I've always been a street rodder, building, painting, and fabbing on vintage cars. I like clean, subtle, and kinda stock appearing in some areas. I'm also a detail freak especially on fasteners. Been getting my 4.2 and trans ready for removal for a small block Chevy install. I was noticing all the unneeded holes in the engine bay that I'm going to weld up and smooth. So then the can of worms opens up. If I'm going to paint the engine bay, I may do a total color change to silver instead of the white. I might remove the side marker lights too. I have not found much on the web on custom or resto modded XJ's. Does anyone have any info, pics, links, etc. on some?

 

There isnt much done to sedans...seen xj40 bumers a few times.

Xj coupes seem to draw quite a bit of customizing...

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...57814629_o.jpg

 

I got rid of my side lights, and i love the way it came out, really cleans up the lines!!
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...lights-130736/

and here it is all painted!

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-again-131420/

but that's the extent of it

 

There ARE customized Jags out there. Not tons of them, but they're there. Keep looking. Tastes vary, of course, but I've see very few that I care for. Most people go wayyyyyy overboard with the modifications, taking a nice idea but not quite knowing when to stop.

Some, it seems, like the boy-racer look. Others seemingly try to blend 'American Muscle Car' or 'Street Rod' with Jaguar conservative good looks. IMHO, Jags just don't lend themselves to that kind of look.

Dumping the marker lamps really helps as do slightly wider wheels/tires (with conservative wheel styles), a *slightly* lowered stance, and getting the safety bumpers looking more like the ROW bumpers helps a lot as well.

Just IMHO, of course.

Cheers
DD

 

Definitely going to keep my stock wheels. Thought about pulling the bumpers in. I upgraded the headlights which was a nice touch. May install newer style JAGUAR nameplate on LR and put a leaper on the RR. I want it to stay classy looking. My biggest dislikes are the black bezels around the outside door handles and the steering wheel. I bought a Grant mahogany steering wheel and plan on doing my own woodgraining on the dash, shift knobs, steering wheel and building a console plate cover to woodgrain as well. Here is a panel I woodgrained with paint on my 1978 Olds 442

 

There are many different views of course, but I share Doug's opinion on the bumpers. The original lines of the car were designed as per the ROW spec. and IMHO a departure from this spoils the whole design balance, as in the case of the over sized U.S reg bumpers. The original design also has smaller and more discreet front wing marker lights and the rears never existed.

I've never seen a rodded version of an XJ that doesn't look what it is - a beautiful design that's been messed up!

 

Yeah, most are "messed up" looking. it was/is an elegant design, improved on by a talented designer!!! Gotta be good to beat the pro's.
A bit here and there, for individuality, can work well...


The XJS sourced lattice wheels on my XJwuzza six did a lot. And, still in the family and better yet, reversible... whatever that means...


I refer to mine as "English elegance, with an Italian flair and American power". A great combination, in my view.


Carl