Sexy 1991 Jaguar XJS V12

Clean Dean

Keep it clean !!!
I spent about 7 hours on this 1991 Jaguar XJS V12, and was in love with this sexy machine by days end. When I arrived to detail this cat, she had a ugly set of aftermarket molding on both sides of the vehicle. The paint was pretty heavily oxidized and the interior was pretty dingy (especially the hides).



First I removed the molding. And removed the left over adhesive with acetone. The engine bay was thoroughly degreased and some cosmoline was removed with acetone. The painted areas of the engine bay was spray waxed and the engine was coated with Stoners Trim Shine (non aerosol). Then she was washed and clayed. The wheels were pretty well coated with brake dust, but these old Jaguar wheels hold up very well and after a pretty heavy acid wash they were as new again.

The paint oxidation was removed with a PC275 Schegel wool pad and Hi Temps Heavy Cut Leveler. Washed again, and coated all of the exterior plastic with a Stoners TS and let it dwell. After that I hit it with Menzernas IP and follow with Menzernas Final Polish. After sealing with Klasse SG (I love Klasse on red), I was very impressed with the old cats paint. Then all exterior chrome was polished with Mothers and a few MF towels. The tailpiped were polished with Mothers and 0000 steel wool.



The interior was cleaned with Megs APC diluted 20:1 and compressed air. The leather was treated with Mink oil, and the hides were very thirsty. The interior dash was dressed with aerosol Trim Shine and buffed with a MF towel to make it look new and not shiny. The wood console was hand polished with IP then spray waxed. carpets extracted with my Mytee lite. All glass cleaned with Sprayaway. Sorry no sunlight pics it was overcast all day yesterday here in NJ.



What a great color combo !!! You have to love the red piping on those seats !!!



I know many feel that the old XJS look is dated, but I have detail about 20 of these over the years, and hope to acquire one for myself someday in the not so distant future !!!



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[Note that Accumulator has an ~18K mile '85 JXS that he bought new]



Clean Dean- That's a great job! People who haven't done an XJX engine compartment probably don't appreciate what a nice job you did ;) Ditto for a few other areas for that matter.



What did you use on the exterior rubber/black plastic? I use Souveran on mine.



Glad you were allowed to remove the aftermarket molding :xyxthumbs



That is really in superb condition; it appears to have lived a pampered life. Hope the owner enters it in some JCNA concourses.
 
Accumulator,



Note that Accumulator has an ~18K mile '85 JXS that he bought new



Not only a great detailer, but a man with great taste !!! :up



The exterior black plastic was pretty much saturated with a water based dressing after drying the car. I let the dressing sit on the bumpers until the very end of the detail then buffed off with a MF towel.



I absolutely love the coupe version also, and they are SO undervalued right now. I've seen very nice low mile examples go for $10-12k. I detailed one (22k miles) a few years back that was a solid 2+ that sold for $14.



Thanks for the compliments guys. I know this is a bit of a cult car, but I got a charge out of this one !!!
 
Clean Dean- Yeah, I figured most people use dressings on those trim pieces. They turned out nice, almost makes me wonder if I'd like to try dressings again as they've come a long way in the last 20-some years.



And yeah, the coupes *are* undervalued. Mine isn't worth anything to anybody but me.



Now if I'd just gotten a good one...mine was a Monday/Friday car to begin with (bad news in the mid-'80s) and the dealership trashed it before I got it :( It needed a restoration while still on the showroom floor, and, well...a young guy with no money and no garage using it for his only car in Ohio made for some pretty tough experiences during those 18K miles :o
 
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