It sounds like a good idea to buy one and drive it back to Chicago - what is it about these cars? Now that 240Z's are out of my price range why am I fascinated by these $5,000 cars?
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/d/grover-beach-1986-jaguar-xj6-73k-miles/7258876209.html
I don't know, but I have the same affliction. They are anathema to everything I hold dear in a car - manual transmission, sporty, relatively light - but they seem like a lot of car for the money, and they just look so damn good. There was one posted FS here a few weeks ago in Nevada and I semi-seriously considered buying it and driving it back to New York.
Totally agree. These cars are super classy, attractive inside and outside, and the availability of a V12 is icing.
Chuck, the guy that taught me wrenching when I was a high schooler, had 1-2 dozen at his shop at any time. That's why they draw me to them.
I'm a sucker for dual headlights - throw the yellow fogs on the inside and I'm in.
I know they're slow, heavy, handle like a boat, and have more problems than my ex wife but every time I see one I always want it. Especially with the V12
They're good looking cars. The 4.2 i6 isn't problematic. Robbie has a thread about his. I think they're great classic cars for under 10k. I'd love a coupe.
Only other 70-80 euro car I'd take over the Jag is Mercedes w108, w116, or w126.
Yeah we really like ours.
1. You don't need to spend 5k
2. You don't need to travel - chicago is up to it's ears in old garage queen jags
I know it's not what you asked for but if I had 5k earmarked for a new jag I'd be calling this guy.
https://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/d/gilman-2001-jaguar-xkr/7273518036.html
That’s a lot of charisma, and the style is a nice contrast to the typical American iron that fills parking lot car shows around where I live.
I like it.
In reply to Datsun310Guy :
They are Sir William Lyons swan song. His final design of a career that began in 1922 with Swallow Side car.
The 4.2 engine goes back to WW2 fire watch days late at night keeping watch over his factories during night bombings. The origination of the V12 dates back to a sketch in 1954.
While the design team may have drawn the styling for the XJ series, Sir Lyons would take the prototypes home in the evening to give his approval based on his eye of those lines in the twilight.
Mind you no less than Enzo Ferrari credited Sir Lyons work as the most beautiful car ever created. While he was talking specifically about the XKE it was a compliment to his whole body of work.
In summation these cars were normally a reward given by their owners for a lifetime of success and treated as cherished possessions.
I plan to buy an XJS at some point when I winnow down the project list. Love those cars, and they still go for peanuts.
I've been astounded how durable the rear end has been in this thing.
I always loved reading John's ads in Hemmings. He makes V8 swaps easy John's Cars V8 Swaps and Broken Kitty catalogpeasy.
bearmtnmartin (Forum Supporter) said:I plan to buy an XJS at some point when I winnow down the project list. Love those cars, and they still go for peanuts.
Non running XJS can still be had very cheaply. Few people will buy something used without a test drive first. But Grandpa's XJS that's been stored for years has always been a good deal for me.
The hard part about it is no OBD2 to plug in and have it tell you what to replace. Like any 70's-80's- early 90's car.
Go with the assumption that the engine is mechanically sound. Most in my experience have been.
Remove all the stale gas.
Assume the vacuum hoses are split or about to fail. Don't use hardware store replacement hose, Buy a reel of decent quality automotive hose because there is a lot of it plus you have the one that goes back to the ECM in the trunk. Do one hose at a time and it's a simple and satisfying job.
Then replace all the rubber type fuel lines. Include the ones from the fuel rail to the injectors. They can be at least 30 years old and up to 45 years old. Best purchased from a supplier rather than the dealer. Moss Motors, Welsh, Terry's Jag, even Rock Auto for some.
Now pull the spark plugs. The big ugly inefficient A/C compressor is in the way of easy access to some plugs. Go ahead and loosen it up. Heck remove it because the chance of it still having a charge after 45 years is rather slim. Put a squirt of oil down each cylinder.
Drain the old oil. And put on a fresh oil filter. 12 quarts 20/50
Replace all the coolant hoses ( because they may be 30-45 years old) then flush the radiator. Time for a new battery. Clean the cable ends and crank the engine over until you have oil pressure.
replace the spark plugs, give it a few gallons of fresh fuel. Give it a try. Trouble shooting is the same as any other car. Spark and fuel.
There is a free downloadable 748 page book by Kirby Palm go to Jag Lovers. Org
Rust is a valid reason to reject early any Jaguar. Repairing that rust professionally will cost many times what the finished car will be worth. Minor surface rust is simple to repair and common even in non-rusty cars. Floor pans and rocker covers are. Potentially more complicated than most cars. The rear suspension trailing link location is critical and it's just attached to the floor pan.But the windshield can leak and in damp climates rust. The front sub-frame has been known to rust through but replacement is simple. Unbolt 6 bolts ( including the engine mounts) and replace with a good one. Readily available here in the states not so in England. .
Electrical is the real weakness of Jaguars. Anything that works part time or if you hit it is likely a poor ground wire rather than a failed part. Ground wires in Jaguar are Black. Check both ends.
The cast iron block 6 cylinder is a long stroke (4.17") that is durable and likely in very good order. No metric bolts on Any Jaguar until the early 1990's. Regular SAE bolts.
The V12 is astonishingly robust and more powerful than any American engine of the same era. Non- American spec'd car had 291 (299 for 1980) horsepower to the Chevy 454's 230 horsepower those are Net installed numbers. Power adders are simple things like removing the air horns from the air filters and gaining 30 horsepower. Or picking up cold air for another 20. Removing 2 of the 4 mufflers and going to 2&1/2 inch exhaust instead of stock 2 inch tail pipes picks up another 30. For racing purposes replacing the camshafts is much simpler than on a typical V8 it can be done in less than 1/2 the time. Camshaft replacement can easily add 80-100 real net horsepower.
Transmissions are all American made. From 1971- 1977 they were Borg Warner's. From 1977 through production they were GM Turbo 400's followed by the overdrive versions.
The rear end is the famous Dana 44 or Salisbury version of it. Virtually no issues.
Inboard disk brakes are a pain to work on unless the whole rear end is removed which is really easy to do.
It is a fast car, not in the drag racing sense but top speed can be 150 mph in stock form. Getting to those speeds is surprisingly smooth and seemingly effortless.
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