Hello, I'm brand new to the forum Nice to meet you. I'm based in the Gordon area in Sydney.

I've already introduced myself in the welcome area, but just want to say again I'm a complete newbie to cars in general. Although, as a young boy, I was always fascinated by the Jaguar, and to this day I realise I still am! Otherwise I'm just a Corolla owner driving a problem-free car, and of course I have never driven a manual before! I feel like I need to apologise to you all by now...

I saw this ad on gumtree. What are your thoughts? How would you begin to critique a car like this on the market? I notice the car hasn't been run for years, which I suppose is a bad thing? I also understand the important thing is to watch out for rust everywhere.

And yeah, I also understand that IF I do pull the trigger, I should obviously get a solid one in good daily running condition, since I'm a complete noob and obviously can't do any work on it myself...

I work in an office 3 times a week (18km each way to the Northern Beaches in pretty easy traffic), so I plan to only use it for that. Will also need to install a child seat, but I imagine installing the anchor points shouldn't be a problem yeah?

Thanks in advance guys!

 

I think that because you are looking for a 51yo car as basically your daily driver ....you will need to have someone knowledgeable and trustworthy to assist you in the purchase and ongoing maintenance. My first priority would be to source that person, for example in your intro post I think Mike (Ozmag) suggested Gary at Cremorne Prestige at Artarmon..have you had a chat with him?
Unfortunately being new to Jags myself and so far doing my own work I can't suggest anyone to you though there are a few threads mentioning repairers here. I certainly don't wish to dissuade you from your dream but you need to be armed with all the drawbacks of driving a 50yo car which has not had a full engine rebuild etc..etc.. There will be ongoing costs until you have it just right and not being able or trying to do some maintenance yourself will come at a cost and I fear that will be more than your Corolla.
All that being said I think it would be a magnificent car to own and drive.

 

I totally agree with Jim, get your expert first.

I personally have never had a car inspected before purchase but have always been around cars since a very young age and serviced/repaired my own for 32 years.

You could get a good S1/2/3 XJ6 for a lot less coin and better condition.

 

Rather than go for the older car, I would be tempted to look at a 2003 V6 S Type under 100k Klm's on offer for under $12,000. Given you are not mechanically minded it sounds more appropriate to me unless you are looking for a specific model.
Cheers
Mike

 

Thanks everyone.

I did email Gary before. I imagine he's a busy busy man. If I don't hear from him, I'll most likely go in in person at some point. Thanks again for the contact. It makes a lot of sense to seek out a Jag expert before even thinking about it further.

Also, thanks for recommending the newer Jag. I did consider it, and I know from a reliability and maintenance perspective it's definitely a better choice, but to be honest, I just couldn't bring myself to love it. It feels more like my Toyota than you know, a Jaguar. Sorry I don't mean to offend anyone!

You guys all make a lot of sense. In the end, the love for Jaguar is a heart thing, but my head tells me not to do it! I don't mind forgoing the comfort of the modern vehicle, like ergonomics and air-cond (my first Corona had no AC either) and so on, but the reliability factor is significant. I was just hoping maybe if I find the best car I can afford, then it might be possible to keep the beast under control...but I'm not at liberty to bleed money. But yes, I'll definitely chat with Gary (and also if you like, one of you) about the actual experience of owning a 50-year-old Jag. I have to say the 20L/100km consumption is a bit of a scary thought though.

Btw, having read through some more of the forum and the Internet in general, it seems the S-Type is potentially more suitable than the MK2. It appears to be a newer design, a bit more reliable, a bit roomier, doesn't leak water when it rains, and cheaper because it lacks the MK2's prestige. I actually like the look of the old S-Type.

 

A modern S Type is IMO a very good motor car, you should consider driving one. Im not an S Type owner so not biased but I have driven the STR and enjoyed it. As a daily driver I just don't think you can rely upon a 51 year old vehicle. For 30+k you could even buy an XK8 with lowish kilometres. Best of luck with your considerations.
Mike

 

You need either mechanical expertise or deep pockets to run any Jaguar. The older ones are less complex but inevitably the structure deteriorates with age and proper bodywork repairs are expensive.

The car has clearly had money spent on the interior and the paint but there's some brown streaking around the door shuts and sills that needs very close examination.

Not trying to put you off but you should be very clear about what's involved in taking on a 51 year old car. They weren't anywhere near as reliable in those days as modern vehicles.

Also, I don't know the Australian market but an automatic is worth a lot less than a manual over here.

Graham

 

Thank you for your advice.

I think I'll spend at least a year (if not a lot longer, or giving up prior to this) in saving and considering all aspects of ownership, so I'm not rushing into anything.

Well, by "daily" use, it'll be used pretty much 3 times a week covering 120km. I suppose it is a commute to work, so maybe this is too much of an expectation. Thank you for pointing this out.

The more I look at the vintage S-Type the more I like it! This is an example of what's available by an Australian dealer. What are your thoughts? I always find it helpful to read your comments on actual examples, e.g. what you said about the brown streaking I would never have noticed from the photos. The car is still not cheap by any means, but I feel we can potentially afford the buying price, and maybe setting aside some money for maintenance and repair (the question is of course, how much!) I assume at this price range the car should be in quite good condition to start with and not requiring major body or mechanical work?

Well, I've borrowed the "Auto Repairs for Dummies" book, and I've also purchased the MK2 buyers guide by Nigel Thorley, which will hopefully arrive soon. Obviously still very early days.

Re the modern S-Type, I'm sure it's a wonderful vehicle. The only problem is it just doesn't really appeal to me. I like vintage things. There is something about vintage that is endearing. I know I know...vintage comes with all the expenses and inconveniences of old tech, and I also know I'm not in a position to work on cars and so on...which is why I'm really just dabbling and dreaming at this stage, and I'm very glad you guys are talking sense into me, so I don't go about making stupid decisions! Thank you!

Nonetheless, thank you for being friendly and being very willing to suffer a noob on what is obviously a very very knowledgeable and advanced forum!

 

Its really just going to come down to money. You say your not in a position to work on cars and that sounds like it isnt going to change. The car you want to purchase isnt registered. The first year will most likely go like this in workshop charges:

Buy the car - say $23k
Get it registered - assuming nothings broken and you just have to refresh consumables and maybe do brakes, cooling and worn suspension bits - say 4k
Rego in NSW these days? - say $1k
Couple of services probably finding items to fix each time - say $1.5k (2x$750)

Then there are the unknown unknowns. Be able if necessary to shell out for a new clutch, gearbox refurb or engine work like a blown head gasket. Costs range from $2k to $6k. Costs can rapidly escalate as you will soon behaving the "while we have it apart we may as well......" talk. Maybe wont be needed but a possibility you need to comfortably live with.

Bottom line if you buy it, be prepared to spend an additional $5-6k getting into a reliable state , and have about the same available should a major item show its age.

Any improvements or beautification will be additional. All just a blind guesstimate , but I reckon it would be in the ballpark.

Looks a nice car, hope you take the plunge and bring it back to life.

 

That's a very good breakdown (no pun intended) of the probable costs from Steve.

The 'Essential Buyers Guide' series are only small soft back books but they pack in a lot of information. Nigel Thorley's MK2 guide will take you from novice to knowing what to look for and the right questions to ask. However, it's not a substitute for an appraisal by someone who knows these cars.

This is an itch you are going to have to scratch. At least viewing the car.

Graham

 

1965 Jaguar S Type Auto

1966 Jaguar S Type Auto

1966 Jaguar S Type Auto

1966 Jaguar S Type Auto

Jaguar 3.8s | Other Automotive | Gumtree Australia Tuggeranong - Kambah | 1090690771

1966 3.8L S Type Jaguar | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Townsville City - Annandale | 1084350186


Here some more options, these ones are registered, might just be a bit of road trip to bring one home.

 

Looks like the first car in Sydney was sold overnight. Did someone here buy it?

That cost breakdown is incredibly helpful - it's exactly the kinda info that a noob needs! Thank you!

Well, I'm definitely interested in learning how to do basic maintenance, and may see how I go from there, but I don't suppose I'll get to the point of being able to do anything advanced any time soon, so yes, I'll have to rely on a Jag specialist.

Thanks for the recommendations as well. Some of the cars there seem to be more suited for restoration. Otherwise, the two cars that appear to be ready to drive are in Victoria. I imagine it's a bit of a hassle to buy a car from interstate.

But yeah, if I were to buy one, I suppose I can pay someone on this forum to do an inspection? It'd be crazy for me to not do an inspection. I guess the book would be helpful just as a first filter, and generally in giving me a little knowledge (I can imagine I'll find the book hard to read, not being a "car" guy). Is this a done thing? I'm guessing the most knowledgeable Jag experts are all right here.

 

Learning basic maintenance would be a good thing if you have the space to do it in. Any car will respond to a bit of regular love and being able to do simple tasks like oil changes, filter changes etc will a) save you money to spend on important stuff and b) get you more familiar with the car as you are more in contact with it and will start to see things that need doing. Confidence builds and you may surprise yourself in regard to what you can do, especially with some readily available help on the forums.

Not sure of its a done thing or not, but people here generally seem positive and willing to help, so it wouldnt surprise me if you could get a hand. The other options are simply to get a NRMA/RACQ/RACV type inspection in whatever state you are looking in, or see if a seller will take it to a recommended workshop for an inspection (only works for registered cars of course)

 

Thanks for that.

Most of the vintage Jag guides I've seen always stresses the importance of inspecting the car beforehand, and not just by any mechanics, but by those who know the model well and know what to look for, like obscure rust spots and mechanical and body soundness, as well as any modifications and mismatched parts. This sounds like prudent advice to me.

 

Sure is, even after you buy the car its great to have a source of knowledge about what normally fails over time. On the Jag model I have the starter relay is a classic as is dim headlights and misbehaviour of the dual tank switching system. All these things can be looked at in advance if you are a preventative maintenance kind of person.

I am sure the S/MK2 guys will be able to point you toward the quirks of that model.

 

Thanks Steve

Are you many "S-Type guys" around here?

 

Not sure about this NSW regional forum, I am not normally here either. I just saw your title in passing and had a look as I quite like those cars and almost bought the Daimler version of the Mark2 before I found my car.

If you go over to the Jaguar Models (classics) area you will see a section that covers the Mark 2 / S type model cars you are interested in. Say hello there and ask a few questions (maybe do a search, a good thread may already exist) and you will be in contact with owners experiences all over the world.

Here is a link https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/m...40-daimler-61/

 

Been re reading this thread and if I were in your shoes this is what I would do.
To enjoy the older jaguar feel I would initially find an early series 3 in pristine condition which would give you both reasonable reliability and old world look at your budget with reserve for maintenance and the unexpected. After owning, driving, and some easy maintenance I would be reading and researching your dream jag and eventually buy the right one. As I said that is probably what I would do and am only throwing it out as an option.
Which ever you decide........Good Luck!

 

Here is couple of adds to look at ,well within the budget.
I know they are not in your area, but there will be plenty. I just did a basic search on gumtree.

Jaguar XJ6 | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Pittwater Area - Avalon | 1094242165





1982 Jaguar XJ6 Series III 4.2 Beige 3 Speed Automatic Sedan | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Vincent Area - Leederville | 1087682805





1972 Jaguar XJ6 Sedan. | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Devonport Area - Devonport | 1085228340





1972 Jaguar XJ6 Series 1 - Rare collector, matching numbers | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Greater Dandenong - Dandenong | 1094267681

 

Good ideas Clarke.....I was thinking something in this condition would be a great first jaguar to drive and

to start learning...(this is LHD)