Just bought 1st BIG CAT!!!

Thanks Doug for setting me straight!!

When I had my Series III repainted (you can find it in the gallery, 8th one down), I thought the pin stripes were factory so my body shop found a guy to paint them back on. The stripe guy told me that he had done a lot of these back in the 1980's that did not come from the factory with the stripes which I why I posted what I did BUT, I will defer to you as you certainlly know a lot more about these than I do!!!

I also don't necessarily like the looks of door edge guards BUT they certainlly do prevent a majority of the door dings that cars seem to get over the years. Same with the mud flaps, I think the cars look better wtihout them BUT they do a great job protecting the finish down there.

Thanks Doug for setting me straight!!

When I had my Series III repainted (you can find it in the gallety, 8th one down), I thought the pin stripes were a factory item so my body shop found a guy to paint them back on. The stripe guy told me that he had done a lot of these back in the 1980's that did not come from the factory with the stripes which I why I posted what I did BUT, I will defer to you as you certainlly know a lot more about these than I do!!!

I also don't necessarily like the looks of door edge guards BUT they certainlly do prevent a majority of the door dings that cars seem to get over the years. Same with the mud flaps, I think the cars look better wtihout them BUT they do a great job protecting the finish down there.

Thanks Doug for setting me straight!!

When I had my Series III repainted (you can find it in the gallety, 8th on down), I thought the pin stripes were factory so my body shop found a guy to paint them back on. The stripe guy told me that he had done a lot of these back in the 1980's that did not come from the factory with the stripes which I why I posted what I did BUT, I will defer to you as you certainlly know a lot more about these than I do!!!

I also don't necessarily like the looks of door edge guards BUT they certainlly do prevent a majority of the door dings that cars seem to get over the years. Same with the mud flaps, I think the cars look better wtihout them BUT they do a great job protecting the finish down there.

Just adding to this a bit....

None of the XJ saloons had factory installed leapers...not even the Series One or Two cars.

Pinstripes, however, were commonly installed at the factory and I believe that virtually all models....certainly all the USA exports...had them. They may have ben optional on the some the base-level cars which we never see over here in the 'States.

Mudflaps were a factory option ...on the Ser III cars at least...but I don't believe this was offered on USA cars. I've seen quite a few, though, where they were retrofitted using the factory parts, which are still available in kit form from Jaguar. Of course, some people install aftermarket types, too.

Cheers
Doug Dwyer
JDRC/NWA

I'll second that; If the dealer did not install the Leaper, the owner did. My 1984 does not have it and I prefer it without. However, the hole guides are there under the sheet metal. I understand the leapers were not installed in the Series 2
and 3 cars because they were a safety hazard, i.e., if you hit someone and they rolled over your hood (bonnet), the leaper would cause additional serious injuries. Having said that, someone offers a spring-loaded leaper that will spring
back if someone attempts to steal it, (another concern), avoiding damage to the sheetmetal. The Leapers look great in the Classics, but not on the Moderns. The S-3 XJ is still a Modern by any definition. But some owners like the Leapers
and install them. Personally, I believe the leapers create drag, (resistance and breakage of / to wind flow at speed), and the S3 XJ has plenty of that up front to add more to it.

The leapers are dealer installed items that almost all dealers added to these cars. Many dealers also added the pin stripes and door edge guards as these Series III XJ6's did not come from the factory like this.

I have three Series III's and one not have the leaper. I personally prefer them without the leaper. If you look closely at a few Series III's, you'll notice the leaper is not always mounted in the exact same place on the hood. This is again due to the fact that different dealers would install them in different places. This also holds true with the pin striping and the door edge guards. Some pin stripes were painted on while others were put on using pin stripe tape and I have seen many different placements and styles of door edge guards on these cars. Once in a great while, you'll find a Series III with mud flaps that some owners or dealers had added on as well.

The leapers are dealer installed items that almost all dealers added to these cars. Many dealers also added the pin stripes and door edge guards as these Series III XJ6's did not come from the factory like this.

I have three Series III's and one also does not have the leaper. I personally prefer them without the leaper.