The title is the text received from my son a couple of weeks ago, while I was cruising the Mekong Delta, to advise the safe arrival of "Lady Penelope", my new 1994 XJ81 Jaguar.

As posted in the introductions (link: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/n...t-aust-128178/) she successfully gained WA citizenship last week and I am starting to get familiar with her. So far so good and no surprises..... As she hasn't had a lot of use over the last 4 years or so the leather was a bit dry, so the seats and trim have had a good cleaning and soaking with glyptone cleaner and conditioner. This coming weekend it will be time for a good exterior detail.

I do like the number plate, if I squint I can see MEOW, which is fitting for a big cat.













Stand by for a few questions as I find out her secrets!!

Cheers

Steve

 

Beautiful. The V12 was a rarity even when it was a current model so you've been lucky to find one in such good condition.

I had the 'baby' version (XJ40) in the same colour combination. Always one of my favourites.

Graham

 

Steve,
Tell your son it's not a midlife crisis but an "age appropriate purchase"
Congratulations on the new Jag, everyone should have at least 1 V12. There is one in a storage yard that I have my eye on.

 

Congrats on the new Jag, V12 too....nice!

 

Hi Jeff

I love that line! Must remember to use it in my defense, as a few friends who are not into cars are questioning my sanity

Cheers

Steve

 

Hi again Steve . . . yep, she's a real cracker alright. So tell us the "Miss Penelope" connection. I don't want to embarrass myself by looking for a Thunderbirds connection that may not exist. Great pics by the way. You have captured that precise angle that presents the characteristic XJ "hip and shoulder" line . . . crouched and ready to pounce!

On a different note, I encourage you to have a good trawl through past posts here in the WA regional forum. We have had some great conversations with members in, around, and beyond Perth . . . so don't be surprised if they start to jump up and start saying "Hello".
Best wishes; and keep us posted,
Ken

 

Hi Ken

Many thanks for the positive comments.

As to the history of the name it was always a she and it needed to be a classy English name to match the past/present male Land Rovers in the garage. I then thought of the actress Penelope Keith and the name stuck.

That all said my son then made the Thunderbirds connection as well, which I had totally missed.

This week I've been indulging driving the car to/from work (next week it will be back to public transport ). Temp gauge sits solidly on the N even in start/stop rush hour traffic and good oil pressure in the low 4's. I'm slowly working out what button does what on the dash. Trip computer and Stereo have been mastered but the VCM is still a work in progress.


Cheers

Steve