Banham XJSS, what about ridgidness?

[m_steenbrugge]

I've been looking at some XJS-S cars recently. For what I understand it is basicly a XJS with the Paul Banham kit attached to it.

The XJSS kit excist only in convertible AFAIK but the donor XJS'es they use are sometimes coupes. I presume they cut off the roof to make it a convertible but I wonder if everything is still ridgid enough eg structure etc.

Certain types of cars have big structural differences when it comes to comparing a coupe with a convertible.

I also noticed that XJS'es convertibles until '88 are actually a sort of targa. I think they are calles XJ-SC.

Is there any structural difference between a XJ-SC and an post '88 SJ convertible?

So is it just a roof chop or...

Also saw that for the XJSS kit the entire outer en inner skin of the car is removed. Is this right?

There should be a video of how to apply the Banham XJSS kit but couldn't find it anywhere on the net.

[Steffan]

You probably already know Banham went bust some time ago so unless you have a kit finding one could be tricky.

I like Banhams particularly the X21 which IMO is an excellent kit car. I have built and owned several.

Several of Paul Banhams design make goods kit cars, but the XJSS has rarely been conpleted to my knowledge.

The XJ-S is a pretty strong frame but whether the torsional rigidity would be retained minus the body is a moot point. I assume the kit retains the doors and sills unaltered.

if it does then a suitable targa top and roll bar assembly ought to add a fair degree of strength, In reality I suspect assembling one and testing the result is the only answer unless you can find a finished example.

I have yet to see one. Good luck with your search

[m_steenbrugge]

I was wondering if anybody converted a XJS Coupe or a XJS-C without chopping the roof/rollbar. Or does any one have pictures of them?

I'm searching for an XJSS but the ones I've found so far are all Coupes that have been chopped. It's nearly impossible to get it through the Belgian MOT cause they say it's structure has been altered. They only want to let it pass if it was an original XJS-C or XJS Convertible

Or I have to make my own, but as you already said, there aren't much kit's kicking around. There was one on ebay a few weeks back that I didn't see at the time.

Hope to hear from you guys.

[K17LER]

shell for sale on gumtree

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/jagu...

[m_steenbrugge]

Thanks for the reply and link. That's the one I've missed out on. It was on Ebay also.

I would like to place an add to let people know I'm searching for one but the only Banham related site was for X21

[Steffan]

K17LER said:

shell for sale on gumtree

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/jagu...

Good post. First one I have seen this year and looks a decent kit. Well spotted.

[ColinM50]

Have you replied to the ad on Gumtree and been told it's sold then? If so maybe a good idea to go back and ask the seller who he sold it to. Got to be worth an e-mail, what's the worst he can say to you?

In answer to your original question, I actually put a deposit dwon on one of these kits with paul Banham in, ooh it would be about 96 as a guess but due to the XJS i bought having engine problems i never took delivery.

If I remember correctly the better car to start with was the convertible because there are several additional structural components that the coupe doesn't have that are present on the convertible which helped to cure scuttle shake and again going from memory from a long time ago, these chassis components are listed in the workshop manual and are available as spares from Jaguar. If anyone's got a Haynes manual, maybe they coud find the relevant bits for you. In my case I bought a V12 HE coupe to convert to the XJSS and I think in UK there was no restriction or requirement to amend the chassis. Belgium maybe different but in UK it wouldn't have needed a SVA (or today an IVA) because the chassis isn't being modified, it was one of the earliest body kits I guess.


Or there's one for sale here; http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C253213

Edited by ColinM50 on Monday 23 April 20:24

[Steffan]

ColinM50 said:

Have you replied to the ad on Gumtree and been told it's sold then? If so maybe a good idea to go back and ask the seller who he sold it to. Got to be worth an e-mail, what's the worst he can say to you?

In answer to your original question, I actually put a deposit dwon on one of these kits with paul Banham in, ooh it would be about 96 as a guess but due to the XJS i bought having engine problems i never took delivery.

If I remember correctly the better car to start with was the convertible because there are several additional structural components that the coupe doesn't have that are present on the convertible which helped to cure scuttle shake and again going from memory from a long time ago, these chassis components are listed in the workshop manual and are available as spares from Jaguar. If anyone's got a Haynes manual, maybe they coud find the relevant bits for you. In my case I bought a V12 HE coupe to convert to the XJSS and I think in UK there was no restriction or requirement to amend the chassis. Belgium maybe different but in UK it wouldn't have needed a SVA (or today an IVA) because the chassis isn't being modified, it was one of the earliest body kits I guess.


Or there's one for sale here; http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C253213

Edited by ColinM50 on Monday 23 April 20:24

Very interesting and informative just remember this is a heavy car and needs a lot of support on stilts for easy access. Be one hell of a machine with a V12 motor and less weight. Stratospheric performance I would think. Watch the speed!!

[Mike N]

Steffan said:

You probably already know Banham went bust some time ago so unless you have a kit finding one could be tricky.

Paul Banham didnt go bust, he broke up and sold the kit car side of the company. X21 and 200 to James at RSR. Bat, Midget and speedster elsewhere.

I am not sure if he still has the Jag stuff though. Paul is still in business doing other things. I was round his house chating to him only last Wednesday.

[m_steenbrugge]

@ Colin I indeed contacted the seller who told me it was sold. He didn't want to give the buyer's information cause he doesn't want to violate Ebay regulations.

I find what you say is very interesting. So if I understand it correctly a coupe can be chopped as long as it gets additional reinforcements as found on a convertible. I presume the same is valid for a XJS-C

A real Banham conversion will be up to spec but what about the kits sold for DIY. Pretty difficult to check if everything is reinforced?

[Steffan]

Mike N said:

Steffan said:

You probably already know Banham went bust some time ago so unless you have a kit finding one could be tricky.

Paul Banham didnt go bust, he broke up and sold the kit car side of the company. X21 and 200 to James at RSR. Bat, Midget and speedster elsewhere.

I am not sure if he still has the Jag stuff though. Paul is still in business doing other things. I was round his house chating to him only last Wednesday.

Interesting post. My understanding from the dim memories years ago is that Paul Banham ceased trading as a Kit Car maker and that was the end of Banham. Hence my comments.

If the kits are` still available that is news to me. I personally liked the Banham Kits I have built several and they were very drivable cars. I thought the speedster based on Skoda bits had real potential with a rear wheel drive layout. If they are still about I think they would sell, based on an Audi rear end for example.

[Mike N]

I didnt say he still did kit cars, but he is in the auto industry. Yes I liked the Skoda speedster, a few builders fitted an alfa boxer lump.
His demo build was in silver with red buckets.

Edited by Mike N on Wednesday 25th April 00:03

[hootingowl]

i have a copy of the xjss brochure. it mentions that a pair of sill stiffners are supplied with the kit. the donor was a coupe and only the windscreen frame was retained. a great looking car. i wanted one at the time.

[ColinM50]

Mike N, since he's a mate of yours, any chance of getting Paul to come on here and have a chat with us fans?

[RedAndy]

yeah that'd be good!

[172]

Steffan said:

I like Banhams particularly the X21 which IMO is an excellent kit car. I have built and owned several.

its a shame most people destroyed an excellent hot hatch to make one