Hood Ornaments on Modern Jaguars: Look Before You Leap(er)?
Jaguar Forums delves into the polarizing issue of classic hood ornaments on modern-day Jaguars.
When we think of a classic Jaguar, we think of those gorgeous machines that came out of Coventry with a big cat leaping from the hood. The “leaper” hood ornament became the Jaguar’s mascot. It was a sexy, powerful image and the very definition of iconic. But it is rare to see on any Jaguar post-2005. So when you see a leaper on a modern Jaguar, is it a fit, or does it seem…off?
Our forum recently addressed the issue. In a thread (very cleverly) entitled “The Corkscrew Effect”, forum member Michael James Schalk showed off his 2015 Jaguar XJ with aftermarket leaper.
“My first post, first Jaguar…I had no thoughts about buying one and it was sitting as an odd duck on the [Mercedes-Benz] used car tarmac. Everything about it impressed me and I said ‘Why not?’ Having a weekend driver of my 1992 Cadillac Sedan-DeVille; I recalled how important I felt when I first drove that – looking at the hood ornament all the time. I knew I had to find out if I could get an ornament on this, as well (I learned quickly to call it a ‘Leaper’). I ordered one from an eBay dealer and took it to my local luxury car body shop for installation. I love the look – but what humors me is that every time I take it out, someone is obviously looking at it. I got a ‘thumbs-up’ from one guy today in a parking lot and driving down another street – I could see that mans head turn around to follow the car. This does my ego good and I am not ordinarily an attention seeker. Does anyone else notice the ‘lookers’ when driving their Jaguar?”
So, a brief history lesson on the bonnet badass. Sir William Lyons was the impetus behind the leaper, naturally. He had spotted an ornament on the hood of a 1936 SS Jaguar 100 saloon belonging to Jaguar designer Bill Rankin. Lyons tasked Rankin with designing a piece that embodied the Jaguar spirit. Reportedly, Lyons said he wanted it “looking like a cat shot off a fence.” The result, a powerful beast uncoiled and ready to strike, was the consummate Jaguar accessory.
The first leaper was made available to the public in 1938 and continued until the MK V ceased production in 1951. It came back, redesigned with a little more bite in 1955. This version was offered on many models including the MK I, MK II, S-Type, XK, and more until 1969. A smaller leaper was also offered on the Mark X.
The mascot was retired in the early 1990s after safety concerns that the ornament could harm pedestrians. It was redesigned to meet safety standards, but the leaper all but disappeared on Jaguars. On one side of the Atlantic, anyway.
Fellow XJ driver OBC John shared this fact with the forum.
“Having a leaper on the bonnet (hood) of a modern Jag is quite a divisive thing. Like yourself, some love it. But others don’t think it’s a good ‘look’. It’s a very rare sight in the U.K.”
While Schalk was familiar with this, he was undeterred.
“I see there is some division on the point when reading it up! Since it is my first one and I may have it a long time — no way was I intending to ‘lose out’ on having it! I don’t see myself as ever buying an older one.”
And the forum agrees: you do you! User 1 of 19 said “Looks better than I thought it would. And I’m a BIG leaper fan.” And OBC John also agreed, “Good for you, Michael. Your car, your rules.”
We think the leaper is classic, and we love repping the mascot. Done well, it adds to the aesthetic and prestige on a modern Jaguar. But that’s us. What do you think? Aftermarket leapers: yay or nay?
Photos: Jaguar Forums; Jaguar
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