Bonnet Leaper Mascot

[DonA]

I am very keen in fitting a Bonnet Leaper Mascot on my X350.
Such leapers are available on the internet to purchase.
Some say it's illegal to fit bonnet leapers to X350. Is that true?
Thank you.

[ptjs1]

Don,

Just a completely personal view, but please don't! They just look wrong on any Jaguar post the Mk2 & Mk10! I had an x350 where the previous owner had fitted a leaper. I really disliked it. After 3 warnings from police traffic officers, I removed it.

The legality bit is slightly debatable. It's not technically illegal to fit one, but you could be liable if you caused injury because of it. Even the police & MoT testers often insist on their removal. See the attached from The Times back in 2015:

JAGUAR stopped fitting leaping cat mascots to cars for the UK market in 1970. The company says its dealerships will assist owners in getting hold of mascots — they are available on eBay, for example — but no longer supply or fit them.

There is a basic legal rule against fitting anything that obstructs the driver’s view...........“Having a bonnet mascot is not a criminal offence,” the Department for Transport (DfT) told us. Complicating matters, though, is the potential danger to other road users, particularly pedestrians. If you were involved in an accident and the mascot were deemed to have caused injury, you might be found guilty of an offence.

“Ultimately, it would be up to the courts to decide whether the mascot was within the law,” the DfT said. Car makers such as Rolls-Royce that still fit bonnet mascots make them spring-loaded, which means they will retract, bend or break off in the event of a collision.

The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club (jec.org.uk) said it was unaware of a case having been tested in court. “We don’t tell our members not to get mascots,” it said. “But we are aware of owners who have been stopped by police and asked to remove them. Drivers must make sure they are spring-loaded.

Your car looks great without one, the way Jaguar intended!

Cheers

Paul

[DonA]

Hi Paul,
Many thanks for your comments and advice. Well appreciated.
Cheers,
Don

[PolMike]

After 3 warnings from police traffic officers, I removed it.

I might consider taking mine off but I'm worried about the holes left in the bonnet. Interested to know what you did about yours please.
Mike.

[ptjs1]

Mike,

Tge one fitted on my car by a PO was a rigid one (even more reason to want it gone). So once removed, I used some small coloured rubber grommets. I refitted it when I sold the car so the future owner had the choice to retain it.

Paul

[PolMike]

Paul,
Many thanks for explanation. Mine is a spring loader leaper so I'll leave it on for the time being. No-one has questioned it - yet.
Mike.

[DonA]

Mike, where did you get the spring loaded leaper from?
Could this be the answer to Paul's concern?
Cheers,
Don

[snaefell]

Just to show what a personal thing this is,I bought my X350 4 years ago,soon afterwards my Wife saw one with a leaper bonnet mascot & instantly wanted one,like Paul I think they just do not look right,it's a beautiful car without one as Jaguar intended,happy families....NOT!

[PolMike]

Mike, where did you get the spring loaded leaper from?
Could this be the answer to Paul's concern?
Cheers,
Don

Hi Don,
Don't know. It was on the car when I bought it - two owners before me so assume one of them had it fitted.
Mike

[snaefell]

If you go on eBay & enter 'spring loaded jaguar bonnet mascot' as the search criterea you will get plenty of options!

[DonA]

Thanks you 'snaefell'
Don