Just to continue a question Paul asked before: Paul mentioned the hub cap lever is specified only for Vanden Plas versions. Now, to my understanding hub caps - to be levered off - existed only on steel wheels that were in use until SII, maybe also for the stainless full size wheel covers used on SIII cars,
but not on aluminium wheels such as the Kent, the Pepperpot or the Starfish wheel - and I would have assumed that all later Vanden Plas came on Pepperpots.
Before I forget, those are known as āEuropeanā spec and I have them fitted to my 420G, but the hubcaps have a bad habit of dropping off, and I would like a spare.
They are difficult to obtain in Australia.
If any member has one spare, I would purchase it
please PM me, or comment publicly on availability of these hubcaps
Iām fairly sure that standard XJ SIII came on steel wheels in Europe. Kent and later on Pepperpot wheels were stock only on the higher specified versions and optional on standard models.
The full wheelcovers used on the steel wheels tricked you into thinking the wheels were special. Frankly, I donāt know the clamping mechanism, but I do know that there were two types of steel wheels around: one with three pins around the inner circle that were used to hold the hub caps in place. The second type does not have these pins and I assume that was the type of wheel sporting the full size wheel covers.
I have these, and they clamp on very very securely. I can see what the tool is for and it looks nice; might bend a piece of sheetmetal and put that in the boot.
The pins are round disks with a chamfer on the steel side. The centre covers snap on, their rolled or folded edge makes for tension. They have to be pushed on with some effort. You could of course try to tighten the cap just a little but thatād be some effortā¦
Iām not sure whether there wasnāt a third option with the center cap directly on the wheel. Maybe thatās more 420 or SI.
Without the center cap I think the hub had some kind of āhatā with a growler emblem in the middle-?
I have had both kinds on my MK2 Jaguar , oneās with 3 pins , wheels come off a V12 E-type , same as series 2 xj , now I have steel wheels off the series 3 , with out the pins , as I am not using hubcaps !
2 departed the vehicle, one I spent ages looking for
Managed to get 2 more + the SS covers, springs and special nuts they use from JagDaim in Melbourne Australia. The nuts have a seating washer that deteriorates
I will see if they have any more centre caps (one is all I want)
The knurled screws, I adjusted them a bit tighter
they have a disadvantage in that the covers have to be removed before a wheel alignment,
I had to work that out for myself, after the alignment shop didnt notice!
Early series 3 cars came with steel wheels which were held in place by lug nuts which simultaneously kept the wheels and their covers in place .Years ago my father owned a 1979 and a half early series 3 fitted that way.
Lug nuts with plastic washers that retain the spring loaded hub caps, yes; but also a (possibly optional) center piece that snaps in place over the lugnuts as described above
Yes! I have been using it for many years on my XJ6C. A toolkit just like that (complete with lamps and fuses) came with my car from Italy, but I know it belongs to a Series 3 car. At the time of the purchase my coupe also had Ser 3 hub caps and mirrors etc.
