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XJ6 Vanden Plas Production Numbers and Differences
While in the process of putting a deal together on a 1985 XJ6 Vanden Plas the thought came to mind of how many people opted for this option? On certain auction sites the Vanden Plas' seem to sell for stronger money.
Any idea on how many were made and imported into the US?
Special features:
- Burl walnut wooden dash. Were the gauges recessed in the dash and different in design than the "regular" XJ cars?
- Additional wood trim on door tops
- Connolly leather
- Rear passenger swivel opera lights
- Semi bucket rear passenger seat with fold down armrest/storage compartment
- Special floor mats
On the VDP (whether 6 cylinder or V12, the latter not sold in the US) the gauges are indeed inset (but not entirely flush). Every Jaguar in that period had Connolly leather but the VDP used the highest grade: Autolux. The carpeting was the same as in the XJ6 but the VDP had, in addition, “fleece” over-mats for the passenger positions only. Oh…they are reading lights, not opera lights. These were also on the Sovereign models (also not sold in the US).
In short, the VDP interiors are Daimler interiors in every respect except badging and steering wheel.
I think the VDP also has an extended rear console bit below the "eyeball" vent that provides rear cigar lighter and ash tray. The standard piece provides room for the window lift switches only.
Yes, again, both the Sovereign and the VDP do have that extended console piece:
and the VDP /Daimler interior looks like this: (these photos are from a 1992 V12 VDP, but the VDP XJ6 interior is similar - except that the contrasting piping was an optional feature); all upholstered surfaces are in Connolly Autolux leather, including the door panel fixtures, all armrests and the entire seat structure: front, sides and rear of the seats - essentially everything that has stitching. (On the XJ6 only the seating surfaces are leather - the rest is good vinyl):
In this photo of the front compartment you can see the "fleece" carpet mat:
The folding reading lamp and grab handle (ignore the garage mess seen through the rear glass):
The heavily burled Daimler wood:
The car I am looking at is Sage Green with Doeskin interior. The front seats need new leather and I have reached out to John Skinner in the UK to get a quote on new upholstery. I used him for the Wilton wool carpets in my Triumph TR6 and the quality was exceptional.
I currently own a 1985 XJ6 that I have had for just a few months but love the car so much I went on the hunt for a nicer car to replace it. My current car is a great daily driver, having put several thousand miles on it since I bought it, but the car really needs a repaint. It is solid everywhere underneath but has the common rust bubbling around the front and rea windows.
I did notice on the 1985 that I am looking at the mirror controls are in the door pull which I feel is a more user-friendly location. I like the earlier cars with the larger shelf and analog clock versus the later cars when they went with the trip computers. I know Jaguar was just keeping up with consumer demand, but to me it looks out of place on an otherwise classic interior.
I agree that the early and larger center console Shelf section with clock is a lot more user friendly, however the 4 switches are of a larger style, which should not make any difference but wiring connections are different so they would need to be sorted. I believe the early section can be adapted to the later console.
I have one of those earlier shelfs that you can see in my website, it is complete with everything and original working clock. https://jagupgrades.webstarts.com
While in the process of putting a deal together on a 1985 XJ6 Vanden Plas the thought came to mind of how many people opted for this option? On certain auction sites the Vanden Plas' seem to sell for stronger money.
Any idea on how many were made and imported into the US?
With enough archive searching you'll find some Series III production charts from JDHT that people have posted. I can't recall if the USA-spec Vanden Plas is called out specifically.
Sometimes a Google search is faster and easier and often brings you right back here.
Or you can do some digging here and see what comes up
Bear in mind that the JDHT records do have some errors. For just one example (and one that particularly irritates me ) is stating the Series III 6-cylinder production ended in October 1986. In fact, it ended in April 1987.
The car I am looking at is Sage Green with Doeskin interior.
A gorgeous color combo; not often found.
My current car is a great daily driver, having put several thousand miles on it since I bought it, but the car really needs a repaint. It is solid everywhere underneath but has the common rust bubbling around the front and rea windows.
Just recently my '85 has starting rusting there as well. A little heartbreaking but not surprising.
A Series III without rust in this area would be a rather rare find nowadays.
Do you know if Paul's deals with Connolly Autolux leather? Or is there even a discernable difference between the "normal" Connolly leather and the Autolux?
Connolly used to supply most of the leather used in models of Jaguar, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce and Ferrari until 2002. World Upholstery and Trim currently supplies a "Connolly Substitute", leather supplied by a different European tannery that uses the same Vaumol, Autolux and Laxan grain.AutoLux Background
In early times there were three leather manufacturers that supplied Ferrari Motorcars: ARBO Tan, Connolly and Franzi. Arbo Tan Leather was used in some of the 50’s Ferrari’s but stopped supplying Ferrari after a few years. Connolly however maintained its role and succeeded in becoming the reference supplier to the car industry as well as Jaguar, Bentley, Rolls Royce & Aston Martin.
The early Connolly Vaumol and Franzi leather had a thickness of approximately 1.3 - 1.4 mm and felt a bit harder than the leather used in modern cars. The leather used by Ferrari was made in the Luxan grain, the crushed grain and the classic grade with its darker pores. Later on, the leather factory started to make Autolux Leather. To save money this leather was made a little thinner than Vaumol but it was VAT dyed. Fullgrain hides were used to make Vaumol and Autolux Leather. Concours Interiors | Exotic Car Restoration Naples Florida | Materials
Last edited by MSGGrunt; Nov 13, 2022 at 09:31 PM.
Do you know if Paul's deals with Connolly Autolux leather? Or is there even a discernable difference between the "normal" Connolly leather and the Autolux?
yes indeed there is a significant difference. The Autolux is smoother and softer than the XJ6 Connolly leather. Connolly, as it was during the Series III period, is “no longer trading”. The last time Connolly leather was used in Jaguars was around 2002. They then switched to Italian leather which was/is every bit as good or better. The optional Windsor leather in my F-Type is like Italian glove leather, just beautifully soft and smooth.
Do you know if Paul's deals with Connolly Autolux leather? Or is there even a discernable difference between the "normal" Connolly leather and the Autolux?
I cannot say for sure if they have the Autolux leather, but it's worth asking them. I recall that they claim to have purchased a large amount of remaining leather, carpet and other materials directly from Jaguar many years ago. I have a set of their leather front seat covers for an SIII that I haven't gotten around to installing yet. They seem to be very high quality.
Did Jaguar ever offer heated seats as an option in the XJ6/12/Vanden Plas? I am surprised my XJ6 doesn't have them. Maybe something to consider adding when and if I reupholster the front seats.
Do you know if Paul's deals with Connolly Autolux leather? Or is there even a discernable difference between the "normal" Connolly leather and the Autolux?
Besides smoothness and softness of the leather itself.....
The leather on base-level cars was not as carefully selected for consistancy of appearance. If you look closely, at enough base level cars, you'll see that the leather texture/appearance doesn't always match on the two front seats, nor rear seat compared to the front seats. And on the front seats you'll sometimes see individual sections that don't quite match the other sections. Not every car, every time....but fairly often.
You can see the same with the wood dashboards. The most attractive pieces were reserved for upper-spec cars.
XJ6 Vanden Plas Production Numbers and Differences
) is stating the Series III 6-cylinder production ended in October 1986. In fact, it ended in April 1987. 
