The Jaguar XJ is one of the few automotive nameplates to enjoy a 50-year-run. This well-preserved 1978 example still looks very similar to the first series of the XJ sedan introduced 10 years earlier in 1968. In Jaguar’s case, they got a lot right with this sleek, silky luxury sedan, and were in no hurry to make drastic changes. With only one owner and 48,000 documented miles (plus the window sticker and lots of paper work dating from 1978 to the present), this appears to be one pampered Jaguar XJ with a V-12 under the hood. Located southeast of Phoenix, Arizona in the city of Chandler, this XJ12 is for sale here on craigslist for $8,900. We’d like to thank super-sleuth T.J. for sending this Jaguar tip to us.
This 1978 XJ represents what’s called the “Series II” that received a bit of a facelift (mainly more prominent bumpers) for the 1974 model year in order to meet the U.S. crash safety regulations. And starting in 1975, models sold in North America also received rubber over-riders on the front and rear bumpers with embedded turn signals. The seller claims the Jaguar is “100% original” and that the body is “rust free and very straight.” Jaguar only offered nine paint color options in 1978, but all of them were very stately in hue and this Regency Red color was a good choice. The seller states that the paint is original but that it is showing some lacquer checking and cracking. I’ve always liked the sleek styling of the XJ sedans and thought it had just the right amount of brightwork (including the attractive Chrome Turbo Disc Wheels). This classy sedan still looks great and has aged very well in my opinion.
The original Cinnamon interior presents itself well for a 44-year-old vehicle and is a nice compliment to its Regency Red exterior. It’s no surprise that this XJ came loaded with creature comforts. Advertising described the dashboard as “being fitted with hand-matched veneers of rare burled walnut” and their seats as “covered in the finest Connolly hides.” The ad also brags that “the XJ sedan is so completely equipped with thoughtful and luxurious appointments that there were no factory options whatever.”
I’m not sure why, but here’s yet another example of a classic car being listed with no photographs of the engine. Of the 15,422 XJ sedans built in 1978, only 3,284 (27%) were equipped with a 12-cylinder engine. According to the window sticker seen above, this Jag has a 326-cubic inch electronic fuel-injected V-12 engine paired with a GM Turbo Hydramatic automatic transmission. The seller states that the Jaguar “is complete and running and driving well. Will need some servicing.” No details are given about what kind of servicing is needed. I’ve never owned one of these luxury sedans, but based on what I found online, the Jaguar V-12 is described as “silky smooth when it’s in good tune,” but requires more than its fair share of maintenance, especially the fuel system. With a sticker price of $20,310 ($96,500 in today’s dollars), this ’78 Jaguar XJ wasn’t a cheap car and was twice the price of a new Cadillac. With Hagerty estimating the value of a #3 Good Condition Jaguar XJ12 at $11,800, the $8,900 asking price for this original, low-mileage Jag sounds like a good deal. What do you think?
From my understanding, at about 50,000 miles one should expect the massive implosion of component failure in just about any British Letland car–Jag, MG. Triumph……………
I have an XJR with over 125K miles.
Never had any problems with it.
I had an XJ8 that I had no problems with until I was hit head-on and shoved the front end over 8 inches.
I have a Triumph 2500TC of the same vintage as this Jag with just over 300,000km on it in Australia.
Complete nonsense!
Nope, dead wrong. But I would replace the fuel injectors. The rubber hoses are dried and cracked at 44 years of age.
The biggest problem was with the V12 that people didn’t drive them hard enough. I used to work at a Sub Dealer Jag dealership and the old folks would have their cars in often because they weren’t running right. 1 time I had a guy call around home and mentioned that he had to keep getting it worked on. I took it for a good hard run for about 30 minutes and bought it back to him. He often asked what did you do because it has never run so good.
Nice find. A major reason for negative image attributed to English cars, Jags especially, is that many mechanics don’t or didn’t know how to fix them. If an owner has a bad experience with a car they are likely to blame the car when they should blame their mechanic. “I hate that car, it’s always in the shop” These are fabulous cars as Jags often are. The V12 is solid. Trans is GM TH 400. Rear suspension legendary. With the proper approach to repairs they can and do run a long time.
Gosh, someone doesn’t think English girls are pretty? Is that political? I never thought this to be a “woke” site.
These were the most beautiful pieces of junk to come out of Merry Olde England. Your heart says wow, a V-12 Jag for under $10k. But your head says, run away. Far away.
Another comment from someone who never owned a V12 Jag. I’ve had 3. Loved them all. Wonderful cars to work on, and easy to keep in top shape if you know what you’re doing. And you don’t have to be all that cleaver.
There are guys that made a living out of putting Chevy V-8’s in these things. But, you’re right. They’re stellar performers, that are as easy to wrench on as a Model A.
I recently got rid of my ’62 Imperial two door after 15 years and bought a 1998 Jaguar XJR, 4 liter supercharged V8, 186,000km on the clock, better road handling than the Imperial and more ‘get up go’ than I think I’ll ever need, (0 to 100kms an hour in 5.6 seconds), the trouble is where in hell can you actually use that sort of power in Oz, the top road speed limit here is 130km/hour, after that start saving up for the fines ‘cos you’re gonna get ’em.
That’s still better than Ontario, Canada. Highway speed limit is 100 kph. Your vehicle will be impounded for two weeks if you are caught doing 40 kilometres over. Big fines and insurance increases too!
I’d give her a run
I believe the seller meant “book matched” dash in which the wood grain is a mirror image on each side of center. But no engine photos?
My 86 Daimler Double Six is a great driving car, although I did have to replace the computer with one from a breaker yard in the UK after spending many hours eliminating every other possibility for a spate of poor running. I do like the little headstone tail lights of the early models, but I think the series III body is slightly better proportioned; I may be a little prejudiced having several 80s XJs. These have been described as “art for your driveway” with “fenders like hips under silk” (or wings on the other side of the pond)
Nice. Some attention to that oxidized paintwork, a thorough service and replenishment of aged parts (hide feed, rubber pipes, filters, etc), and get rid of those awful Federal bumpers, and you’d have a lovely cruiser on your hands.
Given how ugly the modern XJs are, this is a potential peach.
All fun and games until you see a larger than usual oil stain on the floor, at which time you sell both of your children into slavery, take out a third mortgage and set the wife up on the nearest dark corner doing the graveyard shift for 50 quid a pop. After a year or two or saving the wife’s earnings while living on gruel and dried bread that even the pigeons reject, you may have enough to address the engine issues. I adore these cars but I do see the value of an LS swap on any XJ with a V12.
I had a Daimler Double Six (same as an XJ 12 L) but with a 350 Chev , beautiful car , old mate tried to pass me in his XB GT Falcon but I put my foot down & he had no chance lol. Also know where there’s an XJC V12 but it’s badly rusted out sadly
Lake Buena Vista, later Pleasure Island now Disney Springs used to have car and boat shows in the 1970’s when it was pretty quiet there compared to now. As a 14 year old kid feel in love with this car and the BMW’s on display. They had those nice glossy hand outs that i would read for hours when I got home. I grew up behind Orlando Collier Jaguar and would go there with my best friend and look at the cars as well in person.This is a beautiful car.
My only experience with Jaguars was when my best friend bought one coming off lease in around 1999. It was so gorgeous, but so prone to being in the shop. Warning lights started coming on during the drive home from the dealership. They kept it until it was paid off four years later, and still owed close to $20K on repairs that happened after the warranty ran out.
However…I have never quit being in love with Jaguars ever since I saw my first one when I was a kid. I am a fair mechanic and would still consider buying an older one like this and getting to work on it. It would be the only way I could ever afford one.
I once read from an expert on these cars that if the A/C doesn’t work, walk away. Not sure why.
Nah Greg, if the A/C doesn’t work just open another window !