Centre dash rubber flap/seal?

[Monkeyfinger]

Having just acquired a used S2 centre panel in order to salvage the rocker switches, I notice that there is a rubber flap and metal strip fastened to the lower edge. This has never been present on my car - can anyone confirm if this should always have been there or was added later in production? My car was built late '68.

[abowie]

Yes it is factory.

But they get removed because they make folding the dash panel down even harder.

[skiracer]

I've never figured out what that flap is really supposed to prevent- a little dust getting into the radio console? I know Jaguar would never spend a pence on something they thought wasn't necessary, but I can't figure out why they put these here on the Series 1.5 and 2 cars.

[Monkeyfinger]

I did a bit of research and it just seems it was to cover the gap (if any), preventing unsightly views of wires. I guess I'm happy to have another original part that went missing many years ago from my car - not sure it's ever going to get fitted though!

[Heuer]

They are on the S1 cars as well and the SPC describes them as "Light Shield (Rubber) Below Indicator Strip". Part BD24393 - title explains all!