An Old Newbie!

[Orkney]

Back in the fold after a 2 year break. When I sold my X308 Daimler Super V8 to a friend here in Orkney (he still is too!) I honestly thought that my almost 40 year dalliance with Jaguars and Daimlers was at an end. How wrong I was! Very recently a friend told me he was wanting to make a bit more room by selling a couple of cars from his collection - one of those, an XJ-S V12 Convertible from 1989 had been quietly on my radar ever since I first saw it. It still has less than 20,000 miles on and all history to verify that but as we know that is definitely not a good thing - time is not the friend of original rubber parts so it will need very careful re-commissioning before all of those willing horses can be unleashed again. All bodily fluids will also need renewing and a noisy hood mechanism seen to.
The very good parts - absolutely no rust, very straight panels, no restoration, lovely interior, unbelievable underbonnet condition. The bad? Well someone years ago thought that those hideous chrome wheel arch 'bling' covers would look good along with an immaculate set of bolt on chrome wire wheels - all of those will have to go! It also has the four headlight set up which I'm undecided about - the originals are with it.

It has only done 300 miles in the last 13 years and always kept in a heated, tiled floor 'mausoleum'. A real shame but we will hopefully use it more regularly - not excessively though!

I had a 3.6 Cabriolet for 24 years which I built from a new shell and donor so not scared of the running gear and also had 2 V12 Sovereigns, one of which was bought as a write off with underbonnet fire damage, so that aspect doesn't trouble me too much either.
I'll no doubt be asking for some advice and sources as things progress but only intend giving it it's debut next season.

Ian

[davidr]

Welcome back into the fold!
Looks a lovely car (once you've got rid of the bling!).
Perhaps you could send me some pictures and a few words for the magazine?

[Orkney]

Thanks David,
Yes, a magazine article or two will definitely be forthcoming - I have done quite few over the years with the other cars. I still can't believe just how good this car really is and looking forward to improving it still further AND using it! Yes the bling - yuk!, but WHY? The wheel arches are held on with 4 small self tappers each and there's no way I would attempt to Mig plug the holes - they will have to be sealed and touched in with the signal red paint - thankfully not metallic and then treated in the lip. Wheels are no problem, I've already sourced a set of scruffy gold ones here in Orkney - the spare has never been out of the boot. Considering this 32 year old original Aberdeen car has always been in Scotland the engine bay would pass for a one year old! The previous owner was shocked when I drew out the original unused toolkit from its place in the boot - he had the car for 13 years and didn't know it was there!

More to come of course!

Ian

[ptjs1]

Hi Ian,

Welcome back to XJ-S ownership! You already know it, but you have to lose those wheelarch trims and wheels! Lights are a personal choice but if it were me, I'd go back to the originals and just upgrade the bulbs.

The engine bay looks great at first glance, but do look at the injection hoses, the injection wiring loom in the V and also all the coolant hoses plus the rad. Even on a well-maintained car, they may well be due for renewal.

Cheers

Paul

[Orkney]

Hi Paul,
Yes, the bling certainly has to go and I have no intention of using it until I replace the fuel hoses and injector loom in 'Death valley'. I remember BB making a new one for his white one and might go down that route. At 32 years old (wish I was too!) most of the rubber bits will fail in use sometime - some items very high on the list, other less important ones just as and when they show signs of fatigue.
There might be someone who desperately wants those wheels too!

Ian

[PaulGover]

I'd stick with the twin headlights - the standard ones are generally agreed to be pretty dim. Also, as they're no longer available, they're an appreciating asset

[Orkney]

Well things have moved on a bit since getting this new addition, those horrible arch trims have gone, some of the very tiny holes left by the self tappers have responded well to sealing and painting, new bonnet and boot struts fitted and a kit from Mr Injector has arrived. I've also sent an article with pics to Nigel for the mag. Roof mech is a bit 'groany' but I'll post a query in the relevant section.

I'll post some more as time goes on and perhaps some more for the mag.

Ian