1994 Jaguar XJS 4.0

Stunning!

This was a 2.7 diesel test hack that spent most of it's life on the Nordschleife. Ended up being prepped and entered for the N24 and still wore the battle scars.





A new monthly Jaguar meet has started at the newly refurbished British Motor Museum at Gaydon and as this was the inaugural event it had a very large turn out with a bit of everything ranging from an SS to XE. The refurbishment and new collection centre is mightily impressive and highly recommended especially as you can revisit the rest of the year for free.

I'd decided I was going to Le Mans this year but couldn't settle on whether to attend the 24hour or classic. After seeing this lot I was swayed to the 24 and taking the Jag for a transcontinental dash. My other reasoning being that if I need more of this in my life then the Classic is two weeks later with the Retrorides Summer Holiday

Last week I noticed a disconcerting knock coming from the front of the car and immediate thoughts of suspension fulling to bits, exhaust manifolds hanging off and disintegrating engine mounts sprang to mind
Dropped it into my friendly garage who stuck it on a two post lift and spotted a pair of corroded anti-rollbar links and a worn suspension bush.
The nice cheap and easy fix however, unearthed another pair of problems however as the floorpan around the jacking points has opened up previously badly bodged repairs
I need it fixed but it'll have to wait as I have other things I need it for....

Oh dearie me, yes! Nice to see someone getting into the proper spirit of the annual British invasion.

If it's your first time, then be prepared for eagerly awaiting release of tickets for 2017/18/19/20...ad infinitum

Jag looks awesome! I'll join you next year in my soon to be 'JPS' liveried black Scimitar.

Hi Seb, I've been following your thread with interest and loving the updates - you'll have some maddening days but will get there eventually. If it's any help my minor was horribly rotten but resurrecting was one of the most satisfying things I've ever done.

Anyway I suppose I aught to bring this up to date. After getting the Jag stickered up I took it to Coventry Motofest and went camping in the Cotswolds which turned a few heads among the sea of silver people carriers. Pah, who says these aren't practical family cars





I got it stickered up for the Le Mans 24hr. Needless to say it was well received by all on it's 750 mile round trip and performed faultlessly.

You can read about that amazing adventure here



Five days before the trip though I decided to do the sensible thing and refurbish the lacquer peeling diamond cut alloys rather than sorting out the jacking points. There had always been a slight vibration from the front at speed but after the refurb and balance it was gone which led me to think the wheel was slightly unround (is that a word?). Anyway vibration gone, so that was an unexpected and happy result





Here's a crappy wheel



Self inflicted injury



Badly fitted screen chrome



Failing repair patch



Offside jacking point


Nearside jacking point

The vinyl stickers stayed on for a few weeks and in the process of removing it managed to take some paint off around the nearside door mirror.
Of more concern the previous scuttle repair also still let in water and gradually the repair patches had started to become visible. I wasn't in a rush to get it booked in as I wanted to make the most of the summer and show season while mulling over who to get to sort it properly. Silverstone Classic and Classic Nostalgia at Shelsley Wash followed but I was beginning to get a bit cheesed off with not having a water tight car. In the end I dropped it into KWE on Greenham Common last week as these guys really know their way round an XJS





Anyway the previous repair by a so called Jaguar specialist is a total and utter bodge with badly fitted screen chrome, missing parts and cavities filled with some sort of resin filler. The only upside was the screen was bonded to paint over rust so has come out easily. I could name and shame and curse word but that's not the way I roll, I'll just never let them vandalise may car again. Still at least I don't need another new screen

I should have some photos next week and by the sound of it the dash is going to have to come out

The screen has been removed and I've been sent some photos of the bodge that's been uncovered. Dash is coming out next to reveal the extent of this mess.
I'm slightly annoyed to have paid £1500 for this apparently acceptable 'repair' from a independent Jaguar specialist.

That is ridiculous frankly; it barely looks like he did anything. I just assumed it sanded it down and put rust killer on then welded it back up but it's far from.

Keep the spirit and faith; you'll have a very fine car at the end of it. Good luck!

that a pi$$er! i think a "name & shame" is in order.. just so no one else gets suckered!