I am one of those crazy Jag-Lovers as I currently have two Series
1 e-types, a 1966 roadster which is completely restored and a
1966 Coupe in which I am just installing a new interior. Engine
work on both of these cars was done by the mechanic who did the
engine display with the e-type in the New York Museum of Modern
Art. Query: Does anyone have any hints about installation of
the Coupe headliner. My headliner kit appears very thick, while
the headliner currently on the vehicle is very thin. Any hints
on removal of the old part?
Finally, I have just purchased a 1988 XJ-SC (Cabriolet with only
19,000 miles. I will take delivery next week. This car has only
the hard top and I am wondering whether it makes any sense (to
equip for collector purposes) to buy a soft top also. Do owners
actually use the soft top? Would appreciate hearing from anyone
with feedback. bill nelson, Houston, Texas–
Houston. Texas 77005, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
Do owners
actually use the soft top? Would appreciate hearing from anyone
with feedback. bill nelson, Houston, Texas
Bill I have an '88 SC with both tops. I really prefer the looks of the hard
top; the soft tops with the hoops showing really, to me, looks out of place
and detracts from the smooth lines of the car. Plus the Hard top is much
quieter.
The Soft top was on it when I got the car. It was in good shape but was
severely faded so finally I got around to taking it off for restoration and
put the hard top on. What a difference. Taking the targa panels out has
thus far been quite enough “open air” so I keep asking myself if I’ll ever
put the soft top back on.
Having said that I also keep telling myself that someday I might take a trip
where I’ll want to drop the top all around so I’m glad I have it even if it
just gathers dust in my garage.
Finally, I have just purchased a 1988 XJ-SC (Cabriolet with only
19,000 miles. I will take delivery next week. This car has only
the hard top and I am wondering whether it makes any sense (to
equip for collector purposes) to buy a soft top also. Do owners
actually use the soft top?
Bill,
I just bought a hard top for my '87, but plan on leaving the soft top on
through late fall. I personally like having all-around open air as I drive.
It’s a piece of cake to drop the canvas and put it back up. I have to admit,
the hard top does look better than the soft top, but if it’s not raining my
top is down. I’m not sure if makes a difference as far as collecting
purposes go… it sure couldn’t hurt. An '88 with only 19K miles, must be
extremely clean.
Finally, I have just purchased a 1988 XJ-SC (Cabriolet with only
19,000 miles. I will take delivery next week. This car has only
the hard top and I am wondering whether it makes any sense (to
equip for collector purposes) to buy a soft top also. Do owners
actually use the soft top? Would appreciate hearing from anyone
with feedback. bill nelson, Houston, Texas
“equip for collector purposes” - does this mean you are not going to use it
much in the hope it might go up in value?
If you are going to use it rather than look at it and travel at over 50mph
with the targas off and the rear hardtop on you are going to get deafened by
the booming pressure waves bouncing around inside the car making civilised
use impossible
I am one of those crazy Jag-Lovers as I currently have two Series
1 e-types, a 1966 roadster which is completely restored and a
1966 Coupe in which I am just installing a new interior. Engine
work on both of these cars was done by the mechanic who did the
engine display with the e-type in the New York Museum of Modern
Art. Query: Does anyone have any hints about installation of
the Coupe headliner. My headliner kit appears very thick, while
the headliner currently on the vehicle is very thin. Any hints
on removal of the old part?
Finally, I have just purchased a 1988 XJ-SC (Cabriolet with only
19,000 miles. I will take delivery next week. This car has only
the hard top and I am wondering whether it makes any sense (to
equip for collector purposes) to buy a soft top also. Do owners
actually use the soft top? Would appreciate hearing from anyone
with feedback. bill nelson, Houston, Texas
Houston. Texas 77005, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
If you are going to use it rather than look at it and travel at over 50mph
with the targas off and the rear hardtop on you are going to get
deafened by
the booming pressure waves bouncing around inside the car making civilised
use impossible
If you are getting the wind buffeting it is because you are not using the
deflector above the mirror and/or all windows are rolled up. I’ve had no
wind buffeting at nearly 100 with the hard top fitted and the panels out but
I dutifully erected the little wind deflector–as per the manual–et voila,
no buffeting.
Am I to understand that Jag made a hard top convertible?!
Rob
No they made a cabriolet which consisted of removable targa panels above
the driver and front seat passenger with a strengthening crossbar behind
them. Making up the rest of the rearwards roofline was a fold down hood.
In place of the hood you could fit a hardtop.
Bill I don’t have a hard top for mine although I think they do look better on
the car than the conv. top. I take the targas off and fold the top about now
here, (northern CA) and leave them down till about Oct. usually. Problem is its
a bit of a PIA fold the top and fit the cover neatly and once done I don’t like
to disturb it again so I use the car selectively to make sure I have a secure
parking spot at the end or I put the cover on it to keep the bird s#$% off the
seats etc.
I love to drive it in this configuration. The only buffeting I ever really
notice is when crossing the SF bay on a summer afternoon on the San Mateo
bridge. Tried it once with the conv top only up, when it was blowing about a 25
kn. cross wind over the causeway section (very common conditions here). The
buffeting was really bad, think I was going about 80 mph, ( for the sailors on
the list this amounted to an apparent wind velocity of about 100 mph at about
30deg off the nose) looking back I could see the canvas shaking really hard and
the frame was actually lifting at the sides. Why they never fitted two holdown
latches I’ll never know. I thought I was going to loose the top. With nowhere to
stop I had to slow down and became a rolling obstruction.
Other problems: when folded the plastic screen chafes against itself, I put a
cardboard roll wrapped in a towel in it now, also its easy to trap the liner in
the frame mechanism when collapsing it down, causing holes at these points as
the frame moves slightly when driving.
Take the tops off it’s a blast in more ways than one.
Richard Griffiths
'86 XJ-SC
Finally, I have just purchased a 1988 XJ-SC (Cabriolet with only
19,000 miles. I will take delivery next week. This car has only
the hard top and I am wondering whether it makes any sense (to
equip for collector purposes) to buy a soft top also. Do owners
actually use the soft top? Would appreciate hearing from anyone
with feedback. bill nelson, Houston, Texas
wind buffeting at nearly 100 with the hard top fitted and the panels out but
I dutifully erected the little wind deflector–as per the manual–et voila,
no buffeting.
So does the hardtop kit come with a deflector?
R. Griffiths
wind buffeting at nearly 100 with the hard top fitted and the
panels out but
I dutifully erected the little wind deflector–as per the
manual–et voila,
no buffeting.
So does the hardtop kit come with a deflector?
R. Griffiths
No, it is built into the header rail over the windshield at the factory as
part of the conversion from coupe to cabriolet. It is screwed/bolted into
the rail in the inside of the vehicle and normally hinges down over the
rear-view mirror. The hinge bracket is very thin metal and often gets bent
as people try to pull down on it to see what on earth it is. This lets it
block some of the view in the mirror so needs to be bent back straight or
put shims in it to keep it at the right resting position.
The manual describes it and how to use it but does not picture it.
If you are getting the wind buffeting it is because you are not using
the deflector above the mirror and/or all windows are rolled up. I’ve
had no wind buffeting at nearly 100 with the hard top fitted and the
panels out but I dutifully erected the little wind deflector–as per the
manual–et voila, no buffeting.
I do use the soft top. In fact I am looking to install it in the next
few days… Maybe. It is a Cabriolet, not a convertible. 2 hard Targa
tops over drivers, and soft/hard top in rear.
No, it is built into the header rail over the windshield at the factory as
part of the conversion from coupe to cabriolet. It is screwed/bolted into
The manual describes it and how to use it but does not picture it.
This must be an addition to later cars or USA vehicles. I’ve seen lots of
cabs in the UK and only one UK car was fitted with one and the owner of that
told me it made no difference to the buffeting problem. It looked like a
third sunvisor about 6" long.
My edition of the cabriolet supplement (you couldn’t call it a manual) makes
no mention of it either.
No, it is built into the header rail over the windshield at the factory as
part of the conversion from coupe to cabriolet. It is screwed/bolted into
The manual describes it and how to use it but does not picture it.
This must be an addition to later cars or USA vehicles. I’ve seen lots of
cabs in the UK and only one UK car was fitted with one and the owner of that
told me it made no difference to the buffeting problem. It looked like a
third sunvisor about 6" long.
My edition of the cabriolet supplement (you couldn’t call it a manual) makes
no mention of it either.
Anyone got one for sale?
Steve
I have an '87 Cabriolet, which I bought on ebay and it came only with a soft top, no hard top was included. I have found the wiring for the rear window defogger under the rear trim at the parcel shelf, although I don’t consider that conclusive evidence that a hardtop accompanied this car to the dealership.
There was no deflector on this car. I have re-upholstered the headliner and targa tops and in doing so, I saw no evidence of a mounting plate/backing for the attachment of a deflector.
My personal theory is this: I suspect that the car could be sold with a soft top only or two tops, soft and hard. If the hard top was part of the package, then a deflector was included. Just a guess on my part…anybody have facts instead of theory??