Fellas, anyone know where I can get this ornament? Thanks...

 

vettegood has one on his XKR.

See:https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...tioning-72253/

From his post:
"The story behind the leaper is there were 50 of these actually made, one for each state and when we opted in, we paid our monies and when all 50 were spoken for, we had the same foundry in England that actually makes the Jaguar leapers pour the 50 molds or sculptures and finish them and then the mold was destroyed. We all received numbered certificate of authenticity and a certificate of destuction along with photo. My Leaper sculptures certificate number was #21 my lucky number.

An artist/sculpture in Florida was the idea man and actually made the original sculpture himself and as I said was destroyed when the 50 were made, which should make some of you very happy that there are only 50 and most likely will not see one yourself in person, as for me I really love it, it is a piece of art, just like the XKR! "

Vector

 

No idea on that one.

I got one of these.

Not real good snaps, but show enough "I think".

 

Love your car Grant. That is the same leaper I have on mine with the round base. They are made for the XJ-S ,the round base bolts on to where the badge is so you can always go back and forth between the badge and the leaper. The cat is also larger like the ones in the XK150's (those that came with leapers anyway)

 

Hi,

Where can I get that leaper. I have the round badge and I would like to replace it with the round base leaper. Thanks..

 

Grant,

Would that grill fit on a 95 xjs?

 

I found it at "Bill Tracy" in the USA, maaaaaaaany years ago. It is a copy (altered enough) of the MK4 leaper, and is just what an XJ-S needs.

Bill Tracy had/has a website and may still have stock of these things, dunno.

 

That would depend on your imagination.

That is my "original" plastic grille, which cracked 14 years ago, and at $600, I really wanted the car to look stock, HAHAHAHA.

I removed the inner vanes/guts (small handsaw, and a rasp), wandered into a "woven wire" mob down here, and the guy was a Jag nutter worse than me (impossible), so 6 hours later I left with an off cut of what you see. Made it myself, about 4 hours, but really did not keep time tabs.

Then the lower crappy thing got up my nose, so repeated the process to what you see in the snaps.

It really keeps the bugs out of the radiators, which is a secondary bonus, not on the brain wave at that time.

 

I got mine on Bill Tracy too. Google XJS LEAPER BILL TRACY and it should come up. I just put XJS LEAPER on eBay and they got one there too

 

Grant,

Where did you get that mesh from?

 

Your car looks amazing!

 

Simply looked up "woven wire suppliers" in the Yellow Pages (no google in those days).

Should be someone like that in your area/country.

Mine is Stainless Woven Wire.

Ours sell it by the metre, and its about 1 metre wide.

Dont get too heavy a gauge, as it is a mongrel to cut.

You will need decent "heavy duty" side cutters. Grinding it was NOT an option for me. Cuts by the hundreds will be part of the fun. A sense of humour will help heaps, as will the ability to look/think "outside the square", as we say.

 

Thanks Grant. One more question. I see that Mina Gallery sells the mesh grill that looks like yours. I have a 95 xjs. Do you know if a 93 model grill would work with my 95 or did they change the shape? They one they sell that looks like yours is for up to a 93 model. Just curious if it would fit on mine...

 

OH,

I have seen, maaaaaany years ago, the "update" grille in the early cars. I believe that was the price thing at play in those days.

It was also claimed???, it gave slightly more clearance to that lower plastic hinge cover panel??, dunno.

Soooo, based on that, I see no reason why it wont physically fit in the hole, attachment "may" be an imagination test, but a good slug of JD prior should make all things clear as crystal haha.

The parts book still shows 4 screws along the top edge, and 2 near the lower (horizontal) blade, which is the same set up as the early grilles.

 

I ordered one today. They are offering free shipping this month. Here is the website: XJS LEAPER FOR ALL SEDANS 7 5/8 " LONG

Still not sure if I will like the look but hard to say until it arrives and I put it on the car.

I initially made the mistake of buying a different one on eBay that did not have the round base. Its now on the hood of my lawn mower

 

the ' ornament ' in the original post is not actually meant to be fitted to a car

it is in fact...................a bottle opener ,

these are original items sold by jaguar in their accessories brochures ( at least here in the UK )

and cost around £50 UK ,

i would imagine the owner has modified it to fit his car ,

i actually own one of these bottle openers , and its sat on my desk in front of me right now ,

if anyone is interested, these can still be bough brand new, and i would be willing to post out to the rest of the world with upfront payment

BB

 

[QUOTE=Grant Francis;526008]No idea on that one.

I got one of these.

Not real good snaps, but show enough "I think".


I like the black detailing on your car there Grant, I have similar car.
Did you do the black detailing yourself ? Did you spray the light surrounds etc ?

Sorry to go off topic !

 

HA! right on BB! I wonder if the dude with the XKR knows that.

Jaguar Enthusiast Gifts

 

I don't remember getting a certificate with my Jaguar head that is on my 96 XJS but love it and tried to buy more without any luck. Love it so much more than a badge or a Leaper. I have a 74 XKE that would look hideous with any ornament on it's nose.