In the long process of prepping my '83 for complete repaint, and as I was taking the driver's buttress down to bare metal, discovered a couple small holes beneath the gas filler lid. Here are the holes:


They are clearly intentional, but there is no evidence of there ever having been a repair in this area, so I have no idea what the purpose of these holes may have been. The holes were plugged with these guys, I think some sort of plastic:


I recorded a video as well, which includes a view from the interior looking out.


Any idea what these may have been for?

Either way I may panel-bond a small steel strip on the interior of the holes so I'll be able to fill them with body filler on the outside.

Thank guys - I'll be posting a "build" thread when I'm done with all this lovely paint/body stuff.

 

They might have been fixing holes for an "unleaded fuel only" tab.

 

One of these?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/312623754...epid=806308240

Paul

 

So strange they would've put that on the exterior and not inside the filler lid. That must be it though - that's one mystery down. The other: how was that tag attached to the body? No evidence of threads, and whatever it was must've provided a pretty good seal, given the very limited surface rust on the backside of those holes.

 

There were a number of different badges used. See here:

https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.../brand/jaguar/

With the flush fit, I suspect they used rivets or similar to fasten those.

Paul

 

Fuel Filler: Fuel type “Unleaded Fuel Only” badge just below fuel filler door. 1983 mid year moved inside fuel filler door earliest found VIN 11351 without exterior fuel badge.