Hello,
I am considering a xj6 III which is sold here in SF Bay area. The car looks really good and it has really low miles.
Here is the advertise: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto...321782807.html
I wanted to ask if the firsts xj6 III from 1979 have the same XK 6 inline motor than the later series III. They should, right ?
I can see the interior looks slightly different than later models. For example there is no computer. Anything I Should be aware about the earlier xj6 III models ?
The seller claims to use it as as a commuter twice a week.

Thanks for any advice.

Rick

 

Gorgeous. It's been repainted at some point, probably a good thing, would just like to know if they used clear over base or whatever for repairs.

Seems quite Mercedes-like with those perforated seats. I don't recall seeing that before. Very nice.

 

what do you think about the wire rims ?
They are not the stock ones in my opinion.
Mechanically seems flawless. In very good conditions they go higher than this price usually.

 

Looks very nice...will you visit it? Either way via pix or your eyes check underside for rust and engine bay for overall condition.

But also lots of fun fixing the broken bits 😁

 

I'm not entirely clear on the difference between Series II and Series III, but the console and lower center dash looks like a Series II. Mine is a 1986 Series III and these areas are decidedly different, not just lacking the trip computer. Did early Series III carry over the interior from previous models?

 

The interior looks awesome for a 1979 car. No sunroof? I don't see the switch for the sunroof on the Ski Slope.

1979 was the first year for the Series 3 and the last year for the Series 2. In 1979 Jaguar was building both Series.

All XJ sent to USA since 1968 had the 4.2 liter engine. In Canada they were offered with different engines I think.

Others can explain the differences between the earlier and the later 4.2 fuel injected engines.

So what you might have is either a LATE Series 2… or an EARLY Series 3. If your car has a clock instead of a computer, all the better as those computers are essentially useless in my opinion. The clock is more attractive, but who needs a clock or a watch nowadays? Not me.

Member Jeff has one of those Series 3 with Series 2 dash. Member Elinor's car is a Series 2 with Series 3 details. Doesn't matter, they are essentially the same car except the Series 2 has the earlier perforated leather seat covers and the Series 3 does not. Both Series 2 and 3 have the same a/c / heater system, the Delanaire II. Late Series 3 cars have a Delanaire III system.

NOTE: the last Series 3 XJ-6 were the 1987 models. From 1988 to 1992 the Series 3 body style kept being built but only in 12 cylinders and rebadged the "V12". Those were only shipped to Canada, none to USA due to federal emissions regulations. In 1988 the XJ-40 body style made its debut in the USA.

 

Although theoretically the same engine, from about 1982, Jaguar modified the block, by eliminating the two machined cross passages between the bores, and creating passages by cutting narrow slots between the bores from the top. This is the so-called "slotted block", and was a very late spatchcock to eliminate cracking between the bores. These cracks eventually worked up from the top cross passage to the deck of the block and were then a constant source of headgasket failures. This happened on my own XJ6.
This photo shows a block with the slots.



This is the old block with passages, (two). The cylinder liner has been removed prior to machining a recess in the top to take a lipped liner and thus cover the crack

 

this picture is quite misterious:

it is a Series 2 center console switch/clock section but with wood insets for the 4 switches.
but Series 2 center console switch/clock sections do not have wood insets for the 4 switches.
Is this a custom job? or factory? British Autowood or a Madera Concepts job?

Regardless, it is very nice and well done.

 

I agree with Jose, this is a very early Series 3 as shown by door handles.
The dash has features of both series. The trinket shelf position and arrangement is series 2, but the buttons are series 3. The console looks like my Series 2, but my car has quite a lot of Series 3 stuff stuck on here and there.

It is a Beautiful car for sure. 58000 miles for that money, for something that pretty, my question would be, Why are you selling it? and then carefully watch his eyes.

There is nothing like laying eyes on it yourself. Pull up driver side carpet. Do you see the ground? Look closely at fender lips and wheel wells. Are there rust blisters anywhere?

It's easy to be seduced by a shiny paint job and good treatment with Mequair's.
I can tell you how I know that.
(';')

 

Elinor, you noticed the door handles, I didn't.

do you notice there is no sunroof switch at the normal ski slope position? A no sunroof Series 3 with a Series 2 body ?

 

I would also check that dash finish, looks a little like the vinyl stick on stuff, I did that to mine in the very beginning, as mine was totally trashed, got me by for a while while I refinished another one I had gotten!

 

I looked very carefully at the dash, Darren, and enlarged it to the max. Gloss highlights plainly follow curves of edges. I've never seen contact paper that well applied nor that shiny.

However.

Upon closer inspection of the photos and liberal use of the + button, I see an unmistakable Rust Bubble in the middle of the hood near the back edge! I've never seen rust there ever before on any Jaguar of any age!

If that is indeed rust out in the middle of a panel such as the hood, then I would be going over this car with a fine tooth comb; to know for sure what you're getting if for no other reason.
(';')

 

From memory the non-perforated leather came along in '82. Maybe '81? Right in there somewhere!

Cheers
DD

 

Yup !

The first of a couple interior upgrades came along in '82-'83....with the redesigned center panel, trip computer, etc. This is when the Series II stuff went away. Later, in '86, there were numerous minor changes

Cheers
DD

 

Early USA Series III cars did not come with a sunroof as standard issue. This came along a couple years later.



No question here: it's a Series III.

Cheers
DD

 

Exactly. As is the wood 'ski slope'.

Yes it is !

Cheers
DD

 

It is not a Series II body. The differences are unmistakable !

Cheers
DD

 

No the wire wheels are from the factory, though an awful lot of Jaguars were fitted with them by USA dealers. I think they're Dayton. Personally, I think they look pretty nice on that dark XJ, but not on any newer Jaguar. I wouldn't seek them out to install on my car (aren't there maintenance issues, ie spokes to be tightened? Not sure), nor would I be in a hurry to replace them if they're running true.

 

Jaguar XJ never came with wire wheels from the factory.

 

Thanks a lot to all of you guys for all the comments. Yes without any doubt is a Mk3, the body designed by Pininfarina.
I am more worried about the engine. The 1982 improvements to the engine block looks very important to me.
BTW there is a Mk2 for sale in the bay area and this car looks awesome: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto...328894962.html
I Thought that the difference between the Mk2 motor and Mk3 motor was also related to power. According to wikipedia the 1973–79 motor is rated at 186HP
while the Mk3 is rated at 205HP.
Have the earlier Mk3 the same motor of Mk2 @186HP ?
How can I Determine which of the two motors is installed on this car ?
I Would like to get this car not only to look at her like you look at a beautiful woman, but I Would want to use it... and I do not have a garage.
I previously had a Xj6 Mk3 and I kept her under a good protecting cover and I had no troubles so far about rust.
Now would you get the Mk2 or the Mk3 ?
They are both at 1 hour driving distance from me.