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Clown Car Conversion: Jaguar XJ6 Prototype

The world of custom clown cars is a strange one, but it’s typically reserved for Cadillac Sevilles. This time, a 1986 Jaguar XJ6 decided to get into the mix, and someone chopped a four door down to two very small doors and eliminated the backseat. The custom work didn’t stop there, as it also has a V8 from an Oldsmobile stuffed under the hood. The Jaguar is supposedly the creation of a guy named Willie Wilson, who made this shorty you see here and a custom stretch limousine. The custom XJ6 is now offered here on craigslist as a running car with needs, and with an asking price of $5,900 in Pasadena, Maryland.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Anthony M. for the find. Now, like many of you, I don’t particularly like these custom jobs because the proportions are just incredibly goofy. There had to be something about it that builders and buyers found intriguing, because this Jaguar is hardly an outlier in terms of wonky creations that involve cutting out a good chunk of the body. The builder earned some press for turning his visions into a reality, as the Jaguar was featured in the official publication of the Ontario Jaguar Club. Personally, it’s a no from me (dawg), but I at least like the BBS-style wheels – I would just rather see them on an actual XJ coupe.

Then there’s this engine swap! The seller doesn’t offer specifics on what engine family it’s from, other than to say it’s an Oldsmobile V8. This actually looks pretty clean, and the builder even snagged a custom graphic for the air cleaner just in case you were trying to fool any concours judges. The seller notes it runs, drives, and stops, and that he uses the Jaguar for in-town rides. There are some issues (surprise, surprise) including a leak that may be from the power steering or possibly the transmission pan. Rear brake pads are the suspected source of some odd noises heard when slowing to a stop, but the Jaguar does benefit from a new battery, front rotors, calipers and brake pads, and new air and oil filters.

As you can see, the backseat was effectively eliminated from the conversation, so this is a true two-seater. The interior looks decent, with the two remaining seats showing good upholstery. The center stack is still the factory Jaguar dash and switchgear, so that should seem familiar to the next owner even when everything else is turned upside down. The bigger issue is that the Jaguar does have rust in a few places, with the seller noting (but not showing photos of) “…bubbling and amateur body work in some areas with unmatched paint,” along with rust in the floors are undercoating applied over those concerning spots. This is a project, and certainly a weird one – would you drive it?

Comments

  1. Avatar angliagt Member

    As Nancy Kerrigan once said – “WHY?”…”WHY?”…..”WHY?”.
    This is someone’s way of saying – “I have WAAYY too much time & money”.

    Like 10
    • Avatar Sam61

      How about “oh the humanity!”

      Like 7
  2. Avatar alphasud Member

    I would have taken some length behind the rear wheels to balance the proportions better.

    Like 7
  3. Avatar greg v

    Woof.

    Like 4
  4. Avatar DeeBee

    Must have been a long, cold winter to spawn this monstrosity!

    Like 1
  5. Avatar CCFisher

    How is this a prototype?

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Racer-X

    And seller posts zero side profile pictures. Must look hideous.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Robert Laue

      There’s a side profile picture in the CL ad, most importantly posted the picture of the vehicle vertically.

      It does look hideous!!

      Like 2
  7. Avatar Rittercros

    It’s a Mustang II, only better, and worse.

    Like 1
  8. Avatar Kurt Member

    Meh.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar Richard W Kirtland

    Maybe the car is camera-shy? Why no full-on side view?

    Like 0
  10. Avatar RichardinMaine

    Have seen this elsewhere, and, no.
    I have an XJC V8 as my summer driver and so, hell no.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar JagManBill

    Its a miss-print. Comma should be a period….

    Like 0
  12. Avatar chrlsful

    really can’t see it to tell, poor pic. Even worse a fish eye may have been used creating distortion.
    Tried the source for more but ‘no go’. Sorry, can’t comment due to these. Really need to see suspension too esp w/lrger motor dumped in…

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Jpatrix

    wtf???

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Kenn

    Once again, I feel as Alphasud does that either chop off some of the rear or move the rear axle back so proportions look better and this “shorty” might not look so bad. First Thunderbirds looked O.K. didn’t they?

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Kurt Member

    Maybe compete the butchery and make it a rag top?

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Maestro1

    Bizarre and interesting. But it’s a big project with no intrinsic value.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Kurt Member

    I think the owner really wanted an XKE but couldn’t afford one.

    Like 0

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