As I’ve mentioned in the past, transplanting a small-block Chevrolet engine into a Jaguar is a practice that has been going on for decades. The owner of this ’73 XJ6 commenced the process, but he admits that he has run out of interest and enthusiasm, so has decided to part with it. He has, therefore, put the car on the market with a very low BIN price of $1,500. Located in Franklin Park, Illinois, you will find the Jaguar listed for sale here on eBay.
The appearance of the XJ6 is very nice, and I have to admit that I’ve always liked the low and sleek styling of these. The body is straight, and the trim and glass all appear to be in good condition. There is some rust to be dealt with, and this is in the front floors on both the drivers and passenger side of the car. The owner doesn’t provide any photos, so hopefully, it won’t be too extensive.
Under the hood is a 350ci Chevrolet V8, which commenced life in a 1970s Corvette. This is hooked to an automatic transmission. The car apparently starts, runs, and drives, but stopping is a bit of an issue. However, it appears that a new brake master cylinder will address this problem. The Jaguar is also fitted with new wheels and tires. When you look at the engine bay of an XJ6, you can see why people tend to undertake this conversion. That Chevy engine really is a nice fit under the hood.
The interior of the Jaguar presents fairly well, and apart from the carpet looking like it has seen better days, the rest of the interior is actually quite good. This is one of those cars where a good clean and detail would make the world of difference. There may be some other issues that need addressing, but it is a bit hard to tell from the supplied photos.
This Jaguar XJ6 is an interesting proposition, mainly due to the fact that you are getting a lot of car for your dollar. The SBC transplant is not rare, but it is a cost-effective solution to major problems with the original Jaguar engine. Honestly, I’m trying to think of one good reason why buying this XJ6 for $1,500 would be a bad idea, and I can’t think of one.
that went fast….
I would have done it to my Series One if push came to shove. I love the XK engine, but I’m not bothered by a SBC. At least it’s still on the road
Gone. I agree, someone got a lot of car for the money!
$1,500 for that? Why so cheap? Is it cursed?
Blew a head gasket on my girl friend’s ’73 XK6 on the 405 in LA a long time ago……..other than that and the lucas gremlins, that car was the quietest riding car I have ever had…and the dual gas tanks, when gas went to .65 cents a gallon :), the best since you could only get gas on the odd/even days……….
Looking back, I wonder if she had neglected to keep water/antifeeze in it? My mistake to never have checked!
I still would love to have an XJC with a sunroof..another grail car
A bargain
And in the XJ 6, the rear distributor on the SBC makes sense. You also get a decent GM automatic trans, not the B-W.
Ugggh.
Another lumped Jaguar.
Yawn……