Leaper - or not ?
#1
#2
the leaper mascot/ornament was done away with around the time when the Series 2 XJ was introduced. Having to do with people getting impaled by the leaper if struck by the car in pedestrian crossings, so the Feds passed a law to ban them.
in theory the last Jaguars to have a factory bonnet leaper were the S type, the 420, the 420-G, and the Series 1 XJ, and the latter in some markets only. But owners in the USA kept installing them all the way to today, it is a profitable ornament.
the irony is that all the way to the end of the Series 3 XJ, (1992), the bonnets came prepared for the leaper ornament, with the holes marked for drilling on the reverse side of the hood/bonnet.
my 1984 XJ-6 does not have a leaper ornament, my opinion is that it looks out of place in the XJ.
and I almost forget: in the old Jaguars the leaper ornament has a purpose, you grab it to help raise the hood/bonnet; In the XJ it has no purpose since the hood raises forward from the rear, same principle as in the E-type. Now just imagine a E-type / XK-E with a leaper on the hood, it would look wrong.
in theory the last Jaguars to have a factory bonnet leaper were the S type, the 420, the 420-G, and the Series 1 XJ, and the latter in some markets only. But owners in the USA kept installing them all the way to today, it is a profitable ornament.
the irony is that all the way to the end of the Series 3 XJ, (1992), the bonnets came prepared for the leaper ornament, with the holes marked for drilling on the reverse side of the hood/bonnet.
my 1984 XJ-6 does not have a leaper ornament, my opinion is that it looks out of place in the XJ.
and I almost forget: in the old Jaguars the leaper ornament has a purpose, you grab it to help raise the hood/bonnet; In the XJ it has no purpose since the hood raises forward from the rear, same principle as in the E-type. Now just imagine a E-type / XK-E with a leaper on the hood, it would look wrong.
Last edited by Jose; 03-06-2015 at 05:20 PM.
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smith356 (03-07-2015)
#3
No - have mine off my old SII on my desk now
I am not a fan of them on any Jaguar... the old one off my '74 SII is now a desk ornament and was off the rusted out hood on the ground on the left of the picture.
It was traded for a Mustang convertible and left with a imported from Canada '84 Sovereign hood that had a small Leaper...
It was traded for a Mustang convertible and left with a imported from Canada '84 Sovereign hood that had a small Leaper...
Last edited by Roger Mabry; 03-07-2015 at 10:55 AM.
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I think Jaguar stopped using 'em because they didn't like the look....but, yeah, there might have bee some regulations involved
in theory the last Jaguars to have a factory bonnet leaper were the S type, the 420, the 420-G, and the Series 1 XJ, and the latter in some markets only.
I really have serious doubts that even certain Series I cars ever had a factory installed leaper. This has been hashed over for years. I don't think anyone, anywhere has ever produced a picture or any other documentation showing a 'factory installed' leaper on any Series I-II-III car.
But, if it was ever done, it would've most likely been done on a Series I !
But owners in the USA kept installing them all the way to today, it is a profitable ornament.
Yup! And people love shiny objects
the irony is that all the way to the end of the Series 3 XJ, (1992), the bonnets came prepared for the leaper ornament, with the holes marked for drilling on the reverse side of the hood/bonnet.
One of those Jaguar 'throwback' things. They really hated 'letting go'
my 1984 XJ-6 does not have a leaper ornament, my opinion is that it looks out of place in the XJ.
BTW, I just bought another Series III....with no leaper! I'm tickled
Cheers
DD
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I have the "Jaguar XJ6 Gold Portfolio" 1969-1979.
It is a compilation of almost every newspaper and magazine article on the S1 & S2.
174 pages of pics,articles,specs,road tests etc.
Not one of the hundreds of pictures has a leaper on the car.
Don't you think if leaper is going to injure a pedestrian they are already pretty well screwed anyway by the time the leaper gets to them?
My car came with a leaper so it stays, it is the small one.
It is a compilation of almost every newspaper and magazine article on the S1 & S2.
174 pages of pics,articles,specs,road tests etc.
Not one of the hundreds of pictures has a leaper on the car.
Don't you think if leaper is going to injure a pedestrian they are already pretty well screwed anyway by the time the leaper gets to them?
My car came with a leaper so it stays, it is the small one.
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Doug:
Congratulations. Back to the fun. post up some pictures and detail. I'm sure your pre and post buy inspections would interest all of us. especialy those contemplating a buy.
I like to watch a judge show or two in the afternoon. Many are the misadventures of folks buying old cars. The world does not understand 'as is, where is".
I do growl a bit when the judges chastise them for buying old cars. Ten seems old to most of them!!!
I did see one advertised on another forum up ion your neck of the woods. Might your new steed be it. Price seemed very decent as well as condition. Claret and buckskin??? A striking combination.
Carl
Congratulations. Back to the fun. post up some pictures and detail. I'm sure your pre and post buy inspections would interest all of us. especialy those contemplating a buy.
I like to watch a judge show or two in the afternoon. Many are the misadventures of folks buying old cars. The world does not understand 'as is, where is".
I do growl a bit when the judges chastise them for buying old cars. Ten seems old to most of them!!!
I did see one advertised on another forum up ion your neck of the woods. Might your new steed be it. Price seemed very decent as well as condition. Claret and buckskin??? A striking combination.
Carl
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This comment probably belongs n the XJS list, if it belongs anywhere!!
I saw a rerun segment of "Fast n Loud". The Gas Monkey garage in Dallas, Texas. Rawlins, a principal in the show buys and flips cars after a fix of some degree.
He found the record setting XJ of about 1978 that won about then. Rawlins and pal used another later to beat that record. so, he and wealthy pal went after the original car. Now, in sad shape in a lo awaiting the crusher. he paid a big prce and brought it to Texas. Point: A leaper on the bonnett. it didn't look right, but, either did the car!!
Sad, I don't know the fate of the rescued cat???
Carl
I saw a rerun segment of "Fast n Loud". The Gas Monkey garage in Dallas, Texas. Rawlins, a principal in the show buys and flips cars after a fix of some degree.
He found the record setting XJ of about 1978 that won about then. Rawlins and pal used another later to beat that record. so, he and wealthy pal went after the original car. Now, in sad shape in a lo awaiting the crusher. he paid a big prce and brought it to Texas. Point: A leaper on the bonnett. it didn't look right, but, either did the car!!
Sad, I don't know the fate of the rescued cat???
Carl
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