2013-08-22 13:47:34 | Michael DeBacker writes:

Southern California car since new. Original and second owner were in the Ventura area, 3rd owner (myself) in the Santa Cruz area, (the car was driven from Ventura to Santa Cruz in 1986). Full known history since new, original issue "black & gold" plates. The car has never been off the road, cosmetic restoration only (exterior repainted in the original correct shade of cream, seat covers, carpets, center counsel leather & soft top replaced). Original factory hardtop is in good original condition. Never any significant damage or rust. California title shows first sold in 1965, the DMV "J66" tag is attached to the firewall on this car.

2013-08-22 19:56:12 | pauls writes:

Michael, was the car then registered/titled as J661E11379 as was customary in California.

2013-08-22 19:58:25 | Michael DeBacker writes:

Pauls, yes the car is registered as J661E11379. From what I've been told by people who worked at the California DMV in the 60's the reason extra numbers were added to some different manufactures cars (not just Jaguars) was that the factory VIN numbers were too short for the equipment used back then to keep track of the vehicles. (Arizona did something similar too). Most of the time the "J" tag is attached next to the ID plates on XKE's, on this car it is attached to the 2 screws on the firewall that would be used to mount the washer battle bracket on a RHD car.

2013-08-26 18:12:35 | pauls writes:

Michael, it has always been a big unanswered question as to why CA added the prefix. As you say they did it to all Brit imports at the time and Healeys have relatively long VINs. Also Jags bought out of state were imported to CA and did not need the prefix to get in the system. "rumor" has it that because the Brit cars did not have model year changes like US cars dealers were selling what would have been last year's models as new. E.g. a buyer would not have been able to tell a '65 from a '67 as there were no overt style or external changes and dealers were taking advantage of this, CA caught up with them and thus added the model year. This is unsubstantiated rumor tho but is the only argument I've seen that makes sense. In any case your official registration with prefix proves the car was originally registered in CA, no where else in the world did this. Folks have added the Jxx plate to other cars claiming they were CA cars but if the registration doesn't include it, it did not come from CA originally.