Jaguar xjc 4.2

[RobXjcoupe]

craigjm said:

My car was originally dark blue with biscuit

I think dark blue and biscuit is the best original colour combo. Most originals now the biscuit has been sun bleached to look magnolia with a darker back seat panel

I recoloured mine quite a few years ago. It looked much better for it but the stitching had started to fail. I also re covered the ceiling and sides but was a pain to keep clean being a very light colour.

[craigjm]

Whoever had mine in the past at some point sprayed it very badly in gunmetal and used red leather paint over the biscuit. Only when taking it apart did I find the original and then the heritage certificate confirmed it

[RobXjcoupe]

I’m quite lucky to have the original order and sales receipt for mine, oh and correspondence to Jaguar saying the rear quarter windows don’t seal properly especially when at speed and most embarrassing when ferrying possible future clients with a noise so high it’s impossible to talk without shouting.....How terribly posh

[craigjm]

Mine doesn’t have an original invoice because it was the company car of Charles Spencer King

[RobXjcoupe]

craigjm said:

Mine doesn’t have an original invoice because it was the company car of Charles Spencer King

Shame you didn’t decide to go back to original then

[craigjm]

RobXjcoupe said:

craigjm said:

Mine doesn’t have an original invoice because it was the company car of Charles Spencer King

Shame you didn’t decide to go back to original then

I didn’t know until I was too far gone the car was a total mongrel by time I got it too with an XJRS 6.0 engine and series 3 dashboard and exterior bits

[RobXjcoupe]

craigjm said:

RobXjcoupe said:

craigjm said:

Mine doesn’t have an original invoice because it was the company car of Charles Spencer King

Shame you didn’t decide to go back to original then

I didn’t know until I was too far gone the car was a total mongrel by time I got it too with an XJRS 6.0 engine and series 3 dashboard and exterior bits

I think you missed a trick there

[LanceRS]

craigjm said:

Mine doesn’t have an original invoice because it was the company car of Charles Spencer King

Now that is cool.

[craigjm]

LanceRS said:

craigjm said:

Mine doesn’t have an original invoice because it was the company car of Charles Spencer King

Now that is cool.

Yeah and when it’s finished it will live about 3 miles away from where he used to live. Shame he isn’t still around I could take it over and see if he approves

[RobXjcoupe]

original range rovers are very nice to look at and do sit nicely with an xjc.

[RobXjcoupe]

Apologies for picture quality, rear axle re-built. I’ll fit the calipers and discs and handbrake shoes once bolted back on the body.
I’ve made a trolley to transport the axle and hopefully make loading into the estate car a little easier

[RobXjcoupe]

Since the new year I’ve had to build myself a work area in my garage so I could finish the axle off as well as clean space to do the interior trim work. A bit frustrating since I’ve hadn’t had a toolroom to work in, but I’ve also managed to get a part time job training apprentices in workshop and toolroom skills. So now I have access to machine shop equipment again. . I’ve also been encouraged to share the knowledge regarding the restoration of the xjc, running up the machines with proper cuts and feeds.

[Bobberoo]

Excellent news old chap, really glad to hear you're being encouraged to share your knowledge, I know it's sad but I really enjoy having apprentices to train, especially when their engaged and willing to learn!!!

[craigjm]

Good progress Rob. I’m hoping the auto electricians will finally figure out the spaghetti to get my dashboard wired up by the end of May and then it’s out on the road for summer for a major shakedown before I invest in doing the final interior retrim.

[RobXjcoupe]

Bobberoo said:

Excellent news old chap, really glad to hear you're being encouraged to share your knowledge, I know it's sad but I really enjoy having apprentices to train, especially when their engaged and willing to learn!!!

The apprentices are proper beginners. Using hss tools only. The stress of clocking up 4 jaw chucks to run true. Oh to be 17 again

[RobXjcoupe]

craigjm said:

Good progress Rob. I’m hoping the auto electricians will finally figure out the spaghetti to get my dashboard wired up by the end of May and then it’s out on the road for summer for a major shakedown before I invest in doing the final interior retrim.

I’m sure all will be fine and dandy for you regarding the wiring. I bet once you start driving your car you won’t be willing to hand over to the trimmers

[nickphuket]

Am really glad your undoubted skills and artistry might be passed on to a younger generation. Hopefully you will give them a little appreciation of how analogue machines were made and can still be maintained. I dread to think what will be the ';projects' in 20 years time!

[RobXjcoupe]

nickphuket said:

Am really glad your undoubted skills and artistry might be passed on to a younger generation. Hopefully you will give them a little appreciation of how analogue machines were made and can still be maintained. I dread to think what will be the ';projects' in 20 years time!

Oh yeah. High revving electric motors with twin input cables and a massive earth lead! Thankfully I’ll be done by then.

[craigjm]

I’m not sure we will. The classic car scene has always been a niche hobby and it’s no different now to what it was in 2000 or 1980 just the generation of cars are different as people want what they remember from when they were young. Escorts and Japanese stuff is now rising and in 20 years time it will be stuff from the early 00s. The scene will be made a bit more tricky for some electronics but most cars of the early 00s were still not really in the sat nav and everything is screens generation. There is a good following for retro gaming and the same will happen for car sat navs and stuff. Petrol will still be easily available in 2040.

A lot of the doom mongering May as well be trying to imagine 2015 from back in 1984 like Back to the Future and just like we are not piloting flying cars 6 years ago we won’t have binned classic ice cars in 2040

[Stick Legs]

Amen.