How true, Carl. The faux add-ons are never convincing and they always look WRONG, just wrong. There are very few cases in which original designs or original engineering is improved because these attempted "improvements" compromise either the design or the performance. An example of this is the substitution of poly bushings for the original metalastic or rubber bushings. Yes, the poly substitutions may well last longer but they always alter (that is) degrade the refinement for which Jaguarst are known. The steering rack bushings are a perfect example. The XJ6 bushings tend to wear and shift, thus leading to some sloppiness; but putting poly bushings in their place can lead to cracked steering rack mounts (I have seen this) and excessive vibration through the steering wheel; the real fix? Fit the correct Jaguar "Sport" bushings as fitted to the XJS - they have a flange which prevents the excessive movement but without sacrificing that refinement.
And visual add-ons (side mouldings, wheel arch mouldings, wire wheels either semi-real, meaning bolt-on or purely fake hubcaps...) all of these destroy the design integrity of the car...oh, and to this list we should add the US spec small outer headlamps which completely alter (and not for the better) the beautiful frontal design. Once you see the headlamp arrangement as originally intended, the US-market form is just so obviously not right.The photo shows that original design: this is a Canadian-market 1992 V12 Vanden Plas. Lovely.