Sarc, nice find! I've been half-*** browsing craigslist as well I share your dislike of the chrome fender arches. Man I can remember hours spent looking at the 80s XJ6 & XJS brochures.

You have a beautiful example there... enjoy!

 

@Flint

Yes, it starts out so innocently ! Then browsing becomes going to see and going to see means having a test drive, then there's no way back.

Meanwhile, back on my "to do" list.....

I replaced the electric aerial with an aftermarket one from Harada. Tick. Finished !! Everything now works as it should (Aerial, A/C, cruise, sunroof, windows, mirrors, seat height adjust, central locking)

The aerial was about $200 including shipping which is ridiculous for an aerial, but anyway, it's in and it's working great. If anyone else tries this replacement, note that the kit comes with the motor connected to the mast........ you DO NOT need to separate them to install it. You can push the mast through from the trunk into the space behind the rear light. It takes some doing because the mast is a certain length and it's difficult to turn it around in the small space but after some fiddling I finally got it positioned correctly.

So, next up is the infamous lumpy idle..... on the shelf so far I have....

Pertronix Distributor and coil
Plug leads
Spark plugs
Thermostat and gasket
Dipstick seal
Oil Filler Seal

I'm waiting for my vacuum hose kit. I'm not saying what I've bought until it's here and I can judge whether I was ripped off or not...... we'll see. If it's good, I'll post. If it's not, you won't hear about it :-)

 

Have you seen this?
tipofmonth7 - Rough Idle Remedies for 4.2L FI Engines



Cheers
DD

 

Hi Doug

Yes, thanks. I have it printed out and I'm merrily scoring things off. I think this was where I learned about the 99 instant mpg on the trip computer.

 

I kinda like the Leaper on my XJ. I realize that it was a dealer install. It was well done, no scars under the bonnet from an errant drill job!! More appeal to sell and extra bucks for the dealer?? At least it didn't get side mouldings and wheel arch chrome. Ugh!

I've contemplated how to find and/or make a Jeep ornament. Like the little animal in the Popeye cartoons of old. It would look good on the barren hodd of my Grand Cherokee!!

In days of yore, cars wore their hood ornaments with pride. The Packard Cormaorant, the Buick gunsight, The Pontiac Chief and many more.

My son's big Dodge 4x 4 has the classic Goat head (Ram). I recall the similar figure on our family's 38 Dodge sedan that took us through WWII and beyond. It even survived me and my brother's early teen years. Got my driving license at 16 in it. The cop wouldn't go for my T!!!

Even my "ugly at the time" 37 Ford had a torpedoe that doubled as a hood latch.

 

I'm with you there...... and it looks like the blasted things are screwed on, and have been on since new, so no way to easily take them off without leaving holes and unfaded paint, etc :-(

 

You bought a great car from a great guy. Bill P and his wife loved that car from new. I live in Los Gatos and have an '87 Black Vanden Plas. I would have jumped on his car if I had the space and money when he was ready to sell.

 

That's really great to read. I'm the third custodian of this car, having bought it from SARC last October. I'm doing my best to keep the car up to the same standards and with compatible aesthetics to SARC, keeping it as original as possible.

I drive this car almost every day and I absolutely cherish it. It's, quite frankly, wonderful to read the history of such a brilliant car, two years later. This is one of the many good reasons to get one's car from another enthusiast.

Thanks!