Gearshift handle

[poprivet]

The later pre-facelifts had lots of beautiful elm wood around the dash but I always thought the black gearshift handle looked out of place. I know you can buy wood ones, but they seemed a lot of money so I thought I would have a go at modifying it myself. The result is a good match and the finish has lasted perfectly for two years now. After rubbing down the original plastic two-part handle and de-greasing, it was spray primed in white. Two Humbrol enamel paint pots, No 9 (brown) and No 7 (gloss cream) were bought and applied using fine artists brushes in a swirl pattern so the paint colours emulated the existing wood.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/ ... 1Small.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/ ... 2Small.jpg

[JulesJag]

Hi Pop,
Looks great !
Julian

[ng4xjs]

Pop

So that's "buy one get one free" then.

Looks nice.

[Martin]

Pop - looks good. There are almost always similar items for sale on ebay.

Try this one for example.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-JAGUAR-XJ6-XJ ... dZViewItem

Martin

[poprivet]

True, but cost is already around £20 mark. Im not rich/daft enough to spend anything like that on a small piece of wood

[Martin]

Me neither - I actually like the standard black one. If I was going to change it I'd probably DIY it like you.

[poprivet]

I'll make you one for a tenner, matched to your particular shade of wood
Pop

[henry]

Pop
if you are geared up to do this then you could have a nice little earner as a sideline
The ebay item that Martin identified comes from a guy who obviously has a nice little sideline in selling turned and highly polished wooden knobs and bits for cars ( mainly jaguar) on ebay he sold over £600 in the last two weeks at prices ranging up to £51 for a gearnob. could be an interesting way of helping to funding your classic car activities
Henry