No, I was not named after that other James Dean;I was ten years old when he had his car accident.I grew up in a small upstate New York town, in an 1850's house, surrounded by antiques.I bought my first, 1954Jaguar, a Drophead Coupe, with a week's pay from a 1967 summer construction job. It took  me to Colgate University; and on weekends ,roadtrips to Skidmore, Vassar, and the ski areas.I graduated with a degree in Anthropology  (and a minor in Jaguar restoration) in 1968. The Jag and I moved  to Boston, where I went to Law School nights, and started a Jaguar/British garage off Harvard Square,Cambridge, days. Should  I blame it on my English ancestors; who settled in New England 12 generations ago? Or was it those adventurous road trips, across New York State...I don't know; but somehow,  Old English cars won  over Forensic Rhetoric.My business maintained  today's classics, when they were young daily drivers. I stressed reliability, because an MIT Professor, or a Harvard student, or a Boston secretary depended on that car  to get to work or class.

              On a cold November Sunday in Newport  , I spied the tall masts of a big black Lunenburg Schooner. It seduced me  into a 2 week trip to the Bahamas. I left the shop with a friend, and thought I was on vacation.By the time we reached Florida, I was hired as Engineer.Like most anachronisms, the schooner had its' own story.The captain was fired, for a collision with an oil tanker, at Christmas.I stayed on, but finally left and sailed down to San Juan on a little sloop,I spent  months in the islands;even worked for the Jaguar dealer in San Juan.I finally returned to Cambridge, retrieved what little remained from my former friend, and headed South again.I  worked as First Mate/Engineer of Victor Posner's Feadship Motor Yacht. Finally, in 1975 I rented an old marina, in a Ft.Lauderdale Coconut grove, and started Old English Motor Company.

              British cars were plentiful, but parts were not.I solved that problem by buying  the Old English cars that were behind every gas station. My theory is, they came South for Spring break, some problem ended the vacation; the owner sold or abandoned the car, and flew North, never to return. I broke the bad ones for parts, and began the massive  hoard I have today. Over the years, we did first class restorations and repairs; still stressing reliability, even on show cars.I outgrew the idyllic riverfront garage, and moved near city hall for 15 years.Restorations continued,I still kept acquiring parts. Downtown development, and soaring rents, finally forced a move to a smaller building. I finally had to realize that I had been obsessively hoarding  parts for 30 years. I had rare parts on shelves to my 18 foot ceiling, and piles 8 feet deep.So many parts, there was almost no room for restoration.A year ago, I bought a computer, learned to type, and vowed to do a proper archaeological excavation, of this treasure trove.I have parts for all English cars, 1948-1988.Most original, some NOS; the largest stock of British parts in the colonies.I ship worldwide.There are hundreds of rare parts on my ebay store, but only a fraction of what I have. If you do not see what you need, give me your lists. Feel free to call or contact me for advice- I enjoy being involved in restorations all over the world...and letting someone else do  the work. Thank you, and Happy British Motoring James Dean