While judging at our concours, I thought that Chrome wheels on XK8s were non authentic. I knew they were offered by dealers but thought they were just dealer aftermartket, not factory options. After discussing it with our head judge we decided to deduct 2.4 per wheel on 2 cars.

I checked the brochures yesterday and found that, at least in the UK, chrome wheels were a factory option. We reinstated the points afterward.

Just so that we can clarify this for future events, are chrome wheels considered authentic on XK8s and if so until what year ? I think the early style changed around 99 or 2000, was chrome still an option after that ?

In a related issue, I always thought that XK8 had centercap badges with green brackground, XKRs red and XJR grey. Two cars had red background centercap on their wheels. Isn't that non authentic ?

Pascal Gademer
SFJC
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKRCoupe
99 XJR

Submitted by vp@catdriver.com on Sat, 04/26/2003 - 01:53

Well Pascal I am WAY WAY Late with this...

But Chrome wheels WERE Available from the factory, MSRP was $1,000 IIRC. I know for a fact (As I delivered cars with them) that they were available from at least 1998. I am not sure about 1997.

The center Cap badges are color-co-ordinated, allegedly, based on the color combo from the factory. Based on my experience when the cars were new there really wasn't much rhyme or reason to the colors they used. I did once see a new 1997 XJ6 with one color on one side and one color on another side.. the customer pointed it out AFTER Delivery!

Submitted by gambleka@bv.com on Thu, 11/21/2002 - 13:33

Of the XK8's with chrome wheels that I have seen, they have had only 4 chrome wheels and a spare with "standard" finish. The rule book is pretty clear that the spare should match the wheels that are on the ground. I assume a deduct for a dissimilar spare would be appropriate in that case.