You know when I was a kid my uncle had a landrover and a rover. I guess thats when I knew I liked things British. The smith guages and that landrover with the exposed wiper motors etc. God if you ever had a front end collision in one of those you would of had it. Anyway it was the smell that I really liked as well ( you know I got issues !!) And when I sat in the xk8 for the 1st time the "smell" was not there !!!! I figured with the leather etc but no it does not have "it" . And I was disappointed. Where did it go and when did it change (haha) I am sure anyone out there with the same issues knows exactly what I am talking about !!!!!!

 

Hose down the carpets, visit a few farm yards, chuck a damp bale of hay in the back.

You'll soon get your 'Landrover' smell back.

 

One of the first things I noticed on my XK8 was the smell. Since mine was owned by non-smokers and garage kept, it has a nice "old smell" to it. (I remember the Landy's with the exposed wipers, and the old P6 Rovers and the SD's after that)

Talk about British - I learned to drive in a Ford Escort MKI. In South Africa we had a combination of US cars, like Chrysler and Dodge, the British cars (MG, Triumph, Hillman, Austin, Jensen, etc) and a combination of Fords from Britain (Escort and Cortina), US (Mustang), and Australia (Fairmont GT). Then we also had the European cars (BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Renault, Peugeot, Ferrari, etc). My first car was a Peugeot 504.

My introduction to Jaguar was through a friend of mine. His father had a early 70's red XJ6 with stick shift, which was very rare at the time.

I better stop here. I can continue for hours...

 

Today's leather interiors are far more processed, coated, and refined. They just don't emit that 1950s/1960s leather interior smell that those of us over 50 remember from way back when. If you want "that smell", you'll have to find some leather conditioning products that smell like you remember those old leather interiors smelling. Talk to some of the auto upholstery shops in your area and see what products they recommend. Then go take a big whiff before you buy and see if those old memories come flooding back to you. If they do, then you've found your product....

 

Tks Jon89

Yes I guess thats it !!!!!! Modern tech marches on !!! I guess you know what I am talking about. Anyone else reading this I have to condition my leather anyway. Any products you can recommend to capture that. And I grew up in Newfoundland ( former british colony until 1949 ) and when I was a kid we had a mixture of american and british cars goin around. Vauxell , Cortinas, Rovers etc. And it would of been an early 60's rover and landrover ( not that old yet but over 50 !!!!!)

 

Well there is a product for everything

Leather Air Fresheners

 

You want to try Gliptone Liquid Leather (the UK stuff, not the "as seen on TV" stuff). Smells like old leather or old saddles.

I am of that certain age as well and think it's pretty close.

 

if its that old car smell your looking for just dump water on the floor for a few months.LOL.i 've had,and have many cars from the 60"s,and they all leak around the rubber window seals.the two things people notice the most upon sitting in them is the old car smell and the heavy door as its closed.i guess its the memories...steve.

 

To get the authentic Land Rover smell you have to drive fast through cow pooh and get it on the silencer.
Land Rovers should smell of cooking cow pooh.
There are many leather conditioners that really do give the leather smell but you also need to smoke a few cigars in the car.
Does anyone else remember when you pushed the cigar lighter in and the car smelt of finest Havana?

 

yeah thats it cigars leather and perhaps some oil !!!!!!!

 

Gliptone sounds interesting and I see some on eBay:
Gliptone - Liq. Leather Cleaner&Conditioner RATED #1 IN WORLD - Concentrated | eBay

Does anyone know if this is the "real" stuff you would get in the UK or some watered down version for the colonies?

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...84/#post562992

 

Yes, the Gliptone in the ad is good. It is a "colonies" version, but works well. But don't be afraid to order from the UK. Price is about the same and postage is not that bad.

Stuff goes a long way. I have done my entire car once and the front seats by themselves about 2-3 times. Still have some left in both bottles.