S type rear wheel arch mod - good or bad idea?

[ChrisDixon]

I've seen pictures of modified cars here and there, and although I don't shop with them, a search came up with this on the SC Parts site ..

Odd that a parts supplier would use this photo in their catalogue, I wonder where they got it from. That aside, who likes/dislikes this mod? I like it, except that it makes the wheels look like they are too far forward, but this is kind of mirrored at the front.

[3.8etypephil]

A definite improvement; it make s the car look much lighter and more agile. I have always felt that the original S type was a clumsy attempt to update the Mk2 styling, which didn't quite work.

[alec2824]

It looks wrong! The wheels need to be central to the aperture.

[oldtimer]

I agree with Alec above that it looks wrong. Having said that is it the camera angle that has caused the wheel to look to far forward ?
The modification would certainly reduce the agony of replacing a rear wheel. Back in the sixties I had an S type and fitted a 4.2 engine and XJ rims with 205x70x15 tyres at the rear only. What a performance getting that wheel on and off. To get it on I had to push the tyre sitting on the ground well under the hub and then feed the top of the tyre between the hub and the body, then drag the tyre on the ground back out and eventually manage to lift it onto the wheel studs.

I would like to see a square on photo before I passed judgement

[Phil 18]

prefer the original every time, do not see the point of messing with an iconic car

[ChrisDixon]

Maybe the camera angle has something to do with it, bit if you look at the front wheel, it looks the same, with a larger gap at the front, so there is a certain symmetry. Here's another one from JagLovers:

Not sure I like it from this angle!

[oldtimer]

I don't know, perhaps best to leave well alone !