Dechroming a TWR

[AlastairCM]

As I've posted before, I've decided to add some of the TWR options to my car that weren't fitted when the car was originally converted in the 80's. My current project is to dechrome as much of the car as practical, per the satin black option offered by TWR. First part of my dechroming project is now complete, the rear end of the car.

Dechromed parts were salvaged from a red scrapped early 89 XJR-S which uses the same dechromed trim that TWR offered pre 1988. TWR simply roughed up and painted over the standard stainless steel jaguar trim items with primer and satin black. For chromed or plasticised trim, the coatings were stripped back to base first on the painted surfaces, although bits not on show were left as is.

I did some repainting to freshen up the black before everything was fitted.



The rear trim changes involved:

(1) switching over the rear light housings (which have black painted upper and side surfaces, not really visible on the photo) as well as swapping over the plate that attaches to the lamp lenses (one of the lights I salvaged was holed so I couldn't just do a straight lens swap.

(2) replacing the numberplate and reverse lamp housing, which has black painted edging, although the "Jaguar" lettering is still picked out in chrome.

(3) replacing the screw on trim edging to the sides of the numberplate and reverse lamp housing, still got a bit of work to do on trying to get one piece to line up better.

(4) replacing the trim piece that sits on the top of the boot between the bootlid and the bit that mounts the numberplate and reverse lamp housing (not really visible in the photo.

Currently working on replacing the wing mirrors with black painted ones, having taken them apart for a good clean (amazing the number of dead spiders behind the mirror glass). After that I will replace the front grill and headlight surrounds.

I have got some black trim for the windscreen but am going to run into problems with the drip rails and some bits round the side windows which are difficult to remove without taking the doors/glass apart. Still considering whether I just leave all the window trims chrome or try something like painting them in situ with the rest of the car masked off.

Then I have to worry about what to do with the door handles and indicator surrounds, and the chrome round the rear windscreen

I'm beginning to appreciate why TWR charged close to £800 before VAT for the option back in the day. But I'm pleased with the results so far, makes the car look more 80's and less 70's (I have my Triumph for those facial hair and chest wig days ).

[XJR-S]

Sounds like good fun!

Iv got a facelift xjr-s and some of the plastics, headlight surrounds for example are a little faded, so sounds like I should follow suit and get some plastic friendly satin black paint!

I totally agree with your 80s rather than 70s look! The twr's really do look the best in my book!

[BigCatXJS]

Nice cat!

Don't tell me; triumph tr6 for those nostalgic '70's moments

[AlastairCM]

I haven't tried painting the plastic bits as the headlight surrounds etc are in good condition. The bits I've done to date have been metal and I've tended to go over whatever basecoat TWR put on the parts, which seems to be holding well in most cases.

I've now done the wing mirrors which have come out ok, a few issues with where the screws go in having caused a bit of paint to bulge plus I couldn't get the mirrors to join exactly where the old ones were. The car appears to have had some repainting done at some point and it looks as if the mirrors were masked off rather than removed.

The Triumph isn't quite a TR6, but is a late 1980's project from a then 20 something who clearly didn't like the hot hatches that 20 somethings bought in the 1980s and wanted something more traditional but sporty and spent over £10k on it. I "rescued" it from a previous owner who had all but abandoned it, because I thought such dedication/madness needed to be preserved. Sadly it has been SORN for almost 2 years now while I rewire the whole car following a fire in the loom caused by an MOT tester, but the Jag has eaten all of my time.

The engine is taken from a 2500 saloon which uses the same block as the TR6 and has been coupled with an early induction manifold from a TR6 and a lucas injection system from a TR6. The engine was overbored to just short of 2.7L. It then had a GT6 MK2 gearbox/driveshaft/diff attached to it with a racing clutch and was dropped into a 70's spitfire Mk4 body and chassis with a fibreglas GT6 bonnet to accomodate the engine. That was then fitted with Vitesse MK2 suspension and GT6 Mk 2 brakes and a single pipe sports exhaust.

So you have an overbored injected TR6 engine in a much lighter car. It is somewhat fun to drive, provided you don't push the gearbox to destruction.