Ah, the Jaguar XJ6. Never has there been a car that was simultaneously so beautiful yet so risky to own. While most cars with horrific reputations for reliability are somewhat over-hyped in terms of just how bad it can be, the XJ6 may justifiably have cause for concern when buying one in rough shape or from the wrong kind of seller. Fortunately, this 1985 model listed here on craigslist has been in the hands of an enthusiast who bought it from the longtime original family owners and has since given it a decent refresh. It’s offered for $3,500 with a parts car included.
The XJ6 left the factory with a black-on-black color scheme, and the seller notes this is fairly rare to find. The Jaguar has also been updated with a set of factory basketweave wheels that look much better than the standard rolling stock, and give it a much more contemporary appearance while filling out the wheel wells nicely. The seller notes this XJ6 does run and drive, but he suspects with 135,000 miles, that the original engine is tired.
The original black interior has been removed for the time being with the seats from the parts car swapped in, as they were apparently in better condition. The opulence of the XJ6 has been somewhat compromised, with more of a project car-grade feeling inside. The next owner will have the joy of recovering the original buckets back to the original black, along with refurbishing the woodgrain dash and doing a general clean-up to make it feel once again like a top-shelf British luxury car.
The included parts car is emblematic of how most XJ6s look at this point, and the seller notes this car was in an accident with poorly-repaired damage, and that the engine was toast at 65,000 miles. He’s had some fun raiding this car for parts and cosmetic items that are in better condition than on his car, but there’s obviously plenty more to do. The seller maintains the black XJ6 is highly original and doesn’t make sense to swap in a 350, so hopefully, the next owner will find a way to save it in as close to OEM condition as possible. Would you swap out the original engine or rebuild it?
Depending on what you want to do with the car, show it, or drive it, is what would make the decision easy for me. To rebuild the XJ engine would be the way if you wanted to show it. A crate 350 if you wanted to do both.
I would junk them both! Way too many BS issues with these, even if you can get them for nothing. First thing will be an electrical issue, maybe a transmission ECM or a climate control, gauges etc. I’ve taken a lot of these across the scale and never felt a twinge of remorse. I have parts for these sitting for years, no interest, never a call for any of it.
Not to put too fine a point on this, but I’d junk the engines and
put something dependable in it instead. A SBC with low HP would be fine
and that wouldn’t break the bank.
Just for FUN price out a new radiator or water pump for a Jag
and you’ll see my point about throwing a SBC in instead.
These cars were the fastest to the junk pile items in the late 80s and early 90s. Heck, you could pick these cars up for a song and a dance along
with a case of beer and a pack of smokes.
Jags are only really classic when they are E-Type.
Bob
I was just thinking.
You want the smoothness of a six, and the reliability of a…a good car?
Blow the enthusiasts’ minds.
Drop a Jeep six in there, with Chrysler fuel injection.
You keep the power; you still have a six; and you have something as reliable as an anvil.
Sorry, no stories of Jags…that’s one breed of cat that I’ve never had occasion to get to know.
LOL, I agree with the above comments about a problem car.
I lived in a suburb of Dallas back then, and a neighbor purchased on of these… and drove around the neighborhood to show off. We both worked for the same company off Central Expressway. Two weeks later, he called me one night and asked if I could give him a ride to work in the morning as his Jag was in the shop. Over the next 2 years I think he was in my Honda as much as I was and his Jag was always in to be fixed. Great looking car, but it never ran for longer than 2 weeks without something needing special attention. His wife finally told him… get rid of that car or I leave with the kids… he got rid of the car the next day.
Why aren’t these in the world’s-worst-car lists, unlike the poor Yugos, which never were?
I bought a used 74 xjl with 25k miles. For 60k miles it was a dream. The next 10k were a nightmare. Retired it at 95k miles.
I had one of these for about 15 years. My biggest regret is that I rebuilt the original engine vs doing a Chevy conversion. The head gaskets try to seal on about 15 thou of block between the cylinders, with the slot that Jag put in to prevent cracking. If you want to drive it, ditch the XK engine.
I had a very similar (1983) Ser 3 XJ6 back in about 1990. Drove it for 2 years without a single problem. One of the most dependable cars I ever owned.
If this jag is anything like the British car I owned. 80 TR7. Run away just as fast as ur legs can take u.
I bought a 99 Jag XJ6 with dad who was 97. He found the car on c’s list for sale by original owner for $1900 bucks. He couldn’t get there fast enough. The whole family had to interview us before they’d sell us their baby. Nothing but trouble. Valve guides were expected-made of plastic.Then the electrical problems started-and never stopped. Sold it to a neighbor who kept the tires and junked the Jag. Dad was sad. It was a beautiful car-his dream.
The reason that the English drink warm beer. Their refrigerators are made by the same company that makes the electronics for British cars. Lucas, the man that invented darkness
Bought a beautiful used ’86 XJ6. When it was running, such a special car. Made me “feel good” and a bit proud to drive it. I loved that car. I hated that car. I loved that car. I hated that car. I loved that car. I hated that car. I loved that car. I hated that car. I loved that car. I hated that car.
All these stories about how unreliable these cars are. Well, to tell the truth, Series 2 cars were just that…reliably unreliable. You had relays that ran other (non-related) relays, etc.
But, Series 3, especially the late 84-87 variants, I’d put them as just as to far more reliable than a run-of-the-mill Chevy. I too have an 85 XJ6…with 284,000 miles on it. The key to these cars is they can’t sit.
I also have an 82 and an 86. Both spent most of their days as toys. The 82 has 164k and the 86 113k. Both have brake and injector problems constantly. You can tell with the miles, the 85 hasn’t sat much. I have had to rebuild the rear brakes once (involves dropping the rear sub-assy). But that is only to service the calipers or rotors. You can pad-slap one of these in about 20 minutes through trap doors behind the rear seat. And so long as you regularly service the engine (10-30 or 40 depending on outside temps) every 3,000 miles (inc filter) and transmission (BW trans with good-ol Dextron) you can get 300k easy. I’ve had no electronic issues on any of them – well except the 85 in which the ignition switch wore out.
And parts? Water pump $107 at Advanced Auto; alternator $125 also at Advanced – even the specialty shops was $175 to $225. So parts aren’t too bad considering what your driving.
The other consideration.
Your 85 Chevy is never going to be worth much. The 85 Jag is stable to increasing. Yes a rebuild is expensive on an XJ engine. But if your handy with a wrench, its no harder than a Subaru…or Chevy. And I can rebuild (new rings/rods/mains/chain and gasket set for about $750 (the most expensive part of that is the gasket set!).
Also -Johns cars had various kits available for trans swaps (700R4) to keep the XJ engine. Then you get a nice overdrive gear that really makes highway cruising a dream.
just for the record, it was not a “toy” car, but our everyday driver.
Well said Jagmanbill.
The ignorant, ill informed rubbish that pours out every time we see a jaguar is just incredible.
I have owned my series 1 XJ6 for 45 years and it failed to get us home once – when a brand new valve used in an engine rebuild failed catastrophically. Also own an E type and mk7.
If these cars are properly maintained and serviced, no problems. Don’t give give’em to your local junk yard jockey to fix and don’t neglect them. They will bite.
If you buy a car that has been neglected, it will all be bad.
The XJ6 still has one of the best ride/ handling combinations in the world.