The front frames

Ahead of the bulkhead, an E-Type is held together by a spaceframe of small-diameter steel tubes. The engine sits in it, the front suspension hangs off it, and the bonnet hinges on it. The frame is bolted to the monocoque rather than welded, which is both a convenience and a check: it can be removed for repair, and its condition can be judged with the bonnet open.

Accident damage and how it hides

These tubes bend in a frontal impact, and because they are slender they bend before the surrounding structure shows much. A car that has had a front-end knock and a new bonnet may still carry bent frames underneath. Signs include uneven bonnet gaps that no adjustment will cure, paint cracks at tube joints, fresh braze or weld marks, and a frame that is a different colour or age from its neighbour.

What a bent frame does

The frame sets the position of the engine, the suspension pick-up points and the bonnet. Distortion shows up as poor wheel alignment that will not hold, uneven tyre wear, vague steering and bonnet fit problems. Replacement frames are available from specialists, and fitting them is a recognised repair, so a replaced frame documented properly is far better than a straightened one of unknown history.

Inspection

Look along the tubes for ripples, kinks and fresh paint over old rust. Check the mounting points at the bulkhead for distortion and elongated holes. Where doubt remains, a specialist can check the frame against a jig or datum measurements, which is the only conclusive answer short of removal.