Hi, I a Jag newbie. I am looking at purchasing a 1972 XJ6. My question is for the 1972 model year what are the differences between US spec cars and cars intended to be sold in Europe or anywhere else. Reason for the question is the car was last titled in Arizona. I will need to register it in California. I am being told it can be done as long as it is a US spec car. If it is not it would have to be modified to comply with California emissions systems for the model year then inspected. A lengthy, difficult, expensive process

 

Hello there,

Its pre 75 so there shouldn't be any issues.

Usually all that is required is a vin verification to register the car in California.

Just go to your local DMV and have the vin verified.

As I have cars that don't run and couldn't go down to the DMV I've used a private vin inspector from Downey who is certified by the DMV to inspect vins,

i had an 65 elan from Ohio , 66 elan from Missouri, and a off the computer 68 europa from CA registered with no problems. The private service is usually $150 per car and the send the plates and pinks to you.


cheers cds.

 

i would tend to think the vast majority of the cars you will see will be US spec, Stromberg carbs
amd an air injection system would the major differences.


BTW I have a friends with a 68 S1 2.8
that was a Canadian car with SU's and no smog pump and it still got registered in California easilY

 

Cool, thanks for the info. I am actually using a DMV service company because the seller bought the car a couple of years ago with no title. According to the DMV service for a imported (non US spec) car registering in California they go down to 1967. I would have to have the car modified and inspected to California standards for the model year.

 

When you said the above are you saying post 75 cars are problematic? I like 72's more classic lines. But the early 80's look a smidgen more refined. What are pros and cons of each?

 

Having my '71 XJ 282/200R for years now... had a '72 XJ LT1/700R... no problems.. no smog required - they do not care about smog for pre '74 cars.

I have all Red taillights... no side lights at all and all Orange front turn signals... plus seven inch headlights/high beam. My middle lights on the hood are Cibie driving lights controlled by a separate switch. If not modified, you may only have LH outside door mirror = OK,, mine has XJS electric mirrors now. They will want you to have a front license plate - mine does not but it is in the
trunk if any ever complains... none yet since 1992... I do not like the looks of a front plate on this model.

Just make sure the horn and wipers work and all the lights... they are usually not picky at all about the various lens colors. It should not exhibit smoke when idling and running.

These are beautiful and fun cars to drive with the SWB... not much fun if the
driver is tall and someone wants to sit behind him/her.

 

My S3 experience is limited to one 85 XJ6 that I had for about 5 years

This was concurrent with my last series 1 which was a late 71.

They are different experiences. I prefer the S1 but it's a subjective opinion.

 

Only "problem" on 75 and up cars in CA is that they need to be smogged. If you were trying to decide between 72 (S1) and "early 80s" (S3) I wouldn't let the fact that one of them needs smogged and the other doesn't deter me from going after an S3 car....... the seller has to SMOG it by law anyway (or sell it to you as parts)

 

I read a bit ago that the cutoff has been moved to 81 for CA cars. But, I forgot the date it comes in to effect. At least there is hope for some.


Durn, I missed it, my car is an 83. Seventy bucks plus aggravation every two years!!!


Carl

 

California Bill to Move Smog Exception From 1975 to 1980 Progresses
The above article is from April 2016, and there's Nothing more recent on the subject except for hopeful speculation. I suspect the bill will die silently due to stalling in some committee.
(';')

 

Nertz. as Elinor cited the Motor Trend article, which I scanned, I hoped that lead time meant it was not to date.


True, but the news is bad. I googled the SB1239 and read it's history. It did get out of committte, but died on the floor. Went into inactive.... In other words, the Senate leader killed it. Politics, as usual....


As I recall, there was also an Assembly bill. I'll look for that. Probably done in as well...


Carl


Carl