Got a question concerning XJ40 taillights. I've seen some with and some without the chrome trim surrounding the lens. Was this an option for certain models and if so,which ones,or was it designated for certain model years. I have an 88 VDP and it has no chrome. I've also seen various 88/89 models without chrome too. Was this fitted to the later model years? I've also noticed some models with a chrome strip on the panel between the lip of the trunk(boot) and the rear bumper. Was this part of a chrome trim package?

 

Mine has them but also (blacked) smoke colored lenses - I don't think chrome trims etc were fitted to base models and AFAIK the early VDP's are a world unto themselves re: trim package ..your best bet would be to pick up an old sales brochure (eBay?) for your model year.

Also, I don't think there was a "chrome package" as such - the VDP's are the highest trim level, they are the Daimler model as marketed in N.America (where the name Daimler was already registered to another firm) ...

The Sovereign is one step down from the VDP although by '94 (from what I could see on the parts car) there was not a lot of difference -

The sov didn't have the fluted chrome or a heated windshield and of course no smoked rear taillights and no chrome surrounds - did have a sunroof but seat design was different, leather quality different and a bench seat in the rear and no extra glove boxes in the rear armrests - a major disadvantage in a double bagger as for such a large saloon, lets all agree there's no room to stow ANYTHING in the cabin!!!

 

Actually MAJESTIC was the highest trim level for the earlier cars. VDP for the later cars when the MAJESTIC was discontinued in North America.

The JEPC lists CHROME or just a part number for the plain non-chrome trim.

I have a few of each that are slightly damaged (hairline cracks). I kept them when I worked at the dealer.

bob

 

95Leaper,

To add to the info from Larry & Bob, check out the XJ40 entry at Wikipedia, which explains the Vanden Plas, Majestic, Vanden Plas Majestic, and Insignia models:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_XJ_(XJ40)

Bob, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the chrome and non-chrome tail lamps are interchangeable, so 95Leaper can use whichever type he prefers. The lenses of the chrome-trimmed tail lamps on our '93 are the smoke gray color, while the non-chrome tail lamps on our '88 Sovereign were "rose" red. I can't recall if all the chrome ones had gray lenses or if some were rose.

BTW, some of the independent Jag parts specialists like Welsh Enterprises have offered replacement lenses for the XJ40 tail lamps. The only challenge is that the old lens is glued to the lamp housing and has to be broken/cut out piece by piece.

Also, while I'm thinking about it, our '93 had the narrow chrome bead strip along the trunk lid line, but at some point one of the fasteners broke so I just removed it (I like the car better without it).

Cheers,

Don

 

Is there any way to find out what was year specific with certain options and chrome trim? Seems that since most of these cars are over 25 years old and have probably changed hands a few times that various owners have swapped or added parts over the years. Were the smoked/red lens taillights year specific? What about the chrome trim around the taillights (since it's removable)? Also the chrome strip below the trunk. I've even seen some cars with chrome trim around the wheelwells but I believe that is aftermarket. I've also noticed some cars have no bodyside chrome molding and some have it along the area where the pinstriping is and some midway across the doors. Is there any way to tell what was factory,like a vehicle build sheet or option list?

 

Of all the various Jaguars I've seen or owned,the XJ40 models seem to have various combinations of trims/taillights that don't seem to coincide with a specific year/model and vary from 88-94.

 

As Don says, you can still get new lenses - Here's the rear lens swap I did on my '94, also a few good shots of all rear chrome for that year of VDP ...

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ebuild-150800/

cheers

Larry

ps
Chrome wheel well trims are always aftermarket add-ons and usually there to hide something (I'm not a fan!)

 

I know the rear lenses are still available but what about the chrome trim? My lenses are fine but for some reason I have no chrome trim around the taillights or the chrome strip going across the bottom tail edge. Also,in the recessed area between the taillights,I have a black plastic panel that covers the whole area where the nameplates are although there is the chrome license plate surround. There are also two small plastic covers along the inner side area of the taillights and along the bottom sill where the trunk closes. Was this year specific to 1988 models of the Vanden Plas?

 

The chrome and non chrome tail lights are interchangeable - the basic light unit is the same, with the chromed metal part fitted to it and held there with tabs.

The XJ40 received the extra chrome on the tail lights and on the boot/trunk lid when the 4 litre cars were introduced.

In the UK and Europe, the chromed tail lights were fitted to the Sovereign and Daimler models only, with the XJ6 retaining the non-chromed tail lights and gaining only the extra chrome on the trunk lid.

The model structure is different in the USA, with the XJ6 name and Sovereign name being used at various times for different model years on a car whose specification was similar to the European Sovereign model and the Vanden plas having a similar specification to the Daimler. It may be then that all XJ40s in the USA/Canada received the chrome tail lights when the 4 litre engine was introduced, but I don't know this for sure.

No 3.6 litre XJ40s were fitted with the chromed tail lights or the extra chrome strip on the boot/trunk lid. Many have had them fitted later on of course though.

I am pretty sure that if you can find a pair of cracked tail lights which have good chrome parts, that after careful removal, you should be able to fit the chrome bezels on to you good non-chrome rear lights, securing them by carefully bending back the tabs. I have not done this myself, but I have seen it done on-line.

Very early Sovereign, Daimler and Vanden plas cars had a black panel fitted to the boot/trunk lid covering the whole section where the licence plate and model badges are fitted. These cars are rare now - the black panel was fitted for a fairly short time to earlier 3.6 litre cars. Your 1988 model will be one of the last cars to have one.

The rear lamp bezels are no longer available from Jaguar. The part numbers are:

LH - JLM20339
RH - JLM20340

As for the colour of the tail lights, the Vanden plas was always fitted with the smoked lenses (as were Daimlers in the UK/Europe) whilst XJ6 and Sovereign models received the red lenses.

The chrome strip on the sides of the car were fitted to the Vanden plas and not to the Sovereign or XJ6.

 

My parts car, a Canadian spec 94 Sovereign 4 litre, has red tail lights and no chrome surrounds - just an FYI

Larry