1978 XJC

[silverspeed]

Have seen an XJC for sale over the weekend. Its in good condition but a couple of issues with it and just wondered if anyone could offer any advice as to cost to sort:-
Right hand fuel tank is not working - suspect fuel pump needs replacing. Is it an easy job?
The headlining has collapsed just held up in each corner and across the back window .Think damp has taken its toll!! Is it a simple re-glue - seems as though it fixes staight onto the metal - no feeling of any insulation or header card. Big job?

[cml]

Er, congrats on thinking of taking one on! LJK Setright rated the XJ12C as the world's best car at one point. What you describe are niggles, if that's all that is seriously wrong then a result. There are issues, build quality at that time was at a low and those big doors had all sorts of problems keeping out water. Oozes style though.

One of my 'if I was a rich man' cars...

Edited by cml on Tuesday 26th January 00:46

[Piersman2]

I bought one a few years back, a 4.2c.

The pumps were mounted in the bottom of the tank, accessible via a cover in the wheel arch if I remember correctly. The tanks have a drain in the bottom of them. Do remember to drain the tanks before you undo the cover and remove the pumps though! I can remember having several buckets of petrol laying around when I did mine! :-)

Mine would run out of puff becuase not enough petrol was being pumped, it turned out just to be because the accumulated crud in the bottom of the tanks was clogging the mesh filters on the pumps.

As to general advice, buy on body condition rather than mechanical. They rust like well.. a 1970's Jag :-). The one I bought had had a lot of body work done, the whole rear end looked to have been replaced. I spent about a year getting it suitable to be used as a daily driver, overhauled rear IRS suspension unit, new brakes, I fitted a series III head and well, lots of other fettling to get it 'right'.

Ran it for about 2.5 years in total then sold it to a guy who took it back to Eire.

Actually I loved driving around in it with all the windows down.. such a cool looking car but eventually sold it becuase I was working about an hours drive away and when it was on the motorway it was so low geared that I'd be doing about 80mph with the engine doing at 4.5K revs... not ideal for cruisin the motorways every day...did get off the line quite quick for an old car mind :-)

Great fun. Go for it, but be aware it WILL need money and TIME spent on it!

P.S. parts , mechanical parts, are cheap and plentiful for the old jags, body parts for these not so plentiful I think.

Edited by Piersman2 on Monday 25th January 23:44

[cml]

Mind you he looked like this:



Which is a kind of weird cool

[richw_82]

Nice car! I had one for a while, and keep looking at getting another (either that or a 420G).

The fuel pumps are either submerged in the tanks, accessed through the wheel wells as mentioned up this thread, or in the boot just behind the spare wheel well (under the screwed down portion of boot board.)

Headlinings are a pain in XJ6's but easier to remedy in a Coupe as you can get it out easier. If its started to come down, the foam has rotted, and attempts to reglue it will be doomed. It will need stripping off, the foam all removed and then recovered.

Regards,

Ric

[a8hex]

cml said:

Mind you he looked like this:



Which is a kind of weird cool

Wierd yes, but was always the first page I read in Car

[andyps]

a8hex said:

cml said:

Mind you he looked like this:



Which is a kind of weird cool

Wierd yes, but was always the first page I read in Car

It usually took me a week or two to build up to it, always worth the wait though.

[silverspeed]

Thanks for the comments. Think I am going to buy it - good bodywork and history file from a genuine person.

I'll let you know the full cost in about 6 months time!

[mxi933]

I had a XJ12c for a while. Not the fastest thing I've ever driven but lots of style. Unfortunately most people just saw it as "an old Jag" and didnt really get the exclusivity of it being a coupe.

Check and double check any oil drips from underneath. Check underneath first and when you've taken it for a spin make sure you park it on the level and after a few mins double check again for any drips. If the crank seal has gone its a part that costs pennies but will cost thousands to fit - engine needs to come out!!

[a8hex]

stops them rusting though.

[andyps]

mxi933 said:

I had a XJ12c for a while. Not the fastest thing I've ever driven but lots of style. Unfortunately most people just saw it as "an old Jag" and didnt really get the exclusivity of it being a coupe.

Not sure that should be an issue or reason to like it any the less.

Always a car I have loved.

[dbdb]

a8hex said:

cml said:

Mind you he looked like this:



Which is a kind of weird cool

Wierd yes, but was always the first page I read in Car

I was the same. He was a superb writer.

[silverspeed]

mxi933 said:

I had a XJ12c for a while. Not the fastest thing I've ever driven but lots of style. Unfortunately most people just saw it as "an old Jag" and didnt really get the exclusivity of it being a coupe.

Check and double check any oil drips from underneath. Check underneath first and when you've taken it for a spin make sure you park it on the level and after a few mins double check again for any drips. If the crank seal has gone its a part that costs pennies but will cost thousands to fit - engine needs to come out!!

Is this the same for the 4.2 engine aswell?

[RaySingh]

I had a 1975 4.2XJC a few years ago and loved the style and majesty of it. The brakes were poor, though, and maintenance costs were high. Not to mention the thirst. I'm glad to have experienced it, though.

[mxi933]

silverspeed said:

mxi933 said:

I had a XJ12c for a while. Not the fastest thing I've ever driven but lots of style. Unfortunately most people just saw it as "an old Jag" and didnt really get the exclusivity of it being a coupe.

Check and double check any oil drips from underneath. Check underneath first and when you've taken it for a spin make sure you park it on the level and after a few mins double check again for any drips. If the crank seal has gone its a part that costs pennies but will cost thousands to fit - engine needs to come out!!

Is this the same for the 4.2 engine aswell?

yeah I believe so.

Got to admit I always fancied the Broadspeed Variant. I watched Steed in the Avengers and wanted one

[bigdavy]

I can't believe anyone hasn't said this yet, please be careful!

All XJ's rust very badly, with coupe's being the worst of the lot. They never ever got the side window seals right and as such they always leaked. Problem with the coupes was the water gathered on the rear floor around where the main suspension arm from the rear axle meets the body. If the car is rusty in this area at all walk away! Unless you have a very large pile of money you want rid of.

Sills are also very prone to rust, have a good look / poke about at the end of the sill at both ends within the wheelarches. Fixable but circa £1200 - £1500.

Body panels are more limited availability for the coupe than saloons.Second hand parts are generally available apert from interior trim for the coupe again.

I've had a few Xj's they are great cars and a good coupe is a super car (and becoming rarer) but please be careful when buying. I'm happy to give more help and advice if you want, just ask.

[steve-p]

Always loved the XJC - one of the best Jaguar designs ever IMO. I've just never been brave enough to buy one

[Piersman2]

silverspeed said:

mxi933 said:

I had a XJ12c for a while. Not the fastest thing I've ever driven but lots of style. Unfortunately most people just saw it as "an old Jag" and didnt really get the exclusivity of it being a coupe.

Check and double check any oil drips from underneath. Check underneath first and when you've taken it for a spin make sure you park it on the level and after a few mins double check again for any drips. If the crank seal has gone its a part that costs pennies but will cost thousands to fit - engine needs to come out!!

Is this the same for the 4.2 engine aswell?

It is most definitely. I had a 4.2 series III years ago, it had a small drip drip oil leak from the engine. Part was about £10, fitting it was about £800. Strangely enough I lived with the drip drip :-)

[Piersman2]

dbdb said:

a8hex said:

cml said:

Mind you he looked like this:



Which is a kind of weird cool

Wierd yes, but was always the first page I read in Car

I was the same. He was a superb writer.

Me too. I still recall an article about handling where he argued that the XJS should be the best handling car as it's wide stance and low roofline gave it (at the time) to best ratio of height to width. Closely followed by the Honda prelude IIRC.

[RW774]

The XJ12 S2 Setright tested was in fact the saloon owned by Chassis designer and Jaguar Chairman Bob Knight. The car is in need of restoration by still exists ( it was briefly in my posession)
Astrays full and footwells full of ash( Bob was a chain smoker). I believe it was yested against a RR shadow.