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But, at least in America, Jaguar dealers installed them by the thousands, that's why you see so many. Note that previous Jaguar models had them and latter models had them as well. My 2007 has one that is spring loaded - I guess that is to protect the pedestrians Jose mentioned.
My opinion of "Leapers" is well known here so I will Keep Silent!
(';')
I don't know what your opinion of leapers is, Elinor.
In classic Jaguars where the bonnet goes up from the front side, the leaper is used to help raise it. The two fangs in the large leapers are so sharp they actually are dangerous to the fingers. The one in my S type has biten me a number of times.
in the XJ it doesn't make sense because the bonnet goes up from the rear side. Only for decoration I suppose.
I don't know what your opinion of leapers is, Elinor.
In classic Jaguars where the bonnet goes up from the front side, the leaper is used to help raise it. The two fangs in the large leapers are so sharp they actually are dangerous to the fingers. The one in my S type has biten me a number of times.
Exactly! Leapers were part of the Design in days gone by. They Fit when light bars, horns and other stuff was just sort of tacked on, fenders weren't molded as part of the body but an afterthought that seemed like a good idea (which they were.)
in the XJ it doesn't make sense because the bonnet goes up from the rear side. Only for decoration I suppose.
EXACTLY!!
They Just Don't Fit with the sleek, sculpted body forms of later Jags. In fact, the Leaper Ruins those lines Sir William worked so hard to achieve.
They Just Don't Fit!
My opinion, which I've never hidden, is that they look rather Stupid on anything newer than an original S-type; and before I gravely offend the Male majority here, I'll stop.
(';')
I don't hide my opinion either Elinor, they do look kind of silly on the XJ bonnet.
this is the one in my S type, the large original size. Look at those fangs, they will stick you like a needle. I've had to learn to be careful. Look at those eyes, it's the devil himself!
But, at least in America, Jaguar dealers installed them by the thousands, that's why you see so many. Note that previous Jaguar models had them and latter models had them as well. My 2007 has one that is spring loaded - I guess that is to protect the pedestrians Jose mentioned.
Jeff, modern ones are spring loaded to prevent (or try to prevent), theft, like the Mercedes Benz "Star" mascots which used to get stolen so much. But it does create another problem, the sheetmetal can be bent when someone tries to pull it off its base violently.
Where I live, on the northeast coast of the US, every new XJ that came off the local Jag dealership lot had a leaper. Back then I, and probably most, thought they were supposed to be there. The leaper is part of my memory of these cars. When I found my car for sale it, not surprisingly, had a leaper and still has it today, as it always will. To me, they look naked without them. It's all about your perspective.
the old leapers up to 1967 are a solid casting in pot metal. Then they started making them in two halves I think those are hollow. E types never had them, only the Saloons / Sedans.
I have a really ratty large one from an abandoned 1963 S type I found in the Florida jungle. How that car ended there is beyond comprehension, someone from Virginia. but I suppose the same way I ended there. I removed every good and bad part off of that car. Had to fight a nest of snakes with a broom. The grille alone got me $200.00 bucks. The clutch and brake pedals assembly another $120.00. Parts is parts.Check out the Lucas C45 Generator. I even took the Heater Box. Then I sold the body to a crusher, big mistake, it had good glass.
Jaguar themselves introduced a smaller scal leaper than those on the Mark 2 and S-type. Originally fitted on the Mark 10/420G and then the 420 saloon, they suited the different style of these cars with the squared-off radiator. This look was the precursor to the XJ6 of 1967. However the smaller leaper was never fitted to the XJ saloons
In California, I think all the dealers put Leapers on all the XJ’s up through the X358’s. The factory shipped them with Leapers inside the glove boxes so the dealers could install them. I like the small Leapers on the Series 1-3 and the larger ones on the later XJ’s. My X308 has a large spring-loaded one. I don’t like Leapers on any sports cars or on anything after the X358.
I agree with Emil, I grew up seeing Leapers on all XJ’s so if there isn’t one, it looks naked. I also like driving down the road and looking over the hood and seeing the Leaper guiding the car along.
I think someone must’ve tried stealing my Leaper off my X308 before I bought it because the hood had minor damage. When I repainted my hood, I had it fixed.
