Which is most desireable, the Leaper or the Growler hood ornaments? I have the Leaper in Gold, but see mostly the Growler on the XJS V12s I see in books. Why does mine have the Leaper as opposed to the Growler, was it an option?

Terri Clark
'89 XJS V12 Coupe

Submitted by mr442nt@wideop… on Mon, 06/27/2005 - 07:40

Handle? We XJ-S folks don't need no stink'n handle. We have the big V12's (well, most of us). More power, ahrr ahrr (doing a very poor Tim Taylor). Close the hood...bah! With a V12, we don't have to close the hood....we're always under there for something (sniff).

Tom Kipp
89 XJ-S Coupe

Submitted by dag77423@conso… on Sat, 06/25/2005 - 22:21

I know the 'small' leaper makes a good handle for closing the well-balanced bonnet on our XJ6 Sovereign...don't think you could do that with a 'Growler'.

D.A. Gillespie
1986 XJ6 Sovereign

Submitted by mcload@ev1.net on Sat, 06/25/2005 - 22:06

I recall back in the late 70's, my Dad came home with a S2 2+2 E-Type; must have gotten a killer deal. He also absolutely loved the big leapers. Well one night he got this brilliant idea to mount a leaper (mountain-lion size) on the E-Type, and it wasn't even straight for Criss sake!! I think he must have been a bit tipsy at the time. I was so embarrassed at what he had done, I never drove that E-Type again (and besides, it was light blue). After that, I wouldn't let him within 50 feet of my roadster!

Patrick McLoad
1966 E-Type, Right-hand Drive Roadster
#1E1445

Submitted by pascal@jcna.com on Wed, 06/22/2005 - 13:21

a growler was original but some owners/dealers have installed leapers. afaik all jaguar leapers (on salooons) have always been chrome... not gold!

the last Jaguar sports car with a leaper was the XK150 some 45 years ago, but its front end was similar to the saloon anyway. ever since the E-type and lower bonnets, jaguar sports car didn't have any leaper.

Pascal Gademer
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKR Coupe

Submitted by mr442nt@wideop… on Wed, 06/22/2005 - 10:13

Leapers are an American thing for the most part. in fact, they are not permitted due to pedestrian safety regs in Britain and all Jags over there have Growlers.

The XJ-S never came from the factory with a leaper, Growlers only. If yours has a leaper it is either a dealer installed item, or more likely an owner installed item. It is personal preference on what you use, but I think it's safe to say a majority of XJ-S folks prefer the Growler. Stock leapers are designed for a flatter hood, and on an XJ-S they point nose down and are nicknamed "divers." There are aftermarket leapers with a round pedestal base set at an angle specifically for XJ-S's so the cat is level.

There are also different sizes. My personal taste if you are going the leaper route is smaller the better. I've seen some aftermarket leapers that were the size of mountain lions and got to your destination a full minute before the car did.

If you want originality, go Growler. Also, if you want purity, find out what Growler came on your car. Most were black/bronze, but some special edition cars had chrome or gold. If you like the leaper, go smaller, and perhaps chrome. My two bits.

Tom Kipp
89 XJ-S Coupe