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Refreshing XJ-SC Cabriolet Interior Veneer at Home

By Roger Farmer

Published: 7th December 2017

Many XJ-SC Cabriolets now suffer from interior woodwork that has faded to a dull mustard colour through years of sun exposure. In this member-written article, Roger Farmer describes how he refreshed the veneer in his 1986 V12 XJ-SC using simple materials, patience, and time at home, achieving impressive results at minimal cost.</

Introduction

In response to the editor’s request for member articles, I felt compelled to share a modest effort to improve the interior of my 1986 V12 XJ-SC Cabriolet. This is a job that requires very little money but quite a lot of patience. It is also an ideal winter project, as most of the work can be done indoors in the warmth of your home rather than in a cold garage.

Mustard-coloured woodwork on an XJ-SC Cabriolet dashboard
Figure 1. Mustard-coloured woodwork.

Assessing the problem

Like many XJ-S owners, I consider myself lucky to own such a fine piece of engineering. However, when I looked closely at my dashboard and door cards, it was clear that the original Burr Elm veneer was hidden beneath a layer of bleached, delaminated lacquer.

Many XJ-S dashboards now appear a dull mu