XJS Hatch

[poprivet]

I know Mike has a hatch conversion, I wonder how many others there are. This is a 1991 3.6 that was in Kent, not sure if it still is.

https://hatchtopia.wordpress.com/2011/1 ... /#more-128

[ptjs1]

Pop,

As you probably know, this was a well-known car and perhaps piques your personal interest because of the Citroen connection - it uses a Xantia Tailgate!

It wasn't MoT'd this year (expired Jan 2015) and is currently on SORN. I'm not sure if it's still in Kent as it was certainly advertised for sale by the Kent owner a few years ago.

Cheers

Paul

[steve_m]

I would buy that, then I could be sensible and get rid of the X Type estate and the XJR-s as it would cover both jobs.
Or more likely end up with 3 Jags.

[JaguarMike]

Hi all,

I'm aware of this car but never seen it in the flesh. I last saw it for sale on eBay last year as a spares or repair following a nasty n/s front crunch. Hope it re-appears one day.

Meanwhile, my hatchback no.2 project is ready for James Sidwell to merge an Audi TT Mk 1 tailgate with the original boot in his workshop, when he can fit me in (very busy man - that's a good sign!).

See photo's below, ready and my "artist impression" of finished article:-

Mike's TWR #2 hatch pre conversion

Mike's TWR #2 hatch - my "artists impression"

Regards,

JaguarMike

[GordonJ]

I have seen one other one. In blue and was very well finished. It was on display at the day out at Coventry museum last year. I'll have a look and see if I can find a picture.

Gordon

[ptjs1]

Gordon,

I think that was Mike's (above) car, as per his profile pic.

Mike,

I'm really looking forward to seeing your Mk2 project. Especially as it seems to be a genuine TWR-enhanced car!

Paul

[JaguarMike]

Hi Paul,

it hope it won't disappoint you to know it's not a genuine TWR, just a std 5.3L / single exhausts with a genuine TWR bodt-kit and steering wheel. It also came with Fondmetal 16" lattice wheels, as used on some Listers I understand? I like them so they'll be staying as will the re-paint in Dorchester Grey over Talisman, with Magnolia trim and grey carpets (changing those for wine). Would have prefered Tungsten paint, but you can't have everything and I'd rather keep it matching now.

The photo used was photo-shoped to resemble the tailgate fitted with spolier retained, un-like my current car which I judged would not suit a Celebration one (correctly).

I was careful in this choice of donor for #2 as I don't wish to offend genuine TWR enthusiasts by modifying it (but, why I here you ask?). This car, an '87 with 54k from North Wales, was really beyond economic repair to "normal" people, as the parcel shelf was as rotten as a pear (yet passed an MOT just 30 miles and 12 years before!), plus the usual vent holes everywhere else. The fuel tank sender had even rusted. Fortunately, the conversion bins all of shelf and tank.

For pics of my (blue) facelift car and the story behind it, see the gallery or better still, the Jaguar World article in my Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s4gkwymw6egz ... OKB4a?dl=0.

Here's a link too to more photo's of the XJ-S TWR on Dropbox:-
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/aiakwa39h3ml ... HCXsa?dl=0

[JaguarMike]

Hi guys, an up-date on the next 30 year old this year hatchback . Bored waiting to get on with the re-build but at least now the body-work is all finished (only 1 year later than planned so far). Many, many, many thanks to James Sidwell over at Shilton. He normally restores XK120 etc. bodies and is a very fine engineer with a keen eye for detail and a magician with metal. 122 hours later (ouch!!) on SS#2, he said he would do another XJ-S even if I paid him £20k (guess there's no #3 hatchback then!). It was a lot of hard (and often smelly - seam sealer) graft, new sill LHS and lots of extra venitlation to repair, "but that's norrmal for an '87" I told him! Car due to go to paint March 6th, then the long slog of re-assembly including trying to remember where I put parts and all those little screws! Don't know when it will appear but need to get it road running to next get the brakes, suspension and exhaust reviewed and then an MOT maybe and save up for an expensive trim job after that!

Got a cracking deal from Lawrence Automotive (the ex-Jaguar Browns Lane wood shop) on my woodwork by the way. I wanted it all a slightly darker walnut but mine had gone too orange in the light and they couldn't get it there so they did me a great deal on new old stock, including ski-slope (yes, they still have some sets left!). Contact: dave.fletcher@lawrence-automotive.com, tell him I sent you!). Have a couple of photo's if that would help, or wait and see the car. Stunning!

Progress photos below:-

Look fast standing still!

Upside down Audi TT Mk 1 glass in situ.

Does anyone have experience of windscreen rubber replacement? Are repo. ones OK or should I go for a NOS Jaguar one?

Regards,
Mike

[davidr]

Hi Mike - that's looking good. I'd love it if we could get an article for the magazine on this!

[lilium]

She’s back on the road and can be seen driving around Portsmouth I would love to get in contact with the owner who done this conversion. I think his name is Mr Fox?