I just purchased a 1977 XJ-S. I was surprised to see it had knock off wheels. Where these an original option? The three prong knock off has a Jaguar logo on it. Are these keepers? Any idea what they may be worth?

 

Not original. No XJS ever rolled off the assembly line with wire wheels. They were a very popular aftermarket add-on, though.

Wire wheels were often installed by individual Jag dealers, a practice which had some people incorrectly believing they were a genuine Jaguar option.

The last Jag to have factory installed/sanctioned wire wheels was the E-type

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks Doug. I kinda figured they were dealer bolt ons. Would these be Dayton wheels? That is the only period wire wheel maker I could find in my research. I may sell them and get some alloys for the cat.

 

If they're Daytons they're not the style most commonly seen on Jags. Search "Zenith" wire wheels


Cheers
DD

 

Your 1977 XJS was born in the first 2 years of XJS production and is whats known as a pre HE model - Both rare and desirable. The interior should have no wood and the steering wheel is the same as an XJ6 or 12.
The early automatics had Borg Warner boxes in the UK.The American cars may have used the GM400 box. If it's an original 4 speed manual car -you've hit the jackpot

The original wheels were GKN Kent magnesium alloys and are 15" x 6".
They were shod with 205 section rubber and in my humble opinion look fantastic and suit the car down to the ground
( excuse the pun )

They were offered as an option on the XJ6 and XJ12 saloons and coupes.





I have a restored set of 5 that I am selling because my insurance company insists that my 1990 3.6 manual must keep it's original lattice
alloys.Shame I live in the UK or you might have been interested.
Are you going to keep the wires ?
Richard

 

Don't be in such a hurry to dump those wire wheels. Real knock off wire wheels were a very desirable option no matter where they originated. IMO they are a better look than any after mkt. alloys you can scare up. If they are beat up, you can get them refirbed a lot cheeper than a new set of alloys.
I would love to have wires on 05 XJR but ----too late now. If you don't believe what I'm telling you just count the number of offers you are going to get from guys willing to take them off your hands.

 

Interesting! My 83 has wires in pretty decent shape, but I've never been much of a fan of them. I was only going to keep them because I thought they were original! Mine still have the original tires too, but they're dry rotted.

 

Thanks for all the info!

 

Not sure if I should have started a new thread rather than resurrect this older one, but here goes. I had a few questions about the wire wheels on an '89 XJS I'm looking at. First, I was surprised to learn that any wire wheels on an XJS would be dealer add-ons, rather than a stock option.

Are the wheels in the attached photos be the Dayton version of the wire wheels?

I really love the look of these wheels on the car, and I've read up on the potential issues with keeping them 'tuned' including some tips on the hendrix wire wheel site. In your experience are they so much trouble that I should shy away from this option? Any estimates on what it costs to have one or a set 'tuned' when the time comes if I can't do it myself? This would be a weekend driver for me and I would be gentle over speed bumps and potholes and such, but you can't always avoid every pothole or bump.

Thanks.

 

Over the years I've heard good and bad. Some have no problems and love 'em, others have nothing BUT problems and hate 'em. Take your chances, I guess.

Can't comment on costs to have them trued/tuned, etc.

Cheers
DD