After 12 months searching for a set of light Elm veneers for my RGD 2007 XK Convertible - guess what ? - a set showed up on eBay. Couldn't believe my luck !
Well they arrived today, and are in pristine condition, so I wasted no time in fitting them, and boy, what a difference !

So I thought you guys might appreciate some 'before' and 'after' shots !




Out with the aluminium effect ....



Out with the aluminium effect ....



.... and in with the light Elm



.... and in with the light Elm



What a difference !



Can hardly believe how it lifts the interior



How the car should have been spec'd

 

much better! Matches the steering wheel perfectly!

 

My thoughts exactly :-)

 

I never did care for the 'five acres of.... tinfoil' (-Jeremy Clarkson) look. Yours now looks much better than it did before.

 

What did that set you back in dollars?

Not keen on the steering wheel adornments.

 

Its interesting that either of those combinations were available in Europe.
To the best of my knowledge they were not in America

 

Congrats. Looks very smart.

 

Well done, patience paid off!

 

No doubt this looks 100% better! "Proper" comes to mind. Great mod.

 

I don't think the car is a proper Jaguar without nice wood trim, which shows my advanced age.

 

I think that it is actually Satin Finish Poplar, not Elm, and it was available in the US on the early XK's.

 

Major improvement!!

 

Hi,

The veneers were around $180 (I guess, based on the Google). Pretty competitive from my point of view.

As for the steering wheel - these came with the vehicle and are a factory fit (I think) - it may have something to do with it being a heated steering wheel (an amazing piece of kit). I have to say that I wasn't overly convinced when I first saw them, but I have actually grown to like the adornments

 

You are right about the satin finish, and I have to say, I had previously thought it was a Poplar veneer. However the supplier sold it as light elm.

Whatever it is called, it does match the steering wheel and really enhances that car .... and was a bit of a challenge to track it down !

 

That looks really good!:-)
Mine has the black interiour with some kind of dark wood and I love it!:-D
Wooden interiour fits the Jags so well.

 

This is from the early brochures.

 

I did the same change on my XK from the junk quality aluminium to a Poplar veneer set.





Even when done properly as in the Bentley Continental T with engine turned aluminium, I still prefer wood veneer.

Graham

 

The aluminum was akin to an established mature person wearing the latest sneakers to fit in. Not realizing he had the class all along that the youngsters are trying to evolve to.

 

Real wood and genuine leather are what traditional British luxury car interiors are all about. They stand the test of time, unlike fads such as "real Corinthian leather", Naygahyde, engine spun aluminum, carbon fiber, Ultrasuede, and Alcantara. Some of those are OK for other types of cars, but IMHO are out of place in a British luxury car.

 

Congratulations! The new look is terrific!