Yowza All,

I have the same queston posted in Jag Lovers....

Back in '82 I worked in Bury, Lancashire UK. While at a used car dealer I had noticed an XJ-S for sale. Upon looking in the car I noticed a 4-speed with a slide switch on the gear shif knob for overdrive.

Since I activated the salesman's radar, he popped the hood for me. I was surprised to see not a V12 in the bay but a finned-cam cover XK engine of a displacement less than the 4.2 that was still being offered in the States. I was told this was origianl, was it actually done by Jaguar or did someone replace a failed V12 with something less expensive?

Would love to know.

Good Health to ALL, Bob Lovell

Submitted by NE08-35179J-J on Wed, 03/18/2009 - 18:39

Yowza All,

I know it wasn't the AJ6 as that didn't make it's debut until '83. It did have fuel injection and the 3.6 litre size seems to ring a bell.

Not looking for it, trying to verify some memories for article in our club's newsletter.

Thanks, Bob Lovell

Submitted by bonnettoboot@e… on Sat, 03/14/2009 - 21:52

The cars were produced mainly for the home market as a trial, the engine was the traditional six which could come as, ( I believe) 2.8; 3.6. or 4.2. The 4 speed gearbox with overdrive was used on many models from intro of the XJ6 in 1968. The vast majority of sedans in Europe were stick shift.

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Sat, 03/14/2009 - 16:57

Oh Daniel---I have a friend here in the good old USA who has an 83 4L with 5 speed for sale--It is one of the 25 prototype cars but it exists--perhaps our friend was looking at some UK prototype--unusual I agree but who knows!