Del's Jaguar X-Type

Del always wanted a Jaguar. Not a new one -- he doesn't much like what they've become. For Del, a new Jaguar means finding a good used one and making it genuinely like new. He's retired now and this X-Type, at around 60,000 miles, is the car he plans to keep.

That is actually a sensible approach for anyone who loves a particular model but finds the current generation has lost something. The cars that had the character are out there; they just need looking after. A quality-built car, maintained properly, can stay in excellent condition for a long time. The paintwork and the interior are what show the years -- and both can be restored.

The Paintwork

James clay-barred and double-buffed the exterior. The paint was in decent shape to begin with, so the clay removed the surface contamination and the buff brought it back to a finish Del was happy with. Not a full correction job -- just bringing a good car back to looking as good as it should.

The Leather

The interior was letting the car down. The leather was grubby throughout, and the driver's seat bolster had worn through on the side. Cleaning and conditioning brought most of the interior back well -- it is remarkable what a proper leather clean can do when the leather itself is still sound. The bolster is a different matter: worn through leather cannot be recoloured back to new. We advised Del to take it to a trimmer, have the panel removed, a new piece of leather stitched in using the original as a template, then recoloured to match. One panel, done properly, and the seat looks new.

If you have a car you love and want to keep -- whether that's a Jaguar, a classic you've always wanted, or just a car that suits you and you'd rather restore than replace -- take a look at our modern car restoration service. We can also handle the leather recolouring and machine polishing as part of the same visit.