This Jaguar XJ6 Series II is One Rare Bird
Most Jaguar XJ6 models came with a three-speed automatic, but this Series II sports a four-speed stick!
Like a lot of enthusiasts, when I’m bored or procrastinating, I wind up searching for cars for sale. And given my post history on Jaguar Forums, it should come as no surprise that I spend a lot of time looking for another XJ6. Well, while I was cruising Autotrader Classics over the weekend, I stumbled across something I’ve never seen before — a 1978 Series II model with a stick. Unlike the XKR I wrote about last week, it’s not a conversion. I want it desperately.
Now, I knew that the XJ6 did have a manual transmission option. But the only pictures I’d ever seen were in my old Haynes repair manual, and I’m pretty sure the stick wasn’t on the menu for American buyers. Even though I’ve been going to car shows — including loads of British-specific events — for as long as I can remember, and looking in the window of every parked XJ6 I’ve happened to walk past, I’ve still never happened across one of these rare beasts in person.
The listing from Country Classic Cars is pretty brief, and while I’d absolutely want to get it checked out by an independent mechanic, it sounds promising:
1978 Jaguar Xj 4.2 4dr, rare European model, well kept, good body and paint, good original leather interior, new tires, new fuel system, 6 vcyl manual 4 spd over drive trans, ps, pb, cold a/c, runs and drives
To be honest, when I’m looking for Jaguars of this vintage, it’s generally with the idea of pulling the straight-six and dropping in a Corvette engine. But if I were to score this rare bird, I wouldn’t dare do that. It’s just too cool, and while the small block Chevy mill would provide more power and reliability, my understanding is the XK engine is pretty stout. So I think it would be cooler to keep, and spend the conversion money on restoring it.
The only thing I don’t really like about this baby is the color. Red is my least favorite color on the XJ6, and if I could snap my fingers and change it, I’d go with British Racing Green. That said, I do have some questions about this machine. Namely, is the overdrive unit a push-button deal, like it was in some of the MGs of the era? Also, what was the performance like compared to the three-speed auto? I’m starting a thread on this, so chime in and let me know!
Photos: Jaguar