Front Wing Tie Bar Color

What is the proper color for the tie bar between the front wings on an
XK140? Black or body color? The opinion is pretty well divided at this
point but leaning toward black. What do you think and why? - Thanks, Dick
Cavicke

Dick, Body color, here.  A sampling on my unrestored '55 dhc S817518 showed
the same sequence of primer layers under the original red paint on the
brace. I assume you are referring to the round bar ahead of the radiator? -
Jim Warren

Jim, I concur with Dick. Most definitely body color, however if your car
has black body color then both options are OK. A popular concours solution
in Australia is to have a black car, then you never have a problem with the
various underbonnet black versus body color
debate. Trouble is I don't personally like black for an XK color. - Roger Payne

Dick - re the140 tie bars - this is what I said to Neville L nearly 2 years
ago: 2 Nov 96 JE to Neville Laing:  I have photos of a couple of unrestored
140s that both show the tie bar as body colour not black.  I think the
photo at page 64 of Porter is incorrect.  All the cars in that book are
restored and therefore you cannot be sure.  The Viart Grand Livre also
shows a couple of new cars with body colour (not black) and one car (which
may have been restored) with black.  It is possible there was variation
here.  However, the best I can say at present is that I think yours is
right (body colour).  What was it like before you started work on it?  The
parts book lists the tie bar (for the OTS) at page 119 - BD 8403. -
Regards,John Elmgreen

My vote is black.  Engine side panels and other generic parts that were not
body color sensitive were black. - Lee Eggers

Body color because I asked the same question 2 yrs ago and the experts
assured me it was body color - Neville Laing

I think it would be more accurate to say parts which were installed after
the body was painted were often black.  I don't know the 140 well enough to
comment on this piece, but I suspect it would have been fitted before the
body was painted. On page 61 of Skilleter's 'The Jaguar XKs a collectors
guide' there is a picture of a 140 in the Jaguar factory, and the bar is
cirtainly body colour. - regards, Mike Morrin

Lee,  You vote for black tie bars.  What cars have you seen with these?  I
am doing a survey. - Regards, John Elmgreen

Lee, The side panels, hood (bonnet) latch and other bits can be bolted on
after the body is in place.  It appears that the front brace would be
installed at the time the body work is installed and would have been
painted with it.  Has anyone gone to the trouble of looking beyond the
holes on the front wings?  I confess I haven't. - Jim Warren

John.  In researching this question when I did a 140, it appeared that the
"black" bar and panels seemed logical.  I could not find body color on the
bracing under the headlite pods that support the wings to the frame and
only overspray on the tie bar.  It also seemed that I had seen a picture in
one of the books taken during manufacturing that showed a body being
lowered onto the completed chassis, and the bar was not evident.  Thus my
conclusion of "Generic part"  In retrospect, it makes sence to have the
braces and bar assembeled prior to paint. - Lee Eggers

Lee,  re your comments on the tie bars, I have long ago given up trying to
"second guess" what I or someone else (usually two different opinions)
might think should be "logical" when it comes to Jaguars (I probably
wouldn't have one at all if I or they were that logical!).  The only way to
tell what was original is to look at the cars, and period photos are a
great help. - Regards, John Elmgreen

If you have any questions or comments send e-mail to: ted@jag-lovers.org
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