When we got our new 87 series III last month it came with a bunch of goodies in the trunk including several books on the XJ. I especially want to recommend one of them:

Jaguar XJ The Complete Companion by Nigel Thorley. Published in 1991.

It covers in great detail the history of the XJ line from the series I through the then new 1991 V12s. Here is an example: on page 92 he discusses something we were talking about on the Forum about a month ago:

"In September 1985 an entirely new electric central locking system was introduced incorporating full electric motor operation for doors and boot instead of the previous electro-solenoid system. This became effective from VIN nos. 428715 (lhd) and 429455 (rhd)".

Another interesting tidbit is that when the very first SIII rolled off the line they were available in only three colors: Tudor White, Damson Red, and my beloved Cotswold Yellow (tan and brown were added a few months later).

It is a shame the book is not electronic and searchable. In the future I am sure I am going to need a fact from the book. If lucky, I might remember something was mentioned in the book but then I would have to flip through dozens of pages to hopefully find it.

Mr Thorley was British, was there when the cars were made and clearly had access to insider information and probably factory records. A fascinating book. Available on Amazon: hardcover $15 used, $86 new (paperback is less). Christmas is coming up.

Jeff

 

I bought a copy a few years ago along with every other book I could find on the XJ. All good reading.

 

Nigel Thorley is the magazine editor, and one of the directors, of The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, based in Bristol, UK. Alec G.

 

 

I ordered at copy and it arrived Wednesday, they day before Thanksgiving. I has some time to read it after dinner and the subsequent wine nap. It was great reading and I hardly noticed anything else for awhile.