I’ve been told my 87 black on black Sovereign is a rare color combination since black interiors were a special order (don’t know if that’s even true). Is there a way to find out how many of a certain color or color combination were made? I’m PDH on the outside and PDA/PA on the inside (I think). And my trim is LEG. Thanks!

 

I've never seen any model breakdowns that include paint and trim info. But, yes, black interior is rare on a Series III.

Cheers
DD

 

Cant wait till Elinor sees this. She is a big fan of black, black, blackity black cars, but usually in capitals and bolded. She may make you any offer!

 

Well, everything is for sale for the right price Elinor. Did you notice the passenger side throw rug? They’re black too!

 

Ooo! Yes, I DO like that BLACK interior (gotta be kept clean or it looks awful, but that's part of the charm).

In fact, my very first car had a sort of gray interior, and one of the first things I did after my dad had it painted BLACK for me was put BLACK/RED seat covers on, and take a rattle can (BLACK of course) to the door liners and head liner. And then I drove the wheels off.

But it would be a Travesty to do that to Nix's leather and wool.
She came to me with BLACK floor mats.

Thanks for the offer, Gismo, but Nix would be SO jealous! And besides that, husband has the other garage bay taken up with his White POS (78 Chevy pickup) trying to get the transmission operational. When he put it there I said it would be there 3 months. He got mad. It's been there 2 months already and he's still fighting with the tail shaft.

Now the weather has cooled Nix and I are terrorizing the highways and byways of the North Valley once again!
(';')

 

Black. Let me go back in time, way back and perhaps a bit more contemporary !

1. Early on traded my "T" t for a parts car. To .support the 31 Studebaker four door. Black out, mohair in.

2. 34 Chevrolet "Standard" tudor, black, shiny red wires. Odd blue "DIY" interior...

3. Much later. 85 Ford F 150 4x4. super shiny black . Intriguing graphics I blues and silver along song the flanks.

4. Not mine but son. 64 Chrysler "K" car. His pal and he traded. An engine for a super paint job. DEEEP black.. Very impressive...

White vs black cars:

White: Never look great, but never awful..

Black: Fabulous when clean. Awful when dirty...

Off to the eye doc in a bit. Left eye gets poked... Ugh.

Carl

 

Thanks for all your recollections. I even have the oem mudflaps. Black of course.

 

Grosvenor brown looks great when clean. Awful when dirty. It is dirty now, but it starts and runs!!! Jaguar "color'. Thermoplastic that is still OK.

Silver, for the most part, still more than OK. A bit of clear coat peel. Quite minor. Looks best when clean , but far from awful when needing of a bath. In need as of now. Jeep color status

Jeep AC feels very good, last days of summer...

Carl

 

Posted ? I never know, can only hope !!!

 

Black interiors were indeed a special order in Canada. Your car is rare not only because of the colour combination but also because there were very few 1987 xj6 Sovereigns sold in Canada...most of the 1987 cars sold were the V12 Vanden Plas models. I had one of these 87 V12 VDP cars but the interiors of the V12 cars were never in black. Doeskin, Savile Grey, but not black. The mud flaps were standard on the Canadian cars, as were the bonnet-mounted washer jets, coolant pre-heaters and other items. Your car is beautiful. Was it sold at Decarie in Montreal?

 

Thanks for the info Gregory. As always you are a font of information, especially on matters Canadian. It was purchased in March 1987 from Elegante Automotive in Montreal for $52,000 CAD (I have the window sticker). Owned for thirty years by the same man in Bathurst, New Brunswick who then sold it to his neighbour, an enthusiast, who then sold it to me. My car did not come with mud flaps. I bought them but have not installed them. Not sure I want to put new holes in my car.

 

Gismo:

Here are a few photos of my 1987 V12 Vanden Plas - a great car: As you can see, the interior is Doeskin, which made a nice contrast. My favourite combination, though, is yours, black on black - and I had a 2004 XJ8 in that combination (on later cars black was not a special order). You can also see that I fitted the later Series III V12 steering wheel -thicker and slightly smaller in diameter - it transforms the driving experience (seriously). The Daimler models were never fitted with this more modern wheel - they continued with the very skinny earlier wheel (Why? some things about the Jaguar company are unsolvable mysteries). Don't be afraid of installing the mudflaps: the holes are already there (or should be) and the plastic plugs fit into the holes to accept the mounting screws.

 

Your car is beautiful. It’s true that my steering wheel does feel a bit large. But I’m trying to keep it as original as possible as I am thinking of selling. I’ve got my eye on another car and I’m not allowed to have more than one toy. But every time I open the garage door and see it I have to pinch myself it’s mine. After all these years of wanting one it doesn’t feel real.

 

My '79 SIII has black interior but the carpet is grey. It always struck me as weird that Jaguar put so much time and care and money into the beautiful interiors but the top and surround on the dashboard is always black. Look at the photo of Gregory's car which is the pinnacle of the series 3s. Why didn't they make the dash top and surround match the leather? Some car manufacturers use black material on the top of the dash to cut down on glare but the top of my SIII dash is shiny black and reflects the sun anyway. It's like they were tired at the end of the day and said "oh the heck with it, that's good enough".

Elinor, you rattle can painted the inside of your car black? Hmmm ....

Jeff

 

On the vdp of course the interior leather was extended up and over the centre console as you can see on Gregory’s but that’s as far as they were willing to go I guess. To be honest, I don’t mind that they didn’t color the dash but would have appreciated something other than cardboard behind the door cards!

 

Yes I did! All but the seats as mentioned. Masked off everything properly too.
But I was 16 at the time, I wouldn't do it today.
(';')

 

Aye, I erred early on. More like a bunch of times... The original dash pad on my car is sound. Black.
For some odd reason, I got a furry dash pad. A golden color, similar to the other vinyl and leather interior trim. With a Cadillac crest to represent it's power plant. Looks neat. But does little for glare reduction. Why do I not sump it? My dear departed's initials are on the passenger side !

When the Jeep came aboard, I got a dash pad to protect it's sound OEM. got it. black!!

Another err. Not all that bad, though. The plastic grill at the base of the front glass. The fake chrome was peeling. Revealed a bilious yellow plastic, ugh.. I managed to remove it. A tale already told. Spray can. I thought it "fake chrome". Nope, more like un polished cast alloy. Not that bad. And a h... of a lot better than it had been. Had I thought a bit, flat black as the wipers are. Better glare resistance..

But, yowee, it runs again. Son added a ground cable. From the wing wall attachment point of the original - cable to the alternator mount bolt. Instant crank and fire. What went on down and under with the braided ground??? Not going under and look. Those days seem gone...

Carl..

 

Like this, Carl?


This was the very First modification Nix got.
(';')

 

Elinor:

Not quite, but, pretty close... A lower bolt on the alternator mount to the engine block!!

Clear channel !!! Huh???

Son now opines that a wrap on the down pipe is needed to protect the starter. Coming up....

Carl