1967 Jaguar XKE

Anyone who knows me, knows how passionate I am about old cars... and how I got that way. Some of my earliest memories were of my grandparents and their 1967 Jaguar XKE that they road raced and participated in the Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association in the late 1960's and early 1970's. One of my favorite stories told by my grandfather was about the unfortunate time that my grandmother rolled the Jag over in a road race and slid down the passenger's side. He admitted to letting a bit too much air out of the tires that day, and while taking a turn the car rolled over. I have an old black and white photo of the damaged roof, but I don't remember the incident personally.

Fast forward about 45 years or so, and we come to this weekend. My parents are cleaning out their home in NJ as they move on to retire in PA, and while going through some old boxes in the garage that belonged to my grandfather we find an odd piece. A chrome car door handle with the Wilmot Breedon (aka Union key) stamped "Made in England" still in the handle, and lot of road rash down the crest. I immediately grab my phone and Google image search what a 1967 Jaguar XKE door handle looks like, and sure enough here was the piece in my hand. Unbelievable, actual parts from the infamous wreck. To some people, they would think this is just a piece of junk, but to me it is a treasure I plan on keeping.