British Leyland started advertising the Jaguar XJ in 1968, and creation continued by means of various system generations (and corporate proprietors) right until just a couple a long time back. The first XJ was facelifted two times, in 1973 and 1979, with profits of the six-cylinder version extending into 1987 (Collection 3 cars and trucks with V12s ended up developed through 1992). Manufacturing quantities were being by no means incredibly large, but these vehicles proved well-liked in the United States and I nonetheless obtain them each and every so often during my junkyard travels. This is a Collection 2 XJ6 saloon that confirmed up in a Denver-place self-company yard final wintertime.
Jaguar introduced a lengthy-wheelbase version of the XJ saloon for 1972, supplying it a four-inch stretch in buy to better compete in opposition to the planned Rover P8. Due to the fact Rover was a fellow British Leyland brand name, this was like Buick pouring large sources into crushing a menace from Oldsmobile, to the detriment of the general firm. In any scenario, the prolonged-wheelbase saloons proved so successful that the brief-wheelbase 4-doorways obtained the axe a couple of years afterwards (the coupes stayed on the shorter chassis). Jaguar ongoing to include the “L” badging to the saloons for very a even though following that, presumably due to the fact it appeared classy.
The paint on all the upper entire body surfaces has been nuked down to the metal by the relentless Significant Plains sunlight, so we can think that this car or truck invested a ten years or three sitting down parked outdoors.
It may well have started out out in Arizona, 1 of the couple places with fiercer daylight than japanese Colorado.
Is it achievable that it genuinely turned a mere 46,630 miles during its everyday living? With most cars and trucks of this vintage, I’d presume that the 5-digit odometer has been turned above at the time or 2 times. With a Jaguar and its troublesome electrical components created by the Prince of Darkness, having said that, which is not this kind of a guaranteed guess. To personal a auto like this, you need to be keen and capable to give it the revenue and function it requires to keep on the street not a lot of are suited to this responsibility.
The interior appears to have been in very pleasant ailment before the auto obtained parked in a area somewhere.
The wood interior trim has witnessed greater days.
Back again in the 1970s, Mercedes-Benz experienced a major edge about Jaguar with mechanical sophistication and build excellent, granted, but Jaguar conquer those people Stuttgarters hands-down when it arrived to generating a motor vehicle interior truly feel like a billionaire’s library.
The engine is a 4.2-liter XK6 straight-6, rated at 162 horsepower and 225 pound-feet. That was respectable ability for 1977, when the 425-cubic-inch (7.-liter) V8 in the most powerful new Cadillacs made just 180 horses (and a mighty 320 pound-feet).
The only transmission obtainable was a three-speed Borg-Warner automatic.
The value tag for this auto was a awesome $15,000, which arrives to about $76,335 in 2022 dollars. The twelve-banger XJ12L saloon charge $17,250 that year ($87,785 right now). A new 1977 Mercedes-Benz 280E sedan price $16,467 ($84,800 now) it was extra sound but additional stolid, and it had a mere 142 horses under the hood in US-industry trim. In any scenario, you needed the lengthier-wheelbase 280ES if you required the back-seat home of the Jag (you did, if you prepared to impress anyone at the disco with the top quality of your leisure prescribed drugs), and that automobile listed at $19,217 ($97,795 in 2022).
Detroit could set you on even flashier wheels in 1977, and it would not have price you nearly as considerably as an XJ. How about a Lincoln Mark V, priced at just $11,396 (furthermore one more $2,100 for the Givenchy Version with Majestic Velour interior)?
Nonetheless, there is practically nothing like a legitimate Jaguar.
It could have been fixed up, but that wouldn’t have made much perception with nice illustrations heading for very well under 10 grand.
“This car was purchased the calendar year we received the Entire world Cup!”
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