LS400 retrofitted with Jaguar Vanden Plas picnic tables
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Here's a modification that's fairly simple: retrofitting picnic tables from a Jaguar Vanden Plas into my 1st Generation 1993 LS400. The hardest part is finding the Jaguar picnic tables from a wrecked Jaguar. It's more than simply screwing the tables into the front seatback, however. I removed the seatback, re-inforced the area on the other side of the tables, and mounted the tables prior to re-installing the seatbacks onto the front seats. In the Jaguar, the tables were screwed into a welded metal bracket attached to the metal seat frame itself. In this set up, they are sturdy, fold up nice and smoothly, and you can certainly set a cup of coffee or a burger on the tables without fear of them falling down. Surprisingly, the color of the wood comes close to matching the factory burled walnut in the LS400, the only modification I did to the the tables was dye-ing the small leather strip to match the rest of the leather. The leather match was impeccable!
![](http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z74/MakoShark83/LS400/Lexusls400103.jpg)
![](http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z74/MakoShark83/LS400/Lexusls400099.jpg)
![](http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z74/MakoShark83/LS400/Lexusls400100.jpg)
![](http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z74/MakoShark83/LS400/Lexusls400106.jpg)
![](http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z74/MakoShark83/LS400/Lexusls400103.jpg)
![](http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z74/MakoShark83/LS400/Lexusls400099.jpg)
![](http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z74/MakoShark83/LS400/Lexusls400100.jpg)
![](http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z74/MakoShark83/LS400/Lexusls400106.jpg)
![](http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z74/MakoShark83/LS400/Lexusls400047.jpg)
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Picnic tables never really make sense in a car anyway, besides bragging rights (I guess) and something nice to look at! And the first generation only came in one wheelbase configuration anyway... pretty sure you know that though.
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Looks nice
And good to see you took your time with the leather also to get it matched. Is the wood on the tables lighter than the LS wood?
LWB or not, i think its a cool VIP thing.![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Steve, that sounds pretty nice too. Where did you see that?
I was thinking of adding a mini fridge somehow, but because of the gas tank i cant merge it behind the armrest
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LWB or not, i think its a cool VIP thing.
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Steve, that sounds pretty nice too. Where did you see that?
I was thinking of adding a mini fridge somehow, but because of the gas tank i cant merge it behind the armrest
![Crying](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/Peace.gif)
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Looks nice
And good to see you took your time with the leather also to get it matched. Is the wood on the tables lighter than the LS wood?
LWB or not, i think its a cool VIP thing.![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Steve, that sounds pretty nice too. Where did you see that?
I was thinking of adding a mini fridge somehow, but because of the gas tank i cant merge it behind the armrest![Crying](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/Peace.gif)
![Thumb Up](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
LWB or not, i think its a cool VIP thing.
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Steve, that sounds pretty nice too. Where did you see that?
I was thinking of adding a mini fridge somehow, but because of the gas tank i cant merge it behind the armrest
![Crying](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/Peace.gif)
Rollaboy: Thanks for the compliment. The wood is just a little lighter than the original trim on the LS400, but not too noticeable. The tables are from a later a 1998 Jaguar actually, I know the 90-94 Jag's had a slightly more rectangular table.
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![](http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z74/MakoShark83/LS400/Lexusls400094.jpg)
Here is an image that shows the wood tables, and also the factory wood trim around the power window surround. You can tell the tables are slightly lighter, but not too bad.
#10
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tbh this is something that wouldn't look out of place on a fully modified VIP/EXE style ride....
but when I see stuff like this on a care like yours that while clean otherwise, is nearly stock....it just looks totally out of place and rather tacky.
I can appreciate the work you put in but looking at the bigger picture, they don't make sense. they are single items that don't contribute at all to the overall car.
but when I see stuff like this on a care like yours that while clean otherwise, is nearly stock....it just looks totally out of place and rather tacky.
I can appreciate the work you put in but looking at the bigger picture, they don't make sense. they are single items that don't contribute at all to the overall car.