The debate is finally over. The larger Leaper wins!

 

But seriously. Which is better? I like the smaller Leaper on a Series 1, 2, and 3. But on an X308, I like the larger Leaper. On a sports car or a modern Jag, no Leaper.

 

My opinion of these Ridiculous things is well known.
And you probably don't want me to go any further than that.
(';')

 

The larger leaper suggests that the owner is compensating for a small something else.

 

YES!!
But if I said that it would be sexist.
(';')

 

I put a leaper back on Blue Six because of the two large holes where one had been before. My wife thinks the sedans should have a leaper - they don't look right without it. In my case if 'Elf & Safety think it's dangerous I'm all for it...

Here's a leaper I saw yesterday.

 

"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

 

And elegance is simplicity of design - something that Jaguars have always been known for. Here are a couple of modern examples: first an XK: Note how the eye sweeps from front to rear along the body:

and the current design of the F-Type does the same thing, but differently:


and going back 50-60 years, the Mk 2:



There is nothing extra on any of these and on the Mk 2 the leaper is a natural extension of the single chrome line down the centre of the bonnet, and this, in turn, flows into the grille design:



This sort of elegance of detail and design is constantly in contrast with the fussy designs of Jaguar's rivals. Just think about a 1973 XJ6 compared to a 1973 Mercedes - the former is a smooth flow of lines, the latter a blockey pastiche. The XJ6 looks beautiful today, the Mercedes...well, it looks old. The Mk 2 is timeless...

 

The XJC never had a Leaper !

 

"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."

-Antoine de Saint Exupéry

 

Hi, what site did you buy them from?

 

I would NOT drill holes to add a (small) leaper, but if holes were there I would not fill them and would seize the opportunity to have a small leaper on my jag XJ6/12!
I bought the leaper but could not bring myself to drill the holes...

 

My sports car has a smallish leper.. it’s only taped there to see how it looks. I’m building a MGuar Jaguar V12 engine, tranny, front & resr suspension, wire wheels. The frame will be patterned after the XKE only continue on to the back.
The body will look like an MGTD except the fenders will be carbon fiber, the cowl, fuel tank, & radiator, will be original and the rest hand formed aluminum.
To be built as a Vntage race car.

 

Very interesting, build thread please!

 

I will be doing a build thread. First I need to find 4 junk Jaguar wire wheels to start from. Dented, broken dopes rusty, ugly, is just fine.

 

so size does matter?

 

Not really. 15-16” 5&1/2 or 6”. As long as there are 4 of them.

 

Hmmm......I have a Euro 76 Jaguar XJC 4 speed OD and that has a chrome center hood strip and leaper. Maybe a Euro thing.

 

It has been added later.

 

I'd agree with that, but I've owned the car from new and it has always been there, strange...