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FS[Western US]: 1984 XJ6 VDP project for sale

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03-08-2018, 01:07 PM

Rhett

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Join Date: Sep 2012

Location: San Rafael, CA, USA

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1984 XJ6 VDP project for sale

103,094 miles (showing 64,607 but according to the service records, the speedometer was changed in 1990 at 38,487 miles), strong running car with current California smog cert. but needs transmission and some minor body work. Asking $2,500.00.

The reality is that you could fix or replace the transmission, put on the spare tire and run this XJ6 as a daily driver tomorrow, but I’m listing this as a “project” because it needs transmission work and has an ugly dent low on the left front fender below the bumper and a tear in the left front tire sidewall, so will need to be picked up with a trailer. It runs great, everything works, it has just been smogged and is registered through the end of the March 2018, at which point it will be registered as a non-op until it finds a new home.

I bought this car in 2014 from a forum member who took excellent care of the car. It has been my daily driver for 3.5 years, has been a joy to own and while it's not perfect, it has not wanted for maintenance or care. It’s very mechanically sorted (current transmission issue notwithstanding ), if a bit scruffy in places cosmetically, although some of that is that the black paint makes a bigger deal out of every little blemish than would any other color.

This is the Vanden Plas trim, so it has the walnut dash with slightly recessed gauges, wood trim along the doors, door cards with puddle lights, bucket-style back seat and the cool old aeroplane-style flip-out reading lights for the rear passengers.

The original Borg-Warner BW-66 transmission has developed a fault where Reverse is intermittent and Neutral shifts itself into Drive, which caused the car to move forward of its own volition and smack into a light pole, causing some damage to the left front fender (photos included). The only reason I’m letting the car go instead of repairing it is that I have overextended myself and have one car too many for my budget to keep them all up. That said, I still think this is a great car and don't want to see it get broken and parted out. My hope is that it will find its way to a fellow Jaguar enthusiast who can do his or her own maintenance and bring the car back to its proper glory. I’m not in a hurry to sell it. This car has been very good to me and it is important to me that the right owner take it on.

I am the third owner. Between the previous owner and myself, the following work has been done to refresh the car and make it more usable as a daily driver in modern traffic:

New starter with an upgraded unit,
New alternator,
New fuel pump,
New fuel float in right side tank,
Rebuilt headlight fuse box,
New Euro spec headlight switch with more lighting options than U.S. spec
New LED headlights,
Aftermarket fog lights
Lights-on warning buzzer,
Like-new period correct steering wheel,
4 Kent Alloy wheels replaced with pre-owned pepperpot wheels (original 5 Kent Alloys included with purchase)
K&N high performance air filter
Pertronix Flame Thrower ignition system
New spark plugs (iridium) and high performance ignition wires,
New mechanical fan blade,
New belts,
New coolant reservoir and hoses
New right-side tank float
LEDs in gauges: coolant temp, oil presssure, amps, and fuel
Pre-owned Jaguar trip computer from a later model XJ or XJ-S
Tappet stakedown kit installed on exhaust side cam,
Ceramic brake pads to limit dust accumulation on wheels
"Capacitor mod" installed to prevent cold-to-warm over fueling problem.
New OEM hazard switch
Modern Pioneer CD stereo with hands free, bluetooth and subwoofer
Remote/keyless entry
upgraded sway bar end-links to flatten cornering
Bilstein shocks (4) in rear "cage" to preserve Jaguar ride while enhancing road holding.
New poly steering rack bushings
New Upper shock mount bushings
New poly sway bar bushings
7” headlights
Replaced oil pressure sensor and gauge

What's good:

Engine starts without hesitation and runs strong
Car passes smog
Brakes and suspension are good, car handles very well for a series 3
Dash top is perfect and covered
Wood is 8 out of 10 on top, 5 out of 10 on console
Headliner is original and excellent
A/C and heat work beautifully
Gauge reads more or less accurately
Trip computer works
Tank switch-over works
No leaks, mold or mildew
Sunroof works
Cruise control works
Lifetime California car
Lots of maintenance records

What's not so good:

Transmission - Reverse is intermittent, Neutral is basically Drive
Front left fender/wing is damaged below front bumper
Left front tire has a small tear on inside sidewall from the accident that damaged the fender. Spare in the trunk is good but on a Kent Alloy wheel. For safety, car should be picked up with a trailer.
Trunk lid has a hole in the center from an old cellular phone antenna. This is currently plugged, doesn't leak and is barely noticeable. A trunk from another series III would sort this right out.
3 very small dings, on trunk lid, on roof behind sunroof and on right rear door.
2 scratches on hood
Surface rust around windscreen, sanded off, treated with POR 15 but not patched
Surface rust on inside bottom of left rear door near the drains. Sanded and treated but not painted or patched.
Front seats need to be reupholstered or replaced.
Rear seat leather is dry with signs of use and some minor stress cracks on top but they don't pierce the leather and the seats are still intact.
There is a small section above the left rear tail light that has some Bondo. This is almost impossible to notice unless you remove the taillight assembly, but I know about it, so you need to know about it.
Paint still presents well but is in need of a good polish and wax and, at some point, a re-spray.
Left audio channel intermittently crackles.
Glove box doesn't lock
Small tear on the vinyl (lower, inside) part of the front passenger arm rest.

Still to do:

Repair or replace transmission
Repair or replace left front fender
Address slow oil leak in oil cooler lines
Finish touching up rust removal efforts around windshield
Finish rust removal at bottom of left side rear door
Paintless dent removal for dings on left rear quarter panel, roof and trunk lid
Repair early cell phone antenna hole in trunk lid or replace trunk lid (currently plugged)
Repaint the car (if desired).
Reupholster or replace front seats
Have laminate refreshed on dash and console wood
Sunroof gasket is old and creeks when the body flexes. Doesn't leak, just creaks.
Door handle gaskets (purchased, not installed)
LEDs in speedometer and tachometer