Leaper on XK8
Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 76
Likes: 17
From: Toulouse, France
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 201
Likes: 42
From: Chesapeake, VA
Had one on my 1997 XK8 convertible when I bought it.
Always reminded me of Howard Stern's nose.
Spent a grand taking it off, welding metal to seal up the holes, and repainting the whole front end.
Best money I ever spent on the car.
Nick
Always reminded me of Howard Stern's nose.
Spent a grand taking it off, welding metal to seal up the holes, and repainting the whole front end.
Best money I ever spent on the car.
Nick
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Leaping Leapers
OK, I know this is going to affect some purists like nails on a chalk board, but . . .
To me a Jaguar is not a Jaguar (with exception of XKE) without the leaper on the hood (bonnet, whatever). I have a 1958 XK150 . . . leaper. An 1999 XJ8 . . . leaper. And a 1997 XK8 (convertible--carnival red with tan top) that I just bought eBay on a wild impulse for a ridiculously small amount of money . . . NO leaper. And . . ., I KNOW IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE ONE.
And yes, I get it, Jaguar has abandoned the leaper for that ridiculous profile of the once great cat that they are gluing to the rear of all the new models. To me it looks like it was cut out of cardboard, spray painted and stuck on the rear with crazy glue. But that's just me, and I am not really into the new models.
I had the XK8 shipped from Pennsylvania to California, and I have totally fallen in love with this car. Best impulse buy I ever made. It has lots of problems. However, this car is going to show and perform like new without an exorbitant investment in paint, upholstery and mechanical work.
I am not trying to impress anyone with it. After all, this car is 16 years old, and, anyway, everybody wants an XF or whatever these days. So, harking back to my Jaguar memories, something in me is itching to stick and XJ8 leaper (which I just bought for the heck of it) on the hood.
My wife says "Absolutely not." My better judgment says "Don't do it."
Is there anyone out there who would put a leaper on the hood of an XK8?
Just asking.
If you are outraged, please don't be mean. I am very fragile.
To me a Jaguar is not a Jaguar (with exception of XKE) without the leaper on the hood (bonnet, whatever). I have a 1958 XK150 . . . leaper. An 1999 XJ8 . . . leaper. And a 1997 XK8 (convertible--carnival red with tan top) that I just bought eBay on a wild impulse for a ridiculously small amount of money . . . NO leaper. And . . ., I KNOW IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE ONE.
And yes, I get it, Jaguar has abandoned the leaper for that ridiculous profile of the once great cat that they are gluing to the rear of all the new models. To me it looks like it was cut out of cardboard, spray painted and stuck on the rear with crazy glue. But that's just me, and I am not really into the new models.
I had the XK8 shipped from Pennsylvania to California, and I have totally fallen in love with this car. Best impulse buy I ever made. It has lots of problems. However, this car is going to show and perform like new without an exorbitant investment in paint, upholstery and mechanical work.
I am not trying to impress anyone with it. After all, this car is 16 years old, and, anyway, everybody wants an XF or whatever these days. So, harking back to my Jaguar memories, something in me is itching to stick and XJ8 leaper (which I just bought for the heck of it) on the hood.
My wife says "Absolutely not." My better judgment says "Don't do it."
Is there anyone out there who would put a leaper on the hood of an XK8?
Just asking.
If you are outraged, please don't be mean. I am very fragile.
Just took delivery of a 2005 XK8 tonight from SC shipped to MA I bought online and disappointed to find a leaper on the hood. None of the 3 E-Types and the XJS I owned had leapers on them. But the two XJ6s did. I think the sports and racing cars never had hood ornaments - only the saloons did. Am I mistaken?
Veteran Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,760
Likes: 1,628
From: Puerto Rico
Beautiful XK8, but that leaper looks like a giant zit on a supermodel. It needs to be removed.
Veteran Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,760
Likes: 1,628
From: Puerto Rico
I would start looking for a body shop.
Veteran Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,089
Likes: 922
From: Houston,TX
Nalle,
Find a good Body Shop in the Area....Not only is bolted on, as I recall, it also has a chunk of metal on the bottom that sticks through the Hood for alinement ....It's a mess! On the 2000 that I had, they were able to plug up all the holes with Body Filler and match the Paint for a decent job and avoided having to paint the whole Hood.....It looked just fine and was not noticeable...
Billy Clyde
Find a good Body Shop in the Area....Not only is bolted on, as I recall, it also has a chunk of metal on the bottom that sticks through the Hood for alinement ....It's a mess! On the 2000 that I had, they were able to plug up all the holes with Body Filler and match the Paint for a decent job and avoided having to paint the whole Hood.....It looked just fine and was not noticeable...
Billy Clyde
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 260
Likes: 72
From: Mesa, AZ
Nalle,
Find a good Body Shop in the Area....Not only is bolted on, as I recall, it also has a chunk of metal on the bottom that sticks through the Hood for alinement ....It's a mess! On the 2000 that I had, they were able to plug up all the holes with Body Filler and match the Paint for a decent job and avoided having to paint the whole Hood.....It looked just fine and was not noticeable...
Billy Clyde
Find a good Body Shop in the Area....Not only is bolted on, as I recall, it also has a chunk of metal on the bottom that sticks through the Hood for alinement ....It's a mess! On the 2000 that I had, they were able to plug up all the holes with Body Filler and match the Paint for a decent job and avoided having to paint the whole Hood.....It looked just fine and was not noticeable...
Billy Clyde
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 260
Likes: 72
From: Mesa, AZ
I think it needs a more prominent place than a drawer. Maybe a Black Walnut mount in the shop?
Veteran Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,907
Likes: 1,427
From: Bahrain
Good decision to remove the leaper zit!
Yep - definitely agree that removing the leaper is the best way to go. I would put it high on my to do list if I had that problem.
Why would you like such ornament on the front of such a beautiful car? But to each owner, it’s up to his car taste... to own and mod....
Why would you like such ornament on the front of such a beautiful car? But to each owner, it’s up to his car taste... to own and mod....
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