Wednesday 18th July 2012

Spotted: Jaguar XJ-C

There's 70s BL glamour aplenty here, so why does it remind us of a bowler hat?

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Has a bowler hat ever been sexy? With the possible exception of the titfer worn by Liza Minelli in Cabaret, you'd think that the answer would be an emphatic no. Especially given the results you get if you type it into a Google image search.

Which makes it all the more odd that I find Series I, II and III Jaguar XJ6s so alluring, because for all their manifest grace they have always put me in mind of a bowler hat. Now, I honestly don't know whether this is the 'English gent' image, or the fact that the three-box shape, with its gently curving roof, imparts a certain 'bowler-ness'. I think it's probably a bit of both.

The pillarless XJ-C coupe, then, is the sexiest bowler hat ever, by that somewhat fuzzy logic. But even if you don't quite get my curious thought processes, you'll probably still admit that it's a very pretty car. And a rare one, too. The XJ-C was produced for just three years between 1975 and 1977, and the fact that it cost more than the saloon for less metal didn't play too well in an austere post oil-crisis market, so examples of the dapper two-door only numbered 10,426 by the time it was canned in 1977.

Time has subsequently taken its own toll on XJ-C numbers (with rot hidden by the vinyl roof killing plenty), to the extent that fewer than a hundred are on the roads of the UK today.

This particular XJ-C must have been one of the last of the breed to be built, as its S-plate reg number means it was registered no earlier than 1 August 1977. In the ensuing 35 years it's been through five owners and, even though it's only done 52,000 miles, is by the owner's admission in need of a wee bit of TLC by now.

But he uses it as a commuting tool even now, it has an MOT all the way until March next year, and it's quite frankly a wonderfully elegant and nostalgic slice of Brit motoring nostalgia for a whisker under £4,000. What could possibly go wrong? Actually, don't answer that...

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JAGUAR XJ-C
Engine:4,235cc straight-six
Transmission:3-speed automatic
Power (hp):180@4,500rpm
Torque (lb ft):232@3,000rpm
MPG:17mpg
CO2:na
First registered:1977-78
Recorded mileage:52,000
Price new: £4,260
Yours for: £3,950

[M666 EVO]

How about that for a slive of fried gold!

I want that so bad. If only I had spare garage and somewhere to do some repairs to it.

[StoatInACoat]

Gorgeous looking thing. I was hoping to get to the bottom of the article and find a completely un-attainable price but it's actually quite cheap...

Argh! Must resist! T'other half will skin me alive!

[anything fast]

Can anyone tell me which 80's TV show had one of these in the opening credits? It had wide pumped up arches and wide tyres.. I'm thinking Minder but not sure!

[carinaman]

anything fast said:

Can anyone tell me which 80's TV show had one of these in the opening credits? It had wide pumped up arches and wide tyres.. I'm thinking Minder but not sure!

It was Steed's in the New Avengers, I think it had the Broadspeed racing arches on it.

A picture of a bowler and a New Avenger:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qyhZ9_eXCHM/SiyBm5gc2mI/...

[carinaman]

Who needs the new Hunt V Lauda film by Richie Cunningham when they can have this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l_Bz_OHhxg

[asn163]

I remember my uncle having one of those brand new, it was a unflattering shade of chocolate brown. It replaced a powder blue series 1 XJ6 2.8

[UKAuto]

anything fast said:

Can anyone tell me which 80's TV show had one of these in the opening credits? It had wide pumped up arches and wide tyres.. I'm thinking Minder but not sure!

New Avengers had one (not sure about the opening credits though?)
I believe it was a Broadspeed modified one in British Racing Green.
Mmmmm, loved that car!


Edit to say that I must type way too slow.

[HighwayStar]

carinaman said:

Who needs the new Hunt V Lauda film by Richie Cunningham when they can have this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l_Bz_OHhxg

Classic! That is pure gold...

[carinaman]

UKAuto said:

Edit to say that I must type way too slow.

No worries I was already thinking New Avengers due to the bowler hat intro. along with the ultra violence and the old in and out. Malcolm McDowell and his big eyelashes didn't do it for me but perhaps it did for some.

[dowahdiddyman]

Remember when I was a kid a bloke a few doors down from me had a brand spanker 2 door, was a lovely piece of kit even though it was yellow with the black roof. Sadly less than three years later it was a strange shade of brown and yellow.

[Vocal Minority]

Marvelous thing (though to be honest, there is a special place in hell for that Jag 3 speed auto box

[Fartgalen]

HighwayStar said:

carinaman said:

Who needs the new Hunt V Lauda film by Richie Cunningham when they can have this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l_Bz_OHhxg

Classic! That is pure gold...

It sure is ! And a lovely 'spotted' too.

[Mark-C]

Always loved these - they look classy as this one is but are completely tansformed by the Broadspeed arches.

Would love one ... maybe a replacement (or company) for the XJS one day ....

[SprintSpeciale]

Wow, look at that:

Price new: £4,260
Yours for: £3,950

It has only depreciated by £310 in 35 years....

[ruff'n'smov]

carinaman said:

Who needs the new Hunt V Lauda film by Richie Cunningham when they can have this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l_Bz_OHhxg

Made my day watching that....well done fella.

[MrMoonyMan]

And they feel so delightfully special to drive too.

Has anyone got that picture of the lairy TWR one of these to hand?

[carinaman]

ruff'n'smov said:

Made my day watching that....well done fella.

Steed's Jag has lost cool points with me. I never noticed the sunroof before. I didn't realise the old XK could make NASCAR type noises.

That episode was called three handed game. I think she may have needed more than three hands to help her get into that outfit. The weather looked as bad in that piece as our July has been.

What was the red car on the left as Steed hammered it up the pitlane? A Victor FE? Another Jag?

[whytheory]

What a bargain, has got to be an appreciating asset too...

[RESSE]

carinaman said:

Steed's Jag has lost cool points with me. I never noticed the sunroof before. I didn't realise the old XK could make NASCAR type noises.

That episode was called three handed game. I think she may have needed more than three hands to help her get into that outfit. The weather looked as bad in that piece as our July has been.

What was the red car on the left as Steed hammered it up the pitlane? A Victor FE? Another Jag?

Series 1 XJ6 (1968-1973) - I don't think it is a Damiler Sovereign Series 1 (intr. 1969)?

[grumpy52]

Installed radios and 8 tracks in these when new. saw them race in european touring cars where all three nearly wiped each other out on lap 2 (i think) at copse.
Did all the detail work on a Daimler Double Six coupe before it went back to its owner a couple of years ago
In my top three favs