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Hi. I am applying Jaguar OEM Series III Coachline tape to my Jaguar. The color of the twin Coachline is Vanden Plas Gold & Copper.
I want to make sure that the Coachline tape is accurately applied as it would have been from the factory.
So, my question is this: can someone whom owns a Series III with twin Coachlines confirm if the Coachline tape stopped short of each door gap opening or did the tape wrap inside the door panel. Would also welcome any pictures.
Please excuse my slight redirection folks, but how can I tell what the "spec level" of my S3 is? I've just been calling it an XJ6, but it has the double coachline with narrow one on the top-see picture. What else can I check?
Just from looking at the pictures on your main thread, it's a "regular" XJ6 not Vanden Plas ( USA / Canada only right guys ? ) or Sovereign ( which is Euro / etc markets only, unless grey market imported like mine ).
The Series 3 VDP has recessed instruments, two tone doors with wood strips + different armrests / grab handles, and a "two cushion" back seat instead of straight bench ( which might vary with the pre 83 models, experts chime in if needed ).
Back to Michael,
I'll try to get some usable pictures tomorrow of my Sovereign which still has what I think are the original coach lines, and maybe some from my other cars if they look correct ( honestly been too busy to really inspect that part yet ).
Cheers & Happy Thanksgiving to everyone else in "Yank" land,
Brian
as to the "Levels" of the XJ cars, there is the "Base" level XJ, the "Vanden Plas" XJ level, and the "Sovereign" XJ level. They are ALL the same cars except for interior and boot trimmings, exterior badges, and colors reserved for the Vanden Plas and Sovereign models.
I am not sure if those coachline tapes (aka Trim Tape), were added by the USA Jaguar distributor in Leonia New Jersey or if they were applied at the factory.
I do know the aluminium moldings below the waist were added by the USA Jaguar distributor. Those moldings are still available new.
If you go to car shows there is always an artist who will actually PAINT this trim on the coachline with a very thin brush..
The coachlines were for the most part applied by Jaguar at Browns Lane as it takes a bit of skill to get them just right and I don't think the local US dealer really wanted the grief of it being a local option and then having to organize said application.
But then again the tool case was a dealer option in the US but standard in many other markets.
America was probably one of the early markets where optioning up was encouraged. At least by the local importer / distributor.
I know that in Australia one of the importers (into Victoria at least) optioned up local delivery XJ6's from the factory to a certain 'above basic' spec at least.
Same went for Lotus motor cars. On the UK home market you could get a very basic spec from the factory, but in Australia ALL sanctioned Lotuses in the 80's & 90's had air conditioning, Mag wheels and the turbo fitted as standard.
The coachlines were always factory applied, not dealer applied. (And no rub strips were ever factory-applied to these cars).
The crucial thing in replacing the coachlines (both double and single line) is to get the length correct. The coachlines always end approximately where the indented swage line on the body ends, front and rear. Anything longer is incorrect. And as stated above, the lines do indeed wrap around the door edges.
The coachlines were always factory applied, not dealer applied. (And no rub strips were ever factory-applied to these cars).
The crucial thing in replacing the coachlines (both double and single line) is to get the length correct. The coachlines always end approximately where the indented swage line on the body ends, front and rear. Anything longer is incorrect. And as stated above, the lines do indeed wrap around the door edges.
Was curious to know how the Jaguar factory applied the Coachline tape so accurately and quickly as the models came off the assembly line. Did Jaguar have some type of jig or fixture that helped align the Coachline tape onto the left and right side of the body or were there dedicated trained specialized crew that applied the Coachlines by hand and by eye?
Would be neat if there were a YouTube video that showed vintage Jaguar factory application of such Coachline tape.
Interesting fun fact: at Rolls-Royce the Coachlines are painted on by hand by only one person whom is somewhat well know in the Rolls-Royce circles - Marc Court.
But then again the tool case was a dealer option in the US but standard in many other markets.
America was probably one of the early markets where optioning up was encouraged. At least by the local importer / distributor.
A lot of the Series III (and XJS) sales brochures for the USA-market cars state "Available Options: None". At some point, perhaps right at the start, a decision was made to equip the cars to a high level, at the factory, and leave it at that. It makes sense that Jaguar Cars USA would be involved in such decisions.
Perhaps it was possible for a customer to walk into a dealership and special order a car with xxx-items added or deleted but, if so, it must've been a very rare occurrence. I can't remember when (or even if) I've seen a USA car in an unusual build configuration.
Dealer-installed options are another matter, of course. Variations here run the gamut.
Help from Series III Owners with Coachlines
