This should be an easy one to answer:

Did the whole run on XJS 76-96 come with chrome fittings or did that stop after a certain year?

 

There's a lot of chrome on the car, much of it from the factory.

What fittings are you referring to?

 

heh Vee

Just been window shopping and noticed some seem to have chrome bumpers etc whilst others do not. Below is an example of one i think has nice polished chrome, particularly around the wheels base and bumpers.

I know other vehicle makes over the years phased out chrome and went with plastic.

 

Chrome wheel arches were never offered by the factory. Sadly, they often are fitted to cover terminally rusted wheelarch edges...

Greg

 

Not only do those chrome covers on the wheel arches hide the rot, they are in fact generators of a serious future rust problem and should be an absolute no-no on any car.


Personally I have a divide view on the chrome bumpers since I own a 84-HE with chrome bumpers and a 76 with the original black bumpers. The interesting point is that the black bumpers actually look great on the 76 convertible, but would look terrible on the bronze HE. My preference is however with less chrome wherever possible.


have fun
BernardS

 

The picture appears to have both plastic and chrome for the bumper.

Did Jag bring them out with Chrome bumpers or were all the originals the black bumpers?

 

That's how they are. '93ish they became colour coded full plastic with chrome.

 

paulyling,

The XJS was a model with continuous development over 21 years. There are multiple engine options, body configurations, drivetrains, major styling updates and two distinct body construction phases.

As you're considering buying one, it would be worth buying a book which maps out the whole XJS story. That way, you will understand better the type of model, engine and body style that you may prefer. There is a world of difference between a 1975 5.3 manual Coupe and a 1996 4 litre Convertible.

The definitive XJS book is "You and your XJS" by Nigel Thorley. Readily available new with plenty of copies on the 2nd-hand market. It's a good read and you'll much better informed as to your potential choice of car.

Good luck

Paul

 

The first 4 or 5 years (75-) until the new H.E. models came out, the XJ-S had no chrome bumpers. Instead they were rather thin looking short bumpers.

With the H.E. model (and facelift), the bumpers were replaced with some more rugged looking bumpers with chrom trimming at the top.

Later, with the big facelift (with different side screens etc.), the bumpers were colour coded and rounded off. They still had quite a bit of chrome.

So if you have an early model (recognizeable by the basic black in black interior with no wood), then it should have NO chrome bumpers.

If you have an "80ies" model (around 81-91) it will have wood and chrome.

 

There also were body kits fitted to many XJ-S that would remove the chrome. The most popular being the TWR body kit.

 

thanks again guys.

yeah i have another XJS Buyers guide book that has just arrived in the mail. I am at work overseas at the moment, so have to wait until i get home, but eager to read to understand the history a little better.

Lots of options it would seem. I am a fan of the chrome myself however, its would seem as you guys mentioned it comes with its own problems...?