I just found this site this evening... Hoping I can get some much needed advise and council. I know basically nothing about Jags, except that they are beautiful vehicles.

I've come across an absolutely beautiful 1972 XJ6 2 door with 61k miles. Frankly, I've never seen this style/vintage, but I've fallen in love. According to info sheet on the car, the 4.2 litre was rebuilt 200 miles ago... It has a "Special T 700 Transmission". The sheet metal appears straight and the interior looks very clean (though I've only been able to look through the glass).

What I know about old cars in general is that "You don't know what You don't know"... I understand fully that this vehicle is 26 years old, and older vehicles bring with them special needs. To put it in perspective, I own a 1979 International Scout II, which I love working/tinkering on.

All that said, could anyone please tell me all the negatives specific to this vehicle or in general to this vintage Jaguar? Are parts impossible to find? Wickedly expensive to maintain? Is the fuel injection finicky? Are bizarre electrical gremlins common? Will the A/C ever work well... Etc???

Are there specific things to look for (or look out for) when purchasing this vintage Jag? Rust/corrosion common in certain areas? Rear main seals known for leakage? Head gaskets known to blow? Etc???

Also, can anyone tell me what I should expect to pay for this vehicle in good to excellent condition?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! My apologies for bombarding this site with so many questions so early.

Skip in Dallas

Submitted by keemosaabe@hot… on Sat, 11/15/2003 - 15:05

Doug- I don't know why I called it a '72. I really don't know why a called it a '72 several times!!! The car is a 1977 XJ6. Guess the excitement got to me! :)

I've not seen the engine bay, but based on your response, I'll assume it's carbonated.

I really appreciate your response. This is exactly the type of information I was looking for. I'm still not sure exactly which questions to ask, but I feel this post has gotten me over a huge initial hurdle. Thank you!

Now that I've straightened out the year, does anyone know what general pricing should be?

Thanks again,
Skip

Submitted by dougdwyer@eart… on Sat, 11/15/2003 - 11:03

Hmmmm. First thing we need to do is sort out what kind of Jag you are really looking at. A 2-door XJ6 was not offered until 1975, and fuel injection on the six cylinders not until 1978.

The vast majority of the infamous Jaguar electrical gremlins can be traced to dirty or loose connectors....and bodged repairs by previous onwers.

The A/C-heating systems are one are which does live up to the Jaguar reputation. not that they are especially troublesome, but when they do fail the repairs can be finicky and expensive at times.

The T700 trans is a fairly common modification: the older Borg Warner transmission is replaced with the GM "700" 4-speed automatic. I would consider this a "plus".

Head gasket replacement is common after 100K miles on the 6 cylinder motor. Shouldn;t be a worry for you if the engine was just rebuilt as stated. Same applies to oil leaks.....you shouldn't have to worry for some time yet.

The Jags of the 70's were actually pretty easy to repair and well within the grasp of a reasonably seasoned do-it-yourselfer. The rear calipers-rotors-axle seals are a bear, though. It's another "plus" if these have recently been tended to.

Paint, leather, and wood can add up to serious money.....often more than mechanical work....so having those in good shape is another plus.

Since I'm not sure what model you are looking at its a bit tough to answer the parts question. In general you won't have any problems...certainly not with mechanical parts (drivetrain, brakes, suspension, cooling, engine, etc). Trim parts on the 70's cars may be getting scarce.

Good luck
Doug Dwyer
JDRC/NWA