I've just got back from the UK's biggest Classic Car Show.

One of the cars on display was this intriguing XJS Hatchback creation shown below. It was designed and created by an ex-Jaguar employee and is the second version that he has built.

The hatchback is from an Audi TT, turned upside down and then fabricated around the edges to fit the opening. The first car he built used the tailgate from an MGB.

It may split opinion but it's a wonderful piece of work and is beautifully finished. It has folding rear seats and a nice flat loading bay all trimmed in lovely wine-coloured carpet

There's also a third one in the UK that uses some Citroen parts.

Paul

opoening

 

That is very nice and I like it

Any idea what he did with the fuel tank and the other stuff normally in the boot?

Cheers
Steve

 

Steve,

He built a flat floor raised to the height of the lower edge of the boot hatchback closing. The floor is a beautifully-trimmed carpeted panel with stainless steel runners. The panel list up to access a storage compartment and a bespoke fuel tank.

Paul

 

Nice. I am not a fan of the aesthetic, but it certainly looks like a professional, factory-quality job.

 

I think it looks great.
A bit of creativity is a good thing
Al

 

I think the spoiler's worse than the hatchback, myself. Looks like a Guy Salmon paintjob and aero, but maybe not.

Is this the same guy who built THIS ONE? Seems like it. I think I prefer the look with the facelift rear - the more rounded rear helps.

 

That's the guy! I also preferred the bkue facelift conversion. I felt the flatter glass of the MGB hatch suited the car better, but both cars are really well-done and a credit to him.

The latest one is a TWR car with standard factory spoiler. The whole car needed a lot of remedial bodywork. A huge amount of effort went into the build.

Paul

 

,

With the first car i think that body kit makes the XJS look like a kit car, this look is exacerbated by the spoiler mounted in a manner that looks cockeyed. The hatchback itself doesn't look right, it seems to be too rounded where the uprights run along the buttresses and makes the panel gap huge. lt just looks like a add on.

Your attached car looks like factory, i agree it works very well with the face-lift models rounded lines. The execution on that is superb.

 

The bodykit is standard TWR and the rear spoiler is a standard factory item. I understand that they are a personal choice, including the standard TWR two-tone paint job.

If you have a front-end write-off, you could perhaps do this!

 

Hi all,
Having now looked at the earlier MGB GT based conversion, I do prefer that one, although without seeing the cars in the 'flesh' it's hard to judge.
With the success of the hatch back concept with Jaguar's stablemates, MG and Rover, both making very stylish cars with that feature, it is a shame that Jaguar did not make a version, particularly when these XJSs show how easily it could have been done, and how ascetically pleasing the result.
I applaud the creativity of those who start with an oxy torch and angle grinder and create these custom vehicles. Certainly some are abominations, totally tasteless or poorly thought out and badly executed. Others a brilliant windows into what could have been.
The purist may decry the destruction of a vehicle as it was created. Obviously few would agree with the 'chopping' of an extremely rare vehicle, say, a genuine Ford GT 40 ( if anyone was both wealthy and stupid enough to do so) but for cars as common ( I use than term very carefully and mean no slight against these magnificent GT Jaguars) creative modification of a few examples only heightens the interest in the breed and ensures the preservation and continuation of them.

As an aside I must comment on how disappointed I am that such a brilliant and beautiful car, designed an epoch ago in the early 70s, was not further developed by the moribund Leyland and later owners with more gearbox options, hatches, as demonstrated by the car that inspired this thread, a roadster from inception and perhaps higher performance sports models!

Regards
Al

 

Please tell me that this thing uses the original V12 as well! Or at least the straight six. A V12-powered trike with an XJS rear would be very impressive.
How the hell do you steer that thing? Those handlebars are so long that to make the front wheel turn slightly, you'd need to move the handles about six feet either side....

 

Yes - but at least the back seats are useable

We once put a chevy V8 in a bike frame (friend of ours) - that was a contraption and a halve - but nothing like that

Cheers
Steve

 

Hi Sreve,
It looks like the steering is by a set of rods that connect the handle bars to the trike's steering head some feet ahead of it.
What is the engine used? I can see it is a V12 but what species?
It would be a brave man to ride/ drive the contraption.
It is an offense against both man and nature but you have to admire the work that has gone into it
Al

 

So thats what happens when a King pikey meets Liberace

 

I'm not seeing any hatchback. Is there a missing picture?