So, browsing around, I found a local Jaguar advertised as a 1989 XJ12, Series III, Vanden Plas, about ~75k miles.

Good price, looks to be in solid shape.

Thing is, the VIN is SAJDL1841KCxxxx and the Speedo is metric only (no imperial). "D" means Double Six, which you don't find on US Spec cars.

Seller says it's a gray market car, which is likely. Can't tell from the pics if it has Double Six or Daimler badging.

Since it's LHD, I'm guessing it is a Canadian car that snuck across the border, but did they have metric-only speedos? Maybe German?

I would love to have a flagship real Jag with a V12. That alone would be worth it.

I'm just curious about the rarity and value of the car. Thoughts?

Should I buy myself a Christmas Jag?

Padre

 

Well, it's certainly a rare care, because at that time Jaguar were only making these V12s to order, about 50 a week or less, (the six cylinder Series 3 cars finished in '86), so there aren't many of these cars around. However this rarity doesn't make them all that valuable, because so many people are put off by the V12 engine and its thirst for fuel. Of course in the US, this is not so important with the price of fuel being so low compared to Europe.

For the car you have seen the mileage is low so if you fancy one of these, go have a look. You could always try to find a miles per hour speedo to swap.

 

If this is the car I'm thinking of (black paint and last 3 of the vin is 952) I drove the car in early '15 when it was for sale by the previous owner. Nice car with some typical needs, but I ended up buying a different Jag at the time. I have some service records from the previous owner and may have a car fax. It seems like I remember it was imported from Canada to Florida and then eventually found its way to Georgia. The Canadian SIII V12s did have the speedo in km. SIII V12s are rare in the US and buying one that's already imported avoids the steps of bringing one over the border.

I'll look through my old emails for the other records and the car fax. Feel free to pm me.

 

The series 2/3 cars really dont carry the helft of the v12 that well like the XJS does. The XJS chassis / unibody was upgraded. That said it's going to have all other the issues a 1989 XJS has... so that's many. If you really want a v12 sedan, consider 95/96 X300. The chassis is up to the job,it has a 4 speed transmission, and all the v12's problems were sorted by then.

 

I don't think the speedo is an issue it is very easy to have a visual conversion to miles just remember 105km/h is around 65mph, 40km/h is 25mph,
160km/h is exactly 100mph. In all Europe (other than UK) all those cars had a metric speedo. Most of the world is using metric anyway.
if the price is good I'd take that car if I were you.

 

KMH's no big deal.


Circa 1952, I bought a Belgian assembled 50 Chevrolet in Germany.
Almost exactly the same car as sold in the USA. Except for the speedo.
I drove it in Germany just fine. No need to covert from MPH as in my two prior cars there.


I brought it home. When my first employer furnished a 54 Chevrolet, it was no longer needed.


It's new steward had no issue with the KMH. Black 4 door with narrow white walls, it was a nice looking and driving car.


My professional involvement with the buyer, a tale for another day.




As a grey model, any other oddities. Lighting, glass, etc.


Carl

 

A well sorted Series III V12 is a real sweetheart to drive. And the old body style still holds a certain appeal to many people. "The most modern of all antique automobiles".

"Well sorted" examples are a bit rare and usually come with a very high purchase price. Most take a merely "good" example and do the sorting out on their own.....which is part of the fun for many of us

Worth looking at for sure, IMO.

Watch out for rust!

Cheers
DD

 

+1

(even for a 75k mile car !)

 

I agree. I've been sorting out my '94 XJS for 18 months now, and it gets more and more fun to drive. What I think happens with a lot of these cars, is people give up on doing the little things. My '94 was almost undriveable because of the suspension problems, so I did a bunch of little things - tranny mount, bushings, control arms, ball joints, shocks, steering rack, etc. - and it's very nice now.

And like you say, it's the old body style that appeals to me. I found a '96 XJ12 last year for $1000, but it was in bad shape. This one looks solid.

On my '94, only thing I worry about is A/C and electronics. I know what needs to be done (transistor on the blower motor), but I dread tearing the dash apart.

So, if I go look at this '89 XJ12, I'm hoping at least the A/C works.

Maybe soon I'll go check it out.

Padre

 

Saw it today and made an offer. Accepted.

Will pick it up next Thursday to add to my fleet so I can start tinkering with it.

Really couldn't pass it up for the price, plus it is very solid all around. It has minor issues, as was expected, but nothing I can't do myself.









Padre

 

Congratulations !

From the pics it looks like a more-than-decent example.

Cheers
DD

 

Very nice.

 

Congrats Padre it sure looks good in the piccies.

 

Congratulations!
You have bought yourself a very nice specimen of this dying breed of big cats.

The only thing that concerns me a bit, is the moisture damage to the dash and skislope.
Try to find the source of that moisture, as it will wreak havoc throughout the car when untreated...

Otherwise: everything there, cruisecontrol, headlight wipers, trip computer and all..

WELL DONE!!