I understand your reluctance to mess with the stock look, but I'm inclined to agree with Paul, the Rev, et al. I think the splitters and overriders are intended to evoke the look of the Series 1 E-Types, but they remind me of nothing quite so much as a kid with a honkin' big set of braces in his mouth. I went with the Mina mesh, and very much like the clean, uncluttered look. I would be happy to send you my stock parts, but the overriders were badly mangled by the original owner's attempts to park against a wall and keep his front plate attached.

The only downside so far is people who keep asking me if its a Maserati

 

I'm Looking for the originl Grille 1998 XK8. The silver bar for sure, 573-746-0506 anytime.

 

I have dozens of these.....Literally

 

Thank you for the reply. Are the original parts badly damaged or just used may I ask? I would really like them to be honest

cheers
Oliver

 

Definately the stock Millhouse, your post #5 says it all.

 

When I get back to work on Tuesday I will sort a set out...... I am not a fan of the stock look, but I also dont like the flat mesh grilles or the convex type that sit proud of the opening.....
I prefer a convex mesh grille sat behind the opening giving the bumper a bit of depth, this is how I fit 95% of the XKs I modify...

Individuality is the key

 

Before I purchased my XK8 the first thing that I planed to do when I got it was change the grille. After buying the car I decided to keep the stock grille because I reminded me of the lineage to the XKE.

 

Thank you so much. Please let me know what I will owe you for the front grille, postage etc.

cheers
Oliver

 

I happen to be in the other camp.

Never liked the 'rubber fangs' and prefer the clean lines of the mesh grills.
I have bought one from Boston JagXKR but will have it mounted reaccessed a couple of inches.

I agree that the XK8 series is one of the best 'retro' designs to come along and beautifully evokes the E Type series.

Maybe the problem with the 'rubber fangs' is that they aren't chrome like the original E Type series was but to my eye they clutter up the front end and are all but useless for protecting the front of the car unless someone backs into you perfectly parallel to the XK.

Wonder how the XK8 would look with no mesh and no fangs? Anyone done that?
Do you need the mesh to protect the gubbins behind it?

Here is some old eye candy for comparison.

https://www.google.com/search?q=XKE&...Fcf34QT-gaXZBg

Either way I really do prefer the plate below the cowl opening.
It shows off the beautiful lines of the car better.

You could always paint it on the bonnet like many early UK E Type owners did and the occasional XK8 but it always looked like a desecration of a work of art to me.

3G is that really your plate or did you Photoshop it?

Enjoy it with or without the mesh or the 'rubber fangs' they are marvelous no matter what.

cheers,

jj

 

I will do you both over riders and straker for £50 inclusive of delivery... I will sort you out a good set but you will have to let me know what type you would like.
Earlier items were more rounded later were flatter, take your pick

 

^^ Exactly as I thought, though I expected a bigger pile Maybe those were just the ones within arms reach.

 

Correct.......Those were the ones under the stairs, we have more upstairs in storage lol

 

I like the looks of the mesh grill. Who sells the in the aftermarket?

 

I tried mounting the numberplate under the nose, but with UK speed bumps it did not work. So I used an adhesive one on the nose, moving the badge onto the bonnett (hood) like an e type.

Its passed 3 UK MOT's and been pulled by a speed camera, so no legal issues.

before

after

regards

 

My XKR is of 2003 origin and has a 3 part grill with the two fangs.

How hard is it to remove the fangs and install the new type grill?

 

I don't know how it was achieved - done by a previous owner - but I quite like mine as I think it does have a connection with the original E Type which I like.
And yes - I know the horizontal bar is broken and needs doing properly

 

Unfortunately, the Brighton in which I reside is on the wrong side of the pond, in Ontario, Canada. Otherwise, I would pop around to do a swap, as I quite like the mesh grille.

 

I like this, exactly what I want. I have the three PC mash grill just need the chrome strip.

 

I have done similar... What I did was on a 2004 XK8, this has the bar set into the over riders from the front. The customer wanted a mesh grille but also wanted to retain the bar.... There is a thread on it some where....

 

I liked the look of the E-type bar and emblem on DevonDavid's car, and it set me into looking for a way to have a similar look on mine, with or without the "fangs". I thought about purchasing a used E-type bar and modifying to fit, and also to make a center piece of some sort to hold the emblem for the same visual effect. How difficult is it to remove the bumpers and, what about the shock-absorbing mechanisms and brackets behind them? Do they also have to be removed? I also have a concern about the extent of front-end damage should I have even a minor accident. Given the cost of XK8 body parts, even a relatively minor accident could cost so much that the insurance company would likely total the car.

Nothing is easy.