and Karen Lippincott sat down at the table right next to me! Running into them at a random hotel that we both stopped at about halfway home was just too coincidental!

: Leaving South Carolina the next morning, this is the infamous “South of the Border”…

: Funny – here is the same song being replayed a day later – except the temperature has changed – DRASTICALLY!

: Pulled off to get coffee, and just happened to stop at this redlight at the entrance to the Quantico Marine base in Virginia.

: And then about 40 miles South of home, all hell broke loose – I know this looks like rain – and it was…

: …but it FROZE to whatever it touched – including the road and my entire truck and trailer! Soon, I was down to 35 mph with the blinkers on! WELCOME HOME – AAAGGGHHHH!!!!