I've had my XJ for 8 years but I never bothered to ask...
Has anyone ever seen a power antenna on the front wing like this? When I engage the switch the rear antenna reacts and I have no idea if there is a switch for the front unit - there is nothing apparent. I should chase the wiring...
Anyway it all looks factory. Maybe my car was special ordered. It was one of 2 greensand XJs ssld in Western Australia. Any hints?

 

I'm no authority on Ser I and II cars.

Seems to me, though, that Jaguar had 3 or 4 different antenna schemes during that period. A fender mounted type wouldn't surprise me.

Having both a front AND a rear antenna is certainly a non-standard arragement. Dealer installed, perhaps? I can't imagine the car rolling off the assembly line that way.

Others will chime in.

Cheers
DD

 

I don't claim to be an authority on anything. But, I do remmber a lot of things. but, i suspect I've forgotten a lot as well.

At one time it was 'fashionable" to have two cowl mounted antennaes on USA cars. One usually a dummy. Altjhough a bit later, one might be a CB unit. An some swoopy 57 Chevropets ahd factory tail mounted aerials. Looks only, one was a dummy!!

Which brings up an interestin side light. In your car, are bioth functional or is one a dummy or abandoned.

Curiosity aroused???

Carl

 

Hey, Carl - that's the thing - it isn't a dummy unit. Abandoned? Maybe. There's a drive motor and all that good stuff all looking factory or at least dealer correct. Not a backyard job. When I redid the interior a few years ago I do remember seeing a random toggle switch mounted under the dash by the steering column. I didn't trace the wiring but it didn't seem to do anything.
I might have a picture handy of the unit tucked into the fender...

 

If you look at the top left of the picture under the wing you can clearly see the drive and the spool. I will try and trace the wiring to see what's what. Again, when I turn on the radio the 'normal' rear antenna reacts

 

Thanks! By dummy I not only meant no capability of operation, but also a real one, but no connections.

So, there are two important connectors to determine this. One, radio supplied power to raise and retract. Two, coaxial to transfer audio signal from mast to radio.

Cleverer than me guys just might use a switch or two and a duplex connector to allow a choice of antenae or even both, in some hope of getting better reception.

Gadgeteers!

Carl

 

As I recall the early series 1 cars had long gas tanks on both sides w. no room for antenna, these cars had the antenna up front.

 

1) is the car a Series 1 XJ?

2) does the toggle switch look like a Lucas toggle switch but with sprung up and down action so that OFF is always in the center position?

if yes, then it could be a Jaguar-approved power antenna, mounted in the front wing.

 

I have recently installed a S3 power antenna with the delay relay and the S3 mounting bracket and a Harada one piece unit in a S1 XJ.... you can use the original side mount rear fender location if you have the correct bezel...

 

Interesting....
My car is an early series II car SWB. I'm not completely sure if SI and SII front wings are compatible but perhaps I have a set of SI wings on the car.
I've begun dismantling the front clip for engine overhaul and engine bay / body blasting and there isa proper power antenna nestled in the wing with full wiring but disconnected. Why would it have both?
I will have another look at my toggle switch...