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Jaguar XJ40-XJ6 (1992)
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Detailing: 10 September 2014 |
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When Marco Gordini removed the panel under the dashboard on the passenger's side, we found several writings. There is little doubt that AY930PY was built for Italy.... |
The new spring-loaded Leaper, fitted |
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My 1992 XJ6 has the old-style climate-control layout (top left). We have removed from the 1994 scrapper a newer control facia (top right) and I was hoping that it was possible to fit it on AY903PY. The connectors on the back of the later one are like that (left). Unfortunately, the good guys at the XJ40 Forum told me that it is not possible..... too bad! |
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Veneers were discloured and paint is flaking on the scrapper's wood trims. That paint is being removed to restore them |
The seats weren't in good shape either, though the driver's is not as bad as mine |
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Again, my car has the old-style electric window pushbuttons and console (top left). The scrapper has the later console, looks better and tidier (top right). The back of the panel has nice connectors (left) and we will try to fit them on my car |
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Small but significant improvements.... |
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Andrea Bedosti removed the front spoiler from the 1994 scrapper; amazingly it still has the original fog lamps (not burnt!) and we shall fit it on AY903PY |
The panel under the driver's door veneer revealed this interesting sticker |
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Improving: 20 September |
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20 September and Andrea Bedosti in Faenza is cleaning/ repairing the scrapper's front seats to fit the driver's on my XJ6. On the left you see the untouched scapper's seat squab, whilst the pic on the right is of the original veneers that looked awfully dull and 'yellow', and were resurrected by a careful stripping and revarnishing. They look like a million dollars: Bedosti is a real Master in this type of sophisticated recommissioning and I heartily recommend his skills (and Mimmo's) to every Jaguar (and Bristol, and Bentley....) enthusiast in my area |
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24 September: further amelioration |
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I took delivery of AY903PY today and had a nice surprise or two. Andrea Bedosti conjured with 'AutoInterni' of Faenza (they making the complete interior of my 1953 Bristol 403, so they are obviously good...) to make not only a brand new gear lever gaiter, but also a new seat squab to replace to old one. The result in identical to a Jaguar original, so I asked them to make the seat back as well. After they will have finished the Bristol, of course |
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Veneers now have a proper mirror finish now |
The Growler looks good at the base of the gearlever gaiter |
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The front now looks really good even if the original fog lamps installed in their original late-series front apron have all the power and intensity of a couple of (small) candles.... |
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...even in the darkness of an unlit garage, the foglights display the same brightness of the sidelights, something must be wrong |
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The interior of AY903PY looks like a 'proper Jaguar' at last |
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8 October: new Boge front and rear shocks |
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New dampers and drop links. Unfortunately the steering rack oil leak required a £450 replacement unit... |
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Friday 17 October: new registration number, EX444BX |
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Thursday 23 October: EX444BX' twin sister in Padova |
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I was in Padova to hold a couple of conferences during the massive 'Fiera d'Auto Moto d'Epoca' and in the underground I found EX444BX's (almost) perfect sister....another circa 1992 XJ6 in Solent Blue, paint code JFJ |
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The (now restored) Lucas fog lights deserve some protection and I found a nice new pair of 'reproduction' covers from an eBay seller ('classicmotorspares2010') for a not unreasonable £22,00+shipping. I like the little 'window' that reminds you that your fog lights are on.... |
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We had a good look at the windscreen wiper today, as the self-parking was not working well. We found that the black microswitch (left) was a bit lazy. Some contact-cleaning spray was needed to restore its functionality....now it works |
The instrument cluster out of the 1993 scrapper...I hope that it will fit in my 1992 XJ6 |
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It is always useful to know the outside temperature, and I chose to fit a vintage thermometer. This is a classic German thermometer built by HR (Herbert Richter GmbH) in Germany |
We removed the Lucas fog lights at last. I don't drive too much in the fog and they are really too big, making the sleek front end of the XJ40 look too 'heavy'. Now it looks better, IMHO |
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EX444BX, Christmas 2014 (Villa Cora, Firenze) |
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Felix Meister guida la Jaguar XJ-R
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