If

[poprivet]

...the XJS had lived on a bit, maybe it would have looked something like this:



I can't remember where I saw this mock-up picture but I still like it. I've never really been an XK fan although I think the F Type coupe looks good. Maybe I'll get one when the cost drops to a few grand

[regl7]

Maybe with a bit more work on the rear end to reduce height of arches on rear wings and a less saloon carish boot/trunk lid (flatter but not as much as a Merak) - then the buttresses might fly with more purpose.

As the bootlid isn't such an intregral part of the XK structure and there's a big bulkhead structure around there it would be do-able plus BBS(?) type wheels.

[J44EAG]

didn`t like the XJS buttress thing when it first came out. Seemed very OTT for the UK market and at the time rather vulgar.

Given the passage of time I`ve learned that those buttresses gave the car the character that is the XJS.

Seeing the above image of something of a half way house between XJS and XK8, I think this is really something of a masterpiece. Wouldn`t mind owning one. I struggle with the rather bland and over rounded rear end of the first XK8. It doesn`t quite seem to get going and lacks a definitive statement.

Mike K.