Searching for a XJS convertible and I keep coming across ones with the aftermarket chrome fender flares on the wheel arches, sorry not a big fan of these. How difficult are these to remove and should I expect the paint underneath to be in disrepair?

 

I hate stick on chrome crap like that.

There are two different types. One style uses screws to hold them on under the wheel arch. Just remove the screws and pull them off.

The other uses double sided tape. Use a heat gun or hair dryer to warm it up and gently pull.

If you're lucky, you should be able to buff out the paint and be good to go.

No matter which you have, immediately crumple them up and throw them away so that no one will ever stick that 1980's bling back on!

 

Most people fit these things to disguise what lies underneath, like a seriously corroded wheel arch rim, especially the rear arches. So I would expect rust underneath for sure; almost guaranteed in fact knowing how badly the XJS car bodies were prepared and painted.

 

These arches weren't factory applied, right? Were they a dealer option or was this a aftermarket thing?

 

These were aftermarket, Autozone type of crap. Usually flare density increases, the closer you are to ghetto.