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The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club in the UK has just warned its members that the price of new bonnets for E-types will be increasing by around 75%!!!
Abbey Panels in Coventry have always made these panels, both pressings and hand assembly. Last year the price rose to 1,995 pounds sterling, plus tax. Abbey have now announced that the price has risen again, to 3,410 pounds, which is about $5,000 give or take a dollar or two. Since Abbey are the sole supplier to Jaguar, it is a take-it-or-leave-it situation, and there is nothing that the factory, Unipart, the club or anyone else can do about it.
The message here is that if you are considering a new bonnet for your E-type, find one now at the old price, because you're gonna pay a lot more for it soon! Another problem is that the prices are going to increase for good used panels as well,once word gets out.
One item of good news is that Unipart have been able to gain a couple of concessions, in that in addition to the front wings for series 1 E-types, Abbey will also start producing replacement wings for the series 2 and 3, as well as the lower front panels which often get damaged.
Abbey Panels in Coventry have always made these panels, both pressings and hand assembly. Last year the price rose to 1,995 pounds sterling, plus tax. Abbey have now announced that the price has risen again, to 3,410 pounds, which is about $5,000 give or take a dollar or two. Since Abbey are the sole supplier to Jaguar, it is a take-it-or-leave-it situation, and there is nothing that the factory, Unipart, the club or anyone else can do about it.
The message here is that if you are considering a new bonnet for your E-type, find one now at the old price, because you're gonna pay a lot more for it soon! Another problem is that the prices are going to increase for good used panels as well,once word gets out.
One item of good news is that Unipart have been able to gain a couple of concessions, in that in addition to the front wings for series 1 E-types, Abbey will also start producing replacement wings for the series 2 and 3, as well as the lower front panels which often get damaged.