Hello Mates,
For those of you awaiting the availability of Mina gallery's hard tonneau kit for vert XKs, they are in the final phase of putting a kit together.

"Just getting the hardware kits put together and we will be ready to list them."

 

Is there going to be any interest in this kit?

 

Probably not from those like me who have Steve's (White XKR) remote top kit, unless that tonneau is compatible with Steve's kit. It doesn't appear to be compatible, but I might be wrong.

I like the design with the retro-look headrests.

 

If the soft top can be raised and lowered with the tonneau in place then it is compatible. If it cannot, then it is not.

 

Perhaps Sherbercars (Bernie) will weigh in on this too, but, I believe it can remain in place lid up, or lid (bonnet) down. The full monty will be an added "rear seat" delete kit. This will allow for additional storage, obviously. Also, the tonneau hinges for easy access to this area. If the design is the same as the concept, there is clear panel between the seat headrests to reduce wind buffeting. So, we'll see.....
BTW, I plan to incorporate Steve's kit too. But then, all of this has been beat up in another post.....

 

Depending on the design I would consider the rear seat delete kit but I am not interested in the tonneau cover.

 

I might be interested if any more info is available

 

I think it looks kind of neat, a 2-seat roadster look, but I'm afraid its not for me.
In a pinch, my wife (who is small) has ridden in the back, and that was doable as I could easily remove the windscreen and stow it in the trunk.
I don't think the tonneau cover has a chance of fitting in the trunk, so I'd be stuck, leaving either a passenger, cargo, or the cover, on the side of the road.

 

I wouldn't see the point of a Rear Seat Delete as the seats are already pretty much as thin and unbulky as possible. I'd think any rearrangement would consume MORE room than the seats already do. Besides, where are you going to get matching leather and stitching?

 

I will leave my gourgeous 2009 Jaguar XKR Portfolio Convertible in original Jaguar stock condition.

If I were to ever sell the XKR, I believe it would bring more value in it's original form, style and components originally installed when built.

 

As I understood the original concept was to remove the rear seats both bottoms and backs. Then there was a small sub-frame placed on the floor that raised the flat surface to the top of the drive shaft tunnel. Then a flat carpeted panel was placed on top of the floor and also one on the back. There was also the chrome with rubber strips on the floor panel. All carpeting would match front carpets. The only think I didn't like was that the side panels remained and part of the speaker grill was covered. Because of this it looked like add on and not OEM. If these panels were replaced and more integrated I would think it would look pretty good.

 

No thanks, I'll still stick with the premium leather and custom stitching. To paraphrase Earl Bassett from Tremors, "Carpet isn't a plan, Carpet is what you do when a plan Fails."

 

I agree, regarding the side panels and the speaker treatment. It needs more thought. I do like the idea, of a structured storage area back there, though. Since all of the seat parts are an easily removed, they can be stored until the car is sold. At which time, a determination can be made as to how to proceed, replace the kit with the seats, or not. The fit and materials can easily be duplicated to match the rest of the interior materials. Since I'm a hands-on fabricator type, I see this as a given custom touch.
We'll see......

 

I like this idea. I use the backseat area for soft cargo (surprisingly) often. An interchangeable cargo area would definitely lessen the chance of damage to the seat leather.