ACCESSORIES and OPTIONS that were available for Jaguar and Daimler XJCs

Whilst the XJC range was offered as a “fully-optioned vehicle” in many of the world’s markets, the reality was that there was quite an extensive range of optional and accessory equipment from which a new, and even subsequent owners could choose.

The Australian distributors during the period of currency of the model, JRA, did however order its cars from the factory to be premium models within its Australian Jaguar/Daimler range with automatic transmissions (BW 65 on six cylinder and T400 on 12 cylinder models) and air conditioning as standard features.

The following should not be considered the definitive list, but shows a fairly extensive number of items that the writer believes to have been available for choice at the time. As always, we welcome any additional information and/or comments that you may wish to contribute. The bulk of the items below could be easily retrofitted to your XJC, though items such as air conditioning, ‘POWR-LOK’ differentials and headlamp wash/wipe systems will require a fair degree of mechanical aptitude and effort to fit. I would only consider fitting these items as a complete kit of factory equipment though others may be satisfied with aftermarket items.

Air Conditioning

In this day and age, even the cheapest of cars have air conditioning fitted as standard, but back in the ‘70s, air conditioning in your XJC was a factory option. Fortunately for us, the 240 or so examples sold in Australia by JRA included air-con as a standard feature. To retro-fit air-con to a personally imported XJC is a substantial job as the entire dash/console and heater unit must be removed. The GM Harrison-style compressor is easily fitted via brackets to the LH side of the engine, but it is extremely heavy. Jaguar even fitted higher rate front springs to XJ ‘s with air conditioning in compensation. The electronic controls, including amplifiers, etc., are quite involved and add considerably to the job with their own specific wiring harness.

Cloth Trim

Cloth in place of the traditional Jaguar leather seat facings was offered as a no-cost option. The range of colours offered included Sand, Garnet, early and late versions of Jade, Navy and Ebony. This high quality cloth has good longevity, but as seats with leather facings, suffers from the cotton stitching perishing in double time and the Dunlopillo foam breaking down and crumbling due to our harsher Australian climate.

External Door Mirrors

There can be up to four different factory versions of mirrors that could be fitted to your XJC, and an infinite number of aftermarket items.
1st type non-internally adjustable Part No: C30827/37719
2nd type non-internally adjustable Part No: BD47263/47264
1st type internally adjustable (cowl-shaped) Part No: BD43300/1
2nd type internally adjustable (XJ-S shape) Part No: BD47339/40

Fog & Spot Lights

Lucas items mounted below the front bumper with either clear or yellow lenses depending on local regulations. Most suitable for Australian conditions would be clear lens spots: Part No: C38961

Glass

Available in clear or light green tinted glass, including the windscreen which could also be ordered with or without a tinted brand across the top.

Headlamp Wipers

Primarily for the Canadian, North American and Scandinavian markets. Jaguar offered a headlamp washer system, which I am led to believe could be ordered from the factory at the time of build. Probably unnecessary for the Australian market, (as XJ Series III Sovereign owners will attest) the system encompasses many, many parts (4 pages in parts manual) and would be a real trial to attempt to retro-fit unless you just had to have them.

Mud Flaps

Mud Flaps come in pairs as part of a kit with fixings. The raised word 'Jaguar' is moulded into the rubber on the rear mud flaps only. Front Pair: Part No:JLM9508 and Rear Pair: Part No: JLM9708

Rubber Floor Mats

Same as the mats for the 4 door saloon Jaguars of the same period. Comes as a logo-ed pair for the front foot wells. Jaguar version - Part No: JLM9506 and Daimler version - Part No: RTC247.

Steering Wheels

Available in standard black plastic finish - Part No: C38614
Also available with a leather bound finish - Part No: C44645

Tow Bar

The tow bar bolts behind the rear bumper, through the valence panel and the boot/trunk floor. It appears in the parts diagram to only accept the UK Witter type tow-ball, not the Australian style gooseneck tow bar. Part No: C45436

Waist Moulds

Sometimes called side mouldings these Stainless steel moulds come in three sections per side.
1. Front guard section Part No: BD41409/10 (same as 4 door saloon)
2. Door section Part No: BD47661/2 (same part number as 4 door rear quarters)
3. Rear quarter section Part No: BD.47663/4

These mouldings add particularly to the appearance of coupes with chrome wheels and with dark coloured paint like British Racing Green or Dark Blue. Some coupes have been fitted with non genuine moulds on varying height positions on the body side. The genuine item have the distinctive 'cut-out' to clear the door locks, which gives the factory line of height.

Wheels

The standard sculptured pressed steel wheels of the Series II range, were actually introduced for the V12 versions of the Series I range. The re-design was to allow the rim to clear the larger disc rotors and calipers fitted for the V12 vehicles. The slots were also provided to help with brake cooling. The larger V12 brakes became standard across the Series II range, and featured on all Australian delivered 6 cylinder coupes.

Standard Pressed steel wheel - painted finish Part No: C34906
Fitted with Rimbellishers (chrome dress rings) Part No: C21983
Chromed Pressed steel / black rim no Rimbellishers Part No: C33763
Also available later were the Kent Alloy wheels Part No: CAC1701

Standard Pressed steel

Chromed Pressed steel

Kent Alloy

This excellent article was written by John Pearson - a former
XJC register secretary of the JDCA