When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I know a lot of people frown on customizing classic Jags like the XJ8, However, I wanted to (tastefully) add some modifications to personalize my '05 Super V 8. I could not find any XJ8s of any variation with racing stripes, So I added my own using the green red black and silver found on the various "R" emblems. Tell me what you think and possibly links to other XJs with stripes please. The black stripes are premium carbon fiber. Also since the chrome was peeling on my rims, I replaced them with Coventry Whitley black.
Last edited by Mithrilweaver; Jun 4, 2021 at 04:31 PM.
Sorry there's not much love for your mods, that can be disheartening. But that happens sometimes when you do something different! I will say I actually like the front quite a bit. The use of the 'power bulge' to shape the stripe is slick. Definitely my favorite part! But then it leads into the most awkward spot, may I ask why you went all the way out to the A pillars with a racing stripe? But only half the roof? I think keeping the stripe skinny and having it just disappear into the sun roof and come back out the other side would look better, or if there's damaged paint or something to cover up, then doing the whole roof would look better.
These cars, while very atheistically pleasing, are difficult to modify due to the flowing curves. My paint/clear is fading on the roof and I've looked at what my options are as far as doing something about it. Because the pillars are blended into the body, there's no natural line to follow for an offset-color roof. There's a decent line on the side to follow for a two-tone scheme, but that would leave the front and rear in a really awkward spot for continuing the scheme around the car.
I'm pretty sure (in my eyes) there's a valley between stock with wheels and tint, and full blown race car livery, that just looks awkward. Most cars look good with a little bit of body/paint customization, where as this car is questionable. With a wide body, custom skirts, aero lip, and wild paint, I think the x350 would look bad ***. Can't find anything like that, but imagine this, but with a newer chassis:
I feel like everything in between would look awkward.
yours is an excellent analysis of what is and what could been. Your points re: the flowing curves of the body and well taken. Very often more is less.
That said, if I wanted to put the Monster Energy logo on the hood of my X-J8, I'd do it. Just so happens I do not want to do it.
Mithrilweaver had an idea and went with it. I did not mean my earlier post to sound snarky but it did. I apologize. It's the owner's car and and with hindsight, he/she can do what ever he/she wants with it.
Last edited by redrover41; Jun 8, 2021 at 03:57 PM.
I like it but maybe would have left the roof alone. I am not a big fan of stripes on the top of any car. The sides, for me, are a much better canvas. I had a '70 Firebird that I painted with two 3" stripes of complimenting colors that began just behind the front wheels. They crossed and rose up just before the rear wheels, then shot back to the rear. It was classy looking and hot. I wish I had a photo of it. Leaving the roof out of the scheme would look much more classy. Kind of like a low rider cruising just over the road surface rather than under it. I would have followed the width of the stripe on the trunk and ignore the license plate as that has nothing to do with the car.
I like it still.
Last edited by philjoemill; Jun 10, 2021 at 11:14 AM.
I did the roof that way to cover some damage, when i found out it would end up costing me about about $3k to fix the tree made dent, and repaint it.
With that said... I like resto mods that are done tastefully. I wanted to dee how it would look, and I prefer it to the factory original look. Also, the stripes are a wrap so, I can always remove it.
And of course as you know, art is subjective!
That amount of chrome trim on these cars also make it somewhat awkward to go with so much darkness. If all the chrome was black as well, it may tie in a little more.
What happened to the fog lights 'n' such? Looks a tad Wallace & Gromit down there.
Racing Stripes on 350 / 358
