Leaping Jaguar Hood Ornament
 

There are a few Jag ornaments on e bay but they have different part numbers. Does anyone know the part number for one for a 95 XJS? I want to be sure I get the right one.

There is no right one for the XJS as it was NEVER fitted wirh a leaper nor was it intended to have one. Every XJS wirh leaper has had it fitted as a aftermarket part.

Coupés and cabrios don't have leapers. Saloons/sedans can. That is how it always was with maybe the XK150 being a fat and bulky exception.

Here we go again. Lol
Buy the one you like. It's your car

Don't do it! At least until you've seen a Photo of one the Previous Owner fitted to my Car, which looked so blinking awful that I nearly went and bought myself a New Bonnet/Hood.

Well, if he wants the "right" one, then, as Daim said, there simply is no "right" one. There is probably no right one for a reason.

The leaper on my XJS looks great

Without a picture of said XJS we'll never know just how great!

I'm sure the leaper does look great. The question is, how does the car look with it?
(^_^)

I have one on mine.
Its a small one that fits into the existing holes and so can be replaced with the growler anytime l want.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...f99c43ff56.png

I bought my car with the leaper. I thought it was my preference until it started looking to phallic for my taste. Once that happened, I couldn't unsee it and I switched to a growler.

Eventually I changed the growler on the car to this one:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/private-sale-trade-buy-classifieds-9/green-growler-wheel-center-caps-4-0-litre-hood-badge-set-good-cond-$35-90885/

Mine has the leaper that fits into the holes where the growler goes as well. Get that one so you can do whichever you please according to your desires or moods.

But it is correct that there is no "right" one. No XJS left the factory with one.

But I like them. I think it's nice historical anecdote. I've even seen some of the new Japanese inspired Jaguars with them and even in those cars it helps (a little)

I didn't know that they never came with with the Leaping Cat. Now I'm not so sure I want one. What made me think I might was that I just came from a classic car museum and most of the cars there had really cool hood ornaments. So I thought hay, Jag has a pretty unique hood ornament. Might look good on my car. Plus I have seen pictures of some XJS's with one. I kind of like them but I will think about it for now.

As said, they were nsver fitted to the XJ-S/XJS from factory. Some dealers fitted them. Some owners did... Taste of course. But imho not so great taste, as the vehicle lines are badly influenced... Especially as there is no proper mounting position. The XJ6 and XJ8 models had a cutout umder the bonnet to accommodate the mounting points.

If you've got a 95 then it is very likely that you have the Rare and Desirable Celebration Model with the Gold Bonnet/Hood Growler and the Wood and Leather Steering Wheel etc.

Let the Car do the Talking, no need to dress her up with Costume Jewellery.

a leaping jaguar is not custom Jewellery.

Maybe chrome aftermarket rims and neon lights are

Unfortunately I don't have the Rare Model with the Gold Bonnet/Hood Growler or Wood Leather Steering Wheel etc. I did Celebrate my Desirable purchase though. Maybe my next one.

"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."

- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I have two '95 XJS' and one came with the factory growler emblem and the other came with the leaping cat.

I like the look of both. I will say that the leaping cat gets the most admiration at car shows etc. I have had several people want to get their pictures taken with it.

As has already been mentioned, if I were going to put a leaping cat on a XJS I would get the one that bolts right through the same holes that the growler does. This allows you to switch them back and forth depending on your mood or preference at the time.

I have seen photos of a leaping cat mounted above the growler emblem and IMO this is not good. If you feel strong enough I would look up Orangeblossom's photos of where the previous owner of his XJS mounted it. Again I warn you to be prepared as once this image is seen it will forever be burned into your brain -LOL !

But as the photo shown by malc4d shows they can look very model appropriate and classy if done correctly. I have posted a couple of photos of our XJS with it on.

I don't know if you ever intend to show your car at a judged concours, but having a leaper on an XJS is a fairly major points deduction.

I do not take my cars to a show to be judged concours. I go to shows to meet people and to get the XJS' out to be seen. I decided a long time ago if I was going to have older cars to take to shows I was never going to be that person who cared more about trophies etc. than having fun.

I will say it is entertaining to watch people at car shows worrying about getting a trophy or getting judged. It is almost worth going to the show just to watch the craziness unfold in front of you.

I actually heard an older guy with a XJS telling the judges at a big Jaguar show that he got turned around getting to the show and ended up on a non paved road for a few seconds so the judges needed to take that into consideration when they judged his car as this was not his fault.