Pesky Gremlins

by Howard Stacy

If you are reading this, you will almost certainly see the Pesky Gremlins on the adjoining page. I must confess that I am just as surprised as you might be to see that cartoon over there. Let me explain. When I contacted David Stuursma, the editor of Moss Motoring, I was interested in simply doing some illustration work. Thinking that perhaps colorful classic car illustrations could fill in a gap where photos just weren’t available. To pique Mr. Stuursma’s interest and shore up my credibility, I included a couple of illustration of a Series 3 E-Type. This was not a random E-Type. It was the car sitting in my garage. I most certainly did not mention anything about gremlins.

Through our correspondence, it eventually came to light that I had done a few cartoons based upon my experience rebuilding that Jaguar. At this point, the cat was out of the bag. Or perhaps more accurately stated, the gremlins had been released. David wanted to know the story behind the Jaguar and those gremlins. So here it is:

I will skip the usual early formative years stuff and simply say that this was not my first go round with a V12 E-Type. Simply put, I knew better and bought one any way. With the exception of the ignition module and jack, all of the original parts were there. However, and not at all surprising, many of those original parts were in need of attention or outright replacement. All that being said, the car was drivable, but it did not inspire confidence. Let’s just say that it had some “quirky” driving characteristics. I drove it anyway.

When winter rolled around, I determined that it was time to eliminate those “quirks.” A Jaguar E-Type is nothing like the American cars that I had restored in the past. I knew that going in, but the reality didn’t really sink in until I was in the garage alone with it staring at the intimidatingly complex V12. As I disassembled the Jaguar’s intricate engine, guided by the official Series 3 Service Manual, I ran across many strange and not so wonderful things. Some of which defied explanation. One minor example was how every time that I would drop something, like a nut or bolt, it always landed in the most inaccessible spot possible. It was as if somebody had moved it there on purpose. Of course, there was a great multitude of things that broke for no readily apparent reason. And that is how I arrived at the conclusion that my red Jaguar had come with its own set of gremlins (note: gremlins; plural). Of course, I knew the gremlins weren’t real.

I eventually finished refurbishing the car and it now exhibits dramatically reduced driving “quirks.”

At this point, you might be thinking that is all well and good but what about the comic? Well, as it happens, not only was I the owner of a Jaguar with gremlins (and very likely not the only one), I also had some limited experience doing cartoons. I found the idea of sketching these gremlins at their mischievous work irresistible. Creating the gremlins somehow made dealing with those odd and frustrating mechanical and electrical maladies much easier, almost enjoyable, to handle. But I didn’t show anyone my drawings. At a much later date, the topic of the Jaguar and its gremlins came up with some friends and it was suggested that it might make an interesting online web-series. That was several years ago and the cartoon on the following page was number 20. There are now almost 800 cartoons, many of which do not feature an automobile of any type since the gremlins have broadened their interests.

Perhaps you too have had dealings with gremlins. If so, why don’t you leave a comment on my website. Who knows, it might show up in a future Pesky Gremlins.