Fog Light Valences

My 140 FHC has the 4-position switch as well, but no fog lamps or evidence
of them (and no lettering remaining on the bezel). Does this mean the car
had them at one time, or that the 3-position switch parts bin was empty
that day?
Jim Voorhies

I stand corrected. When I crawled around under the bumper yesterday I
discovered two welded square patches on the underside of the valences where
fog lights would go. I don't know if the patches are hole-filling patches
or an extra layer of support for optional fog lamps. The top side shows no
evidence of ever being drilled through, so if they are repair patches, they
are at least well done. Can someone tell me if the valences had such
stiffening places for mounting fog lamps?
Regards,
Jim Voorhies
XK140 FHC

Since the fog lights are mounted thru the valences to attach to the bumper
irons, I doubt that the patches served a reinforcement purpose. Another
mystery?

Mike Carpenter

Jim,

The samples that I have are from a 140 and 150 all samples are
consistent in hole location; they have punched holes of 1.375" dia.
These neat holes look factory to me, and I doubt that a dealer would
have a sheetmetal punch, most likely, their methods would have varied .

>From the description of your panels, it sounds like someone filled the
holes.

A 12 gage bracket, bolted to the bumper support bars, carries the weight
of the fog lamp. The panel rests on the top surface of the mount
bracket. The panel is not intended to carry any of the load of the fog
lamp just the bracket.

Regards,

Wray Schelin

At one time I had a pair of orginial valences off a XK140 FHC without the
foglamp holes. No evidence that the holes were filled in. Smooth metal at
the location.

Cleo Bay XK120, XK140

Coincidentally there was a discussion about this last week on the saloons list
w.r.t. Mark V. Mark V's normally have foglights and there is a square
reinforcement patch welded on the underside of the wing, but no heavy bumper
iron is involved here. One chap reported his has the square plates with their
appropriate holes, but the wings do not have the corresponding holes punched
through. We came to the conclusion that this car was built without foglights
for whatever reason. Not really relevant to the XK list of course, other than
to lend credence to your theory that the holes would not be punched through if
foglights were not part of the build spec.
Rob Reilly

Re the recent discussion re fog light holes, reinforcing etc:  I note that for
the XK150, for the FHC and DHC models there were changes at FHC 824097/834682
and -/837104 (DHC).  There was no change for the RHD DHC (all were later type).
What were the early ones like? How did the plinths change? I take it that the
"plinth" (great word, huh?) was the valance for the bumpers.
Regards, John Elmgreen

If you have any questions or comments send e-mail to: ted@jag-lovers.org
Main Page	Back to the Library