i couldn't find anything within reason for replacing the trashed out originals, so having some 3M adhesive backed veneer left over from the vette rebuild and some chrome door edge guard, i tried making my own. used the originals as a pattern and added strips of the shot door card vinyl to dress the tops. fiberboard and the original pivot tubes make up the hard bits.

 

That has to be more sturdy than the original junk. We did some brazing to improve integrity before plating & recovering.

 

Glyn- they are still junk. On the modern S-type, the foam backing on the cloth covering de-laminates and the covers on the lighted vanity mirrors break. Replacement visors are gawd awful expensive for what you are getting. Some things never change, it would seem...

 

Sorry to hear that. Restoring my S Type gave me a new appreciation for some of Jaguar's engineering. Take the engineering & machining in the steering column vs. other cars. It's actually very good (if over complex) & aside from the complex main shaft, includes a plunging CV joint & a UJ onto the steering box.

Then they make absolute rubbish sun visors where the passenger side unit can barely take the weight of the mirror.

 

i fixed mine by inserting plexiglass forms into the fabric pockets to harden them. then glued the opened edge shut.

 

glyn, jose - thanks for the input. wish i could have afforded the nos (if there even is any) stuff. glyn, you've the patience of a saint. but it's clear the wait was worth it. jose, happy motoring man.

 

Thanks for the kind words. My first restorer was a jerk & I had a global job that kept me flying the world 230 days a year & was based in Dallas, Sydney Aus. Bay Area etc etc that did not help. I was never around to supervise progress. Anyway it's been fun in retirement & she's home at last.

What I had forgotten is just what a pleasant vehicle the S Type is to drive considering it's age.