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Recently bought an XJ12 1986 Series III, has TWS steering wheel, Suspension from TWR, Speedline rims, front and rear TWR bumpers, Spoiler, along with the wooden shifter knob. Fitted with the Vanden Plas Trim. I am not Totally sure how many of these were made along with imported, however what I am finding is it was shipped to the dealer in Canada. There is no TWR stamp that I can find in the engine bay unless it has been removed, along with no badges! Does anyone have suggestions on how to figure out if this is legit? I don't know if you could buy these parts and install yourself aftermarket? Any help is greatly appreciated, Thanks!
Back in the day there were a number of up-fitter companies giving Jags the treatment. Besides TWR there was Arden. And others I can't remember.
Not to mention upgrade kits sold to customers over-the-counter for DIY or local installation.
Might be hard to trace what your car might be or who did it.
Sometimes the better known up-fitters installed little placard or label. If you can find one it would give some traceability......if the company still exists and still has records from decades ago.
Were the body kits and other upgrades sold to "clone" TWR upgrades? I find it hard for Jaguar to team up with an outside source ( TWR ) making limited numbers of cars let clone parts be sold? I was told this car was imported to Canada where it made its way down into the United States. I wonder if running the vin would up track anything? No odd labels or stamping found other than one from Jag cars LTD Paint- LDL and Trim LDY, which I have no clue what they mean. I assume just code lettering for paint and trim model.
Were the body kits and other upgrades sold to "clone" TWR upgrades? I find it hard for Jaguar to team up with an outside source ( TWR ) making limited numbers of cars let clone parts be sold?
I don't know what the legal agreement was between TWR and Jaguar ......and I'm not even sure they had an official arrangement at all on the Series III cars as they did on the XJ40 cars.
To this day body cladding kits for these cars some up for sale on Ebay and such from time-to-time.
I was told this car was imported to Canada where it made its way down into the United States. I wonder if running the vin would up track anything?
You can get a JDHT Certificate (Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust) but I doubt that it would tell you if any up-fitting was done after it rolled off the assembly line. Others might know. It might show the original selling dealer who might still be in business and might still have sales records from 35+ years ago. We're stretching a bit here.
No odd labels or stamping found other than one from Jag cars LTD Paint- LDL and Trim LDY, which I have no clue what they mean. I assume just code lettering for paint and trim model.
Right.
Anyhow, it looks like a pretty cool Jag. Hopefully not too badly rusted.
Recently bought an XJ12 1986 Series III, has TWS steering wheel, Suspension from TWR, Speedline rims, front and rear TWR bumpers, Spoiler, along with the wooden shifter knob. Fitted with the Vanden Plas Trim. I am not Totally sure how many of these were made along with imported, however what I am finding is it was shipped to the dealer in Canada. There is no TWR stamp that I can find in the engine bay unless it has been removed, along with no badges! Does anyone have suggestions on how to figure out if this is legit? I don't know if you could buy these parts and install yourself aftermarket? Any help is greatly appreciated, Thanks!
Yes, it's legit, I've got one as well. It was a factory adjacent upgrade at the time and tested in a few motoring mags.
You could try contacting TWR, now under the stewardship of Fergus Walkinshaw. If you provide the VIN they will be able to confirm if it is a genuine TWR car or an aftermarket upgrade.
You could try contacting TWR, now under the stewardship of Fergus Walkinshaw. If you provide the VIN they will be able to confirm if it is a genuine TWR car or an aftermarket upgrade.
Very unlikely. TWR had very few decent records and what there were disappeared during the insolvency.
Hi Simplyironic45, I have an '85 V12 XJ-SC with TWR modifications. I note that many of the TWR parts are embossed with "TWR". On my car this includes the Speedline wheels, steering wheel, both the front and rear spoilers, the engine air intakes, as well as a couple of TWR stickers, one for spark plugs / timing and one for tyre pressures. Pics attached.