I just got an 1988 XJS convertible, VIN: SAJNA5846JC142815. I am new to Jaguars. and do not know what I have, Hess & Eisenhardt or the Jaguar version. The doors have the small side window and the rear side glass is attached to the top, so when the top goes down so does the window. The build date was at the end of 1987. I looked at the fuel tank and only saw one behind the spare tire. This car has the euro headlights and a front lower air dam, that I do not see on other 88 XJs's. In the trunk there is a paper label that the car was specialy built, with there name of the owners on it. I sure would like any info on this car. It is need of a new top and right rear glass so I need to know what to buy for it. Thanks for any help. I will post pics as soon I find out how.
Lennie

 

If it is an '88 it is a H&E. Jaguar didn't start making ther own convertibles until 1990. The euro style headlights (oval) are rare to find on us cars and I use always envied them :-). The H&E covertible tops fold down lower than the Jaguar convertible tops did but they have a smaller rear window. That is one way to prove yours is an h&E.

 

EcbJag, thanks for the reply. Still looking for any info. Is there a place to get more info by using the vin?

 

You didn't happen to buy this car in NE Pennsylvania, did you?

 

The easiest place to get VIN info is to go to Jag-Lovers and download the free XJS book by Kirby Palm. Not only will you be able to decode your VIN, you'll get over 700 pages of vital information on the XJS. It's invaluable. Jag-lovers - one source for your Jaguar cars needs
Hope this helps.
Willie, Pinehurst, NC 1989 Coupe black/tan

 

I got the car in New Mexico. There are som pics under the name of blacky.

 

Are there other companys that made convertible conversions for Jaguars?

 

According to Jaguar that is a 1988 XJS 5.3L, Black w/Savile Gray interior. Sold originally at Royal Oaks Motors in Sugarland, TX in September of 1987. I know it started life as a coupe, but I can't determine whether it's a Hess & Eisenhardt conversion or someone elses. Whatever the case, it's not a Jaguar built convertible.

Oh, and it never had a single warranty claim filed w/Jaguar.

Cheers,

 

Steve thanks so much for all that info.

 

I am adding more pics of my top to see if anyone knows who did the conversion to convertible

 

Well, it's definitely not a H&E. I've got one and your top does not retract nearly far enough. Besides, if it were, it should have the chrome Hess and Eisenhardt emblems on the front fender. Can you post a rear shot of the top up? I've seen quite a number of off non factory sanctioned conversions on ebay, and some are really strange but yours looks much more like the later factory one. I did see someone selling an '88 that he claimed was a factory prototype and it was just like the '89. H&E versions let you control the rear windows which I like better because you can put all the windows down with the top up. The factory ones make the windows raise and lower with the top. Can you also post a picture of the windshield to top junction with the top closed? The top looks quite similar to the H&E version from the side. But I would need to see how the top seals against the windshield.

 

I added more pics of the top. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond.

 

Jaguar introduced the convertible for the US market in 1989MY (I have a customer with one) and the H & E was earlier.
I have the H & E repair manual in .pdf but it is about a 36mb download.
I also have the 1989 supplement for the conv and coupe as well as the update summary.

The only one small enough to upload is the supplement at 3mb but it will not upload???

The 1989 update is 10mb.

I might have uploaded them to the large file server managed by the moderator 'translator' so that might be a way to get them!!!

bob gauff

 

Here are links to all three. Maybe Translator can pull them off and add to his postings.

https://www.myotherdrive.com/dyn/fil...XJS+Update.pdf
https://www.myotherdrive.com/dyn/fil...Supplement.pdf
https://www.myotherdrive.com/dyn/fil...Eisenhardt.pdf

Cheers,

 

thanks for all the info

 

Sorry to say, it's neither one! Definitely not a H&E, nor a factory convertible. You'll have to have an upholsterer dismantle your top to create a new one for you. Are there any kind of ID tags that indicate at all who the converter was? It does look similar to the later factory rags except for where the roof meets the windshield frame. Perhaps a factory rag could be modified to fit. It seems like you would also need the factory rear glass to go with it though. Sorry for the bad news!