I am about to get rid of the navigation system which turned out to be as useless as a goiter, every $50 walmart system beats the build in one (as least in my '02) and the three gauges look very classic.
But I digress ... I have been shopping around for a new set of matched dashboard panels and I found a set at xk8interiors. They offer them in either elm or walnut. I look at the pictures but I can't really tell the difference. I have a black interior and I like what have right now.
Which one does Jaguar use in their XK8s?
Thanks, Mark

 

Short answer: both. Most have the walnut though, since I think only special editions got the elm. Post a picture and we can help. If you are getting an entire matched set though, go with whatever looks better to you.

 

here are some pics. I just got an email from a member who sent his center piece to myrtle to get a matched three gauge piece, interesting thought!

My steering wheel is a bit darker than the dash, I think the dash lost a bit of its color from the sun.

The 3-gauge piece is from ebay, just to test the look, it's much darker and does not have nice wood markings

 

The center piece is walnut and it appears the rest are elm. Keep us updated if you get new pieces.

 

Elm is lighter and the only contrast comes from age lines and knotting or burl. Elm is similar in color to maple. Walnut is usually much darker, can have much more light/dark contrast in wood color and age lines are even darker.

Walnut burl is more likely to have nicer patterns, more contrast, darker colors, more depth. Many times Jaguar walnut burl will have some 3D effects... fiddleback, flames or tiger stripes as some people call it.

A lot of the Jaguar elm I've seen looks bad. The set you posted pictures of actually looks nice for Jaguar elm. Jaguar elm looks horrible next to elm burl. The walnut in the picture looks bad for walnut.

 

Keep us intouch if you buy the ones from xk8interiors. I would like to see pictures. Me along with lots of 2001 owners need to replace our milky ones with new ones