XJC advice.........

[david340]

Hello all

I'm intent on sourcing a good Jag XJC or Daimler coupe.

Preference is a manual 4.2 Jaguar version.

Viewed a nice Daimler coupe (auto) yesterday locally however we couldn't quite get there on price and looking around the car although very solid there were just one or two niggles too many to convince me to take the plunge at the vendors asking price. I may live to regret it but instinct told me to stick to my guns !

Anyway, I wondered if there's and advice going re my proposed purchase or any members in the Yorkshire area that would be willing to show me around their cars to help me familiarise myself with the model.

Ive had a 340, series 2 e type fhc and an XK8 before but never a series xj6 or derivative so its new territory to me and i'd like to avoid getting my fingers burned.

I've ordered the book from kelsey publishing on the xj6 which will make interesting reading.

Not looking for a project, but for a roadworthy nice car - best I can afford scenario !

Regards.

Dave

[XjRestorations]

Hi Dave,

A fine choice in car - and interest is soaring - prices are also creeping up.

A manual car is quite unusual.
What made you unsure of the car?

Bodywork is the usual issue. An XJ will corrode ANYWHERE, and bodge repairs are common as they had reasonably low values for so long.
Patch repairs underneath often hide horrors. Wheelarches are often glued over the top of corrosion.
Coupe doors are VERTY heavy, and hang on standard series 1 door hinges! A dropped door is common, and will require the front wing unbolting to replace the hinge.

Mechanicaly they are evry similar to the E-type you had - so treat them the same.
Back axel whine is common - check for oil around the pinion and the output bearings.
Rear brakes bind on and get very hot!

Headlinings often hang down.
The side glass is often very slow to operate.
Wind noise is standard!

£5-10,000 should see a nice example.

Please feel free to contact me with any direct questions and queries.

All the best,
Keith

[david340]

Hi Keith.

Well things have moved on quite a bit since my post. Within an hour of advertising my current classic, a Triumph TR6 i'd sold her over the phone ! This put me in a better position and gave me chance to reflect on the Sovereign Coupe that id been to view.

In a nutshell ive struck a deal and have bought the car for within the price range you suggest.

Ive seen the car on a ramp and gone through with a fine tooth comb. She is absolutely rock solid including floor pans, valances, sills, sill drain holes, spare wheel well, boot floor, door bottoms, a and b posts, screen surrounds, tank panels etc. The only neagtive is the horizontal joint between the rear wing panels and sills. Bit of local bubbling on the offside and similar nearside with signs of some filler application. Of course this could be a tip of iceberg scenario once you start stripping back however i'm as certain as I can be that a repair would be economically viable and sensible option bearing in mind the solidity of the remainder of the car.

Interior is good, leather undamaged, dash veneer is starting to go and the headlining although new has started to sag a little in the middle.

Rear discs servicable although corrosion evident around outer edge.

All glass good, wheels and tyres good, recent and servicable.

Carbs rebuilt, mechanically the car seems to heve been well maintained. recent top end rebuild, however when on tickover with bonnet up and revving slightly she sounds a little more tappety than id like, but not excessively so - perhaps some re shimming work or other investigation is required.

Electrics, gauges ok, all windows working except one lazy rear thats a bit tempremental.

Chromework is presentable with some polishing required.

Drives really well, true magic carpet, no knocks or rattles even on a cobbled road, brakes well, kicks down niceley and has been upgraded to a series three gearbox - speedo will read slightly out because of this.

Fluids all good apart from the coolant expansion tank on the wing, when I checked no fluid visible so needs topping up (to level of filler neck I think) then checking.

Oil press 40 psi when hot, temp and other gauges reading correctly.

Hence a few jobs to work round and little niggles to sort - but ive decided to be brave a take the plunge !!!

Regards.

Dave.

[XjRestorations]

Hi Dave,

That sounds like a great car you have there
Please keep us up to date with your progress.

All the best,
Keith

[david340]

Cheers Keith

Weather permitting I should have her home on Sunday evening !

From there ill put the car into use and compile a "snagging" list to work through as I go.

Will try post some photos also !

Regards.

Dave.