I know the body styles changed very little during the 80's, but just what parts can be used between years? ie: can I use seats out of a 90 xj6 in my 87 even though the body style changed in 88 or am I restricted only to the years 83-87?
What about dashes and wood veneer?

 

Hi JameyXJ6

Do you know your model designation, (not the model name, 'coz "XJ6" goes back to 1969 !). If it is an 87, this tells me if you are in the US it will be the XJ40 model which started in 1986 in the UK. This is a totally new car to those that were previously made and so there is nothing in the interior that is common, although many suspension parts are the same, in fact some go back to 1955 in design ! After the XJ40, the X300 still had much commonality, but not a great deal on interior parts, although the doors are the same panels, I believe.

 

I thought the xj40 started in 88 in the US? Would a VIN # help identify it? As far as I can tell it is a base model xj6. Vin# SAJAV1347HC469284

 

yeah xj40 started in '88

As for your car, just about any part from a SIII will interchange. Only real difference is the interior if you have a VDP or not. Of course the V12 would have differences. But even then only the fuel system, engine & trans would be different.

The SIII started in '79. So all the parts from then SHOULD work. Of course some differences could be electrical & maybe trim colors & such, but they will still work.

EDIT.. as for your question on whether or not newer stuff will work....well ANYTHING will fit with enough cash
But AFAIK, nothing interchanges. Suspension, drivetrain & everything was redesigned. Not really worth it to try & make them fit either.

 

Most Series III stuff will interchange but the Ser III did have some changes, the most significant being a revised console and radio/climate control panel for 1983 model year.

I've heard of several people using XJ40 (which is what a 1990 would be) seats in a Series III. I don't recall it being a direct "bolt in" but they'll work.

Cheers
DD

 

Yes, your '87 is a Series III. The last of the Series III XJ6s were built in April of 1987 for the North American market only. The last vin was 473xxx as I recall.

BTW. Many books and catalogs ...and even some so called experts...do not acknowledge a 1987 Ser III XJ6 so be careful when you order parts.

Cheers
DD

 

So it's a Series 3. Well in that case, there is commonality all the way back to when this model came out, which is 1979, (probably not until 1980 in the US). There is much that looks very similar to the Series 2, (1973-1979), but do remember that the Series 3 tries to improve on the Series 2, and some stuff may look the same but be better made. Having said that, early Series 3s were very badly built, and I should know, I had a 1980, and I spent more on it than it cost Jaguar to build !! As the last of the Series 3s, your car is probably as well built as you can expect within the limitations of Jaguar's production facilities of the time, which were pretty awful and run down. Ford had to spend billions sorting it all out !!