[xj] Dashboard cosmetics (chrome instument bezels?)

Commander_Spectre · November 10, 1999, 5:06pm

Hi all…

I am considering to crome my 5 black instrument bezels on the dashboard…
Those are actually matt black in my 1985 (Fed spec) XJ6…(as in all XJ6
after 1969)

They’re not metal. They’re plastic, as I recall.

is it difficult to remove them from the car and how about removing the matt
black paint ?

Chroming plastic is a pain. And it looks bad when it’s done.

Is something for the chrome guy to do or can i do it my self ?

I donï¿½t mean to start any flaming about originality…I would like them
chromed …though it is not going to be " original SIII " …

…just love the way those early S I look like

There’s a reason why they took the chromed surrounds away. They are distracting at night, and can be dangerous during the day, if the sun should reflect off it at the wrong angle.

Commander_Spectre · November 10, 1999, 6:49pm

The bezels are indeed metal, and best left alone for all sorts of reasons.
Gregory

Hm. I sit and type corrected. They sure look like plastic to me. Perhaps I should go remove a gauge and look at it.

Commander_Spectre · November 10, 1999, 11:41pm

I agree with you that the chromed bezels will look better, and it’s one of
the things on my list, after I finish the ongoing engine rebuild. I could
argue the originality point as well; I suspect that the Series III (and II
and later I’s) would have had chrome bezels if they could have, but for
moronic safety regs.

No safety regs in the US against chrome bezeled instruments that I know of. Think there’s a current Lexus or something that has them. I know that certain late 70’s American pony cars have chrome bezels. Heck, almost anything American with round gauges up until the mid-70’s that wasn’t a base model had them. Falcon, Mustang, Galaxie, etc., etc.

Motorcycles have had, and still have, chrome bezels on their instruments (at least some motorcycles) but they are there to a) protect the instrument from corrosions and only then b) look good.
Or at least that’s how it started out as…

jannis1 · November 11, 1999, 10:18pm

Hi all…

I am considering to crome my 5 black instrument bezels on the dashboard…
Those are actually matt black in my 1985 (Fed spec) XJ6…(as in all XJ6
after 1969)

Pictures of thecar AND dashboard is at www.studiophos.a.se/jag/

Has anyone did that before ?

is it difficult to remove them from the car and how about removing the matt
black paint ?

Is something for the chrome guy to do or can i do it my self ?

I donï¿½t mean to start any flaming about originality…I would like them
chromed …though it is not going to be " original SIII " …

…just love the way those early S I look like

Thanks in advance

/Jannis
1985 SIII XJ6 (giï¿½me more chrome
www.studiophos.a.se/jag/===========================================
* ~ ~ *
* Jannis Politidis @ @ *
* L *
* Photographer * *
* *
* Studio Phos Stockholm - Sweden *
* Advertizing and Commercial Photography *
* ==========================================*
* www.studiophos.a.se * @ @
********************************************* V

Dr_Gregory_Andrachuk · November 11, 1999, 12:46am

The bezels are indeed metal, and best left alone for all sorts of reasons.
Gregory----- Original Message -----
From: spectre spectre@fok.com
To: jannis jannis@studiophos.a.se
Cc: xj@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 1999 5:06 PM
Subject: Re: [xj] Dashboard cosmetics (chrome instument bezels?)

Hi all…

I am considering to crome my 5 black instrument bezels on the dashboard…
Those are actually matt black in my 1985 (Fed spec) XJ6…(as in all XJ6
after 1969)

They’re not metal. They’re plastic, as I recall.

is it difficult to remove them from the car and how about removing the matt
black paint ?

Chroming plastic is a pain. And it looks bad when it’s done.

Is something for the chrome guy to do or can i do it my self ?

I donï¿½t mean to start any flaming about originality…I would like them
chromed …though it is not going to be " original SIII " …

…just love the way those early S I look like

There’s a reason why they took the chromed surrounds away. They are
distracting at night, and can be dangerous during the day, if the sun should
reflect off it at the wrong angle.

Mark_Moburg · November 11, 1999, 5:06am

At 11:18 PM 11/11/1999 +0100, you wrote:

Hi all…

I am considering to crome my 5 black instrument bezels on the dashboard…
Those are actually matt black in my 1985 (Fed spec) XJ6…(as in all XJ6
after 1969)
* * *
is it difficult to remove them from the car and how about removing the matt
black paint ?

Is something for the chrome guy to do or can i do it my self ?

I donï¿½t mean to start any flaming about originality…I would like them
chromed …though it is not going to be " original SIII " …

…just love the way those early S I look like

Thanks in advance

/Jannis
1985 SIII XJ6 (giï¿½me more chrome

You might first want to look in to replacing your bezels with the bezels
from an MGA.

I have an '85 Vanden Plas on which I am considering the same change, and an
MGA, and I’ve compared some old bezels from the A to the bezels on the Jag,
and they look to be the correct size. I’m pretty sure that MGA bezels are
being reproduced, and the Victoria British catalog (a little out of date:
spring 1998) lists as follows: Large bezel, part no. 9-2180, price
US$14.95; small bezel, part no. 14-583, price US$5.95. Just guessing here,
but I doubt that you could have all six bezels rechromed for US$53.70. I’m
pretty sure that most of the other British parts places (Moss, Special
Interest, etc.) would carry them, too.

I agree with you that the chromed bezels will look better, and it’s one of
the things on my list, after I finish the ongoing engine rebuild. I could
argue the originality point as well; I suspect that the Series III (and II
and later I’s) would have had chrome bezels if they could have, but for
moronic safety regs.

FWIW, Victoria British’s order phone is 1-800-255-0088 (toll free, US/CAN),
or 913-541-0880, other areas. Fax 913-599-3299. No connection; I just had
their catalog handy!

= = = = = = = = = = = = =
Mark Moburg (@Mark_Moburg)
Seattle, Washington

Cannara · November 11, 1999, 7:00am

Reminds me of the old Detroit design rule for novice engineers: If you can
see it paint it, if it sticks out chrome it, if it breaks make it twice as
thick. Those were the days.

Alex
79xj6

spectre wrote:>

I agree with you that the chromed bezels will look better, and it’s one of
the things on my list, after I finish the ongoing engine rebuild. I could
argue the originality point as well; I suspect that the Series III (and II
and later I’s) would have had chrome bezels if they could have, but for
moronic safety regs.

No safety regs in the US against chrome bezeled instruments that I know of. Think there’s a current Lexus or something that has them. I know that certain late 70’s American pony cars have chrome bezels. Heck, almost anything American with round gauges up until the mid-70’s that wasn’t a base model had them. Falcon, Mustang, Galaxie, etc., etc.

Vidz123 · November 11, 1999, 12:16pm

In a message dated 10/11/99 23:19:45 GMT Standard Time, spectre@fok.com
writes:

There’s a reason why they took the chromed surrounds away. They are
distracting at night, and can be dangerous during the day, if the sun
should
reflect off it at the wrong angle.

But then the new Rover 75 is very attractively distracting - and the Jag s2/3
instruments look like they came out of a cheap maxi or other BL car - I have
a few old BL instruments to compare very tacky 70’s style! So I can see what
the guy means, my s1 looks a lot better but the ergonomics on the S3 are
better - albeit with tacky plastic all over the shop. Nice walnut though.

Greg, s1 xj6 2.8 & s3 xj12he