I have a 1992 Sovereign. It has the emblem on the rear that states Sovereign. Also have two 1993 XJ40´s that I thought were sovereigns. On my insurance cards they both state sovereign based upon the vin numbers. However both cars only have the XJ6 rear emblem, not sovereign. The cars are virtually identical to the 92 sovereign except for the year to year differences between the two like the different seat belts, ac controls, no self levelling ride, etc. I did notice that the 92 sovereign has factory body side moldings but the 93s do not. All of the cars have chrome rims with a center cap that is locked in with an allen key.
Can anyone tell me how to tell from the vin if these are sovereign models or base models?

 

I can give you a partial answer to that, and anybody with more specific knowledge is welcomed to add more facts.

First of all, my information is based on U.S. market cars and U.S. model year designations. I couldn't find where you live Panza, but things are a bit different in other markets.

There were two levels in 1988/89, XJ6 and Vanden Plas. The intention was to get to a lower price point, so in 1990 the XJ6 was re-labelled as a Sovereign to become the mid-level entry, and XJ6 became the slightly stripped down base model. Losing the sunroof was the most significant sacrifice I can recall. I'm not sure about the body side moldings as standard on the Sovereign: those were always available as a dealer-installed factory accessory, so it's an open question as far as what model might have them.

The factory 1993 wheels are Roulettes, they have the full size hubcaps with the allen capscrew to retain them. None were chrome from the factory, and they were not fitted on 1992 cars.

I don't ever recall seeing a 1993 or later car with a Sovereign badge. There are alot of subtle mechanical and cosmetic changes introduced in 1993 that differentiate them from the earlier cars, so that is another issue. And there are two 1994's sitting outside my shop that are badged XJ6, but neither has a sunroof.

So I grabbed a 1998 factory Master Price Parts List, and here is how it breaks down on the VIN/ warranty code chart in the back:

1990 thru 1992 XJ6 starts SAJFY
1993 XJ6 starts SAJHW
1994 XJ6 starts SAJHX

No XJ6L at all until 1997

1990 thru 1992 Sovereign starts SAJHY

No Sovereign listed after 1992

1990 thru 1992 Vanden Plas starts SAJKY
1993 Vanden Plas starts SAJKW
1994 (and 1995) Vanden Plas starts SAJKX

Magestic is listed for 1990 and 1992 only, both starting with SAJMY

Including the last variant, that means 4 choices for 1990, 3 for 1991, 4 for 1992, and two for 1993 and 1994...the XJ6 and the Vanden Plas only.

That's all I got...unless, of course you want to upgrade to some near perfect 16" factory wheels for any of your cars. The '94 Kiwis look great on everything.

 

This sounds similar to what we experienced. My dad had a Ford Explorer. Eddie Bauer was on the title, it had the Eddie Bauer two-tone seats and two tone paint, but a XLT badge. It turns out it actually was an Eddie Bauer, so we took off the XLT badge and put on an Eddie Bauer tag.

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

 

Yes, it's just like that only different.

 

XJ6 Eddie Bauer............................................. .....

 

Jedi Bauer 6 ?

 

Well they all have sunroof etc. They have the roulette wheels. May just be aluminum and not chrome. Since they didn´t call it a sovereign in 1993 it is what it is. My insurance company has sovereign on the insurance card.
I´ll just call it whatever. Thanks for the info!

 

Wow, I could have called them whatevers and saved all that time? Whatever....
They still all need better looking wheels with the added performance of the wider 16" tires. The insurance man would be delighted to hear that you now have improved traction for braking and cornering. I'd be asking him for a rate reduction.

 

The 1993 US-Spec XJ6 was basically to Sovereign spec, the only real difference being the loss of the self-levelling hydraulic rear suspension (In all but the VERY earliest 93 Model year US-Spec cars).

The 88-89 XJ6s were also to Sovereign specification.

Basically, a Sovereign got you, from 1990-1992, flush composite headlamps, self-levelling rear suspension, rear head rests, better wood trim in 90, power sunroof, full chrome trim around side windows, leather steering wheel.

 

I will call mine JAY LENO Edition then lol
Anyway, thanks JTO for your valuable inputs that would be useful