Opinions on these three classics please
Discussion
With the TVR sold I'm looking for a bit of a change. I've lined up viewing of the following three cars tomorrow.
The first is a lovely '71 Series 1 XJ6. Something I can just buy and drive, I have to admit I really like the look of this car. The only thing putting me off currently is that is was seemingly auctioned back in March for £400 more than it is currently up for sale at (~£4400). But it is a rare manual, has a webasto sunroof and is lovely!
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C639260
The next two are more project type options, both from the same seller, both V12 loveliness. I'm told that both have good bodies and interiors and need nothing more than a bit of a clean up, TLC and MOT (makes me wonder why this hasn't been done prior to sale).
1993 XJ40 V12 - £2000
Or this 1978 XJ12 LWB - £1500
The first is a lovely '71 Series 1 XJ6. Something I can just buy and drive, I have to admit I really like the look of this car. The only thing putting me off currently is that is was seemingly auctioned back in March for £400 more than it is currently up for sale at (~£4400). But it is a rare manual, has a webasto sunroof and is lovely!
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C639260
The next two are more project type options, both from the same seller, both V12 loveliness. I'm told that both have good bodies and interiors and need nothing more than a bit of a clean up, TLC and MOT (makes me wonder why this hasn't been done prior to sale).
1993 XJ40 V12 - £2000
Or this 1978 XJ12 LWB - £1500
Yea, I think in order of preference, for me it's the '71 XJ6, the '77 XJ12 and then the '93 XJ12.
Not sure on prices though. I think the XJ6 is priced reasonably? But given how much of an unknown both the '12s are I'd want to knock at least £500 off both.
I'd also be interested to hear want anyone else thinks of the value of the cars as the currently are, and potentially if they have MOT and were tidied up a bit (the last two).
Not sure on prices though. I think the XJ6 is priced reasonably? But given how much of an unknown both the '12s are I'd want to knock at least £500 off both.
I'd also be interested to hear want anyone else thinks of the value of the cars as the currently are, and potentially if they have MOT and were tidied up a bit (the last two).
All three could be as rotten as an old pear - dispite there being a new MOT on the S1. All three could potentially be seen to need thousands of pounds spending on them as soon as they are dragged out of their shed or axle deep repose in a muddy field and all three will no doubt rapidly reveal more potentially ruinious faults as they are put back in use.
All three will drink you out of next years holiday savings as well as your childrens birthday treat cash by early autumn and you'll soon be on first name terms with your local mechanic and breakdown call centre team or be wasting entire weekends in the garage wrestling with hoplessly siezed and corroded bolts or snapping the brittle lugs off impossible to replace pieces of trim whilst taking the dashboard or door trims apart chasing random electricial faults.
You'll pretty quickly go from the first thrill of wafting about in a classic Jag, intoxicated with the smell of leather to becoming nauseated by the stench of leaking petrol and burning engine oil and find yourself repeatedly fighting off a overwhelming urge to just pull into the next layby and set fire to the poxy thing.
S1 for me too...
That looks luuuurvely. 
All three will drink you out of next years holiday savings as well as your childrens birthday treat cash by early autumn and you'll soon be on first name terms with your local mechanic and breakdown call centre team or be wasting entire weekends in the garage wrestling with hoplessly siezed and corroded bolts or snapping the brittle lugs off impossible to replace pieces of trim whilst taking the dashboard or door trims apart chasing random electricial faults.
You'll pretty quickly go from the first thrill of wafting about in a classic Jag, intoxicated with the smell of leather to becoming nauseated by the stench of leaking petrol and burning engine oil and find yourself repeatedly fighting off a overwhelming urge to just pull into the next layby and set fire to the poxy thing.
S1 for me too...
That looks luuuurvely. Or why not try to find a nice rot free XK8 and wait for it to become a classic, or find a bargain manual XJS.. For the Jags personally I love the MK2 (I have a 3.4 Auto) and the early XJ's. In the end when choosing it all comes down to rot.. Try to find a local specialist too, I use Powerbell in Taplow who are great with Jags..
Over the past few years I have had (in addition to the Mark 2) a V12 XJS Convertible, an X308 XJR and X300 XJ and a 1998 XKR, my old man has the X350 XJR which is surely a future classic too. For all everyone says about Jags I have always found them to be very reliable if taken care of..
Over the past few years I have had (in addition to the Mark 2) a V12 XJS Convertible, an X308 XJR and X300 XJ and a 1998 XKR, my old man has the X350 XJR which is surely a future classic too. For all everyone says about Jags I have always found them to be very reliable if taken care of..
Just got back from an afternoon of Jaguar hunting! 
First went to see the two V12s, a place just outside of Ashford, they might be well known in the Jag community as apparently they had 850 second hand Jags at one stage. The '78 XJ12 is fairly rotten, been standing in the field for 12 months, so that's a no! They then showed me a XJ12 Vanden Plas, which they'd recently had resprayed. Couple of closing panels missing in the arches, interior was OK. Another reasonable project, another no I think. The XJ40 was nice, solid body, paintwork was OK, but needed touching up in places. Engine was OK, slight tappet tick, oil cooler leaking a lot. Couldn't drive it but given that it was a solid car it's very tempting to take a punt at the price it has been offered at.
Then the 4.2 S1 - it is gorgeous in person. Completely solid body, owner says there is probably some filler, but I couldn't find any evidence of any. The guy has owned it for 6 months and having found the auction webpage I know he's selling it at a loss (which he mentioned too). I've agreed a price but I have two concerns:
1 - The previous owner fitted two additional fans to the front of the radiator, plus an extra expansion/overflow tank for coolant and the current owner has fitted a 'cooler' 73* thermostat . When we got back from a test drive it did throw out some coolant, I'd guess at 100-200ml. Slight tappet tick too, but this maybe normal? The car idles fine, never overheated. Temperature guage stayed under half way at all time. Could this point to something serious? There didn't seem to be any signs of H/G failure, but not sure what else it could be. Owner put it down to having been filled earlier and just overfilled slightly but the mods make me think this could be an on-going issue.
2 - Brakes had a bit of travel and I had to use a bit of pressure to slow the car down. I think this is completely normal and I just need to get used to a big, classic car without much servo-assistance. But would be nice to know if there was any way to remove some of that initial travel on the brakes?
Reason for sale is apparently a house buy. However, car bought at auction, kept for 6 months, then selling at a loss.... History is minimal bar 10-15 years of MOTs. I think the auction was a probate sale - the previous owner had the car for over 30 years, possibly from new.
First went to see the two V12s, a place just outside of Ashford, they might be well known in the Jag community as apparently they had 850 second hand Jags at one stage. The '78 XJ12 is fairly rotten, been standing in the field for 12 months, so that's a no! They then showed me a XJ12 Vanden Plas, which they'd recently had resprayed. Couple of closing panels missing in the arches, interior was OK. Another reasonable project, another no I think. The XJ40 was nice, solid body, paintwork was OK, but needed touching up in places. Engine was OK, slight tappet tick, oil cooler leaking a lot. Couldn't drive it but given that it was a solid car it's very tempting to take a punt at the price it has been offered at.
Then the 4.2 S1 - it is gorgeous in person. Completely solid body, owner says there is probably some filler, but I couldn't find any evidence of any. The guy has owned it for 6 months and having found the auction webpage I know he's selling it at a loss (which he mentioned too). I've agreed a price but I have two concerns:
1 - The previous owner fitted two additional fans to the front of the radiator, plus an extra expansion/overflow tank for coolant and the current owner has fitted a 'cooler' 73* thermostat . When we got back from a test drive it did throw out some coolant, I'd guess at 100-200ml. Slight tappet tick too, but this maybe normal? The car idles fine, never overheated. Temperature guage stayed under half way at all time. Could this point to something serious? There didn't seem to be any signs of H/G failure, but not sure what else it could be. Owner put it down to having been filled earlier and just overfilled slightly but the mods make me think this could be an on-going issue.
2 - Brakes had a bit of travel and I had to use a bit of pressure to slow the car down. I think this is completely normal and I just need to get used to a big, classic car without much servo-assistance. But would be nice to know if there was any way to remove some of that initial travel on the brakes?
Reason for sale is apparently a house buy. However, car bought at auction, kept for 6 months, then selling at a loss.... History is minimal bar 10-15 years of MOTs. I think the auction was a probate sale - the previous owner had the car for over 30 years, possibly from new.
The tick is normal & they shouldn't be silent. An oil change with some decent oil might help. The overheating could be clagged up rad or worse the block water ways. Maybe even a worn water pump. When I worked on these a lot I did quite a few head gaskets & getting the head off can be a pig as it seizes on the studs. They all came off in the end although I think one needed the coca cola treatment. Aside from getting the head off it is a relatively easy job. Does it have anti freeze in it? A lot seem to end up with no coolant just water which won't do them any good.
Looked like it had good coolant in, red stuff. Could have just been very rusty water though! 
As I say, the car didn't overheat, the gauge was reading perfectly normal. Just spat some coolant out and with the mods I wondered whether this coolant vomiting could be a serious problem.
The top end tick didn't sound abnormal, so I'm happy that won't be a problem.
Also, what sort of mileage should one expect from the 4.2 XK engine? This car has apparently done 125k!
As I say, the car didn't overheat, the gauge was reading perfectly normal. Just spat some coolant out and with the mods I wondered whether this coolant vomiting could be a serious problem.The top end tick didn't sound abnormal, so I'm happy that won't be a problem.
Also, what sort of mileage should one expect from the 4.2 XK engine? This car has apparently done 125k!
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