Car of the Month 11

c.1995 Royale Jaguar Drophead Coupe

Description taken from the https://www.carandclassic.com/ website
where the car is currently for sale. Early September.

Rebuilt to a high standard with no expense spared
Jaguar XJ6 running gear
Extensively re-trimmed including a new mohair soft-top and a head-lining
Fitted with Bentley Mk6 radiator shell, bumpers and over-riders
Based upon a 1974 Jaguar XJ6, first registered on the 10th of May 1974,
this iteration of the Royale was originally factory built by John Barlow
(co-founder of the Royale Motor Company – RMC) in the mid to late 1990s,
it was one of two ordered by a chauffeur company in Belfast, it remained
in their ownership until approximately 2019 when they were bought by a
wedding company in Liverpool with the intention of adding them to their
fleet. The advent of the pandemic meant they were never used and remained
in the garage until the vendor purchased ‘HGZ’ in December of 2021.
The vendor had previously built one of these cars in 1996 and, as with
all John Barlow’s work, was aware of the excellent build quality, the
vendor’s intention was to just refurbish it and use it, instead, the car
was then stripped back to its shell and rebuilt making substantial
alterations along the way.

The car has been professionally repainted, retrimmed and rewired, with
the vendor altering the car to more closely resemble a
Mk5 Jaguar Drophead. As it is on Jaguar XJ6 running gear it is a lot
more up to date than an Mk5 and according to the vendor, drives extremely
well. The vendor is letting the car go to a new custodian after acquiring
a Bristol 411, something he has much admired, and that car is now taking
up his time and resources.

The Royale has been rebuilt to a high standard with no expense spared.
The alterations included the front wings extended down to the bumper level
side mount spare wheels removed, free-standing headlights and the side
lights removed and faired into the wings, a Bentley Mk6 radiator shell
altered and re-chromed to fit. Additionally, Bentley Mk6 bumpers and
over-riders fitted and in-fill panels between body and bumpers
(back and front) bonnet side panel vents were altered, door glass
removed and replaced with smaller drop glass and quarter lights, rear
wheel spats, new restyled rear light pods and new Blockley tyres. Inside,
there’s a restyled dashboard, door panels and steering wheel etc. It has
been extensively re-trimmed including a new mohair soft-top and a head-lining.
The car is registered as an historic vehicle and is therefore tax and MOT exempt