Found a local guy, as in 10 minutes up the road or so, selling a clean looking one with new interior and a 5 speed for a decent price. Was just curious if it's something that if I picked it up and got bored with it eventually, would sell for a good price.

 

Jaguar never officially imported the 5-speed cars to the USA so they're very rare over here. I've only heard of 2 or 3 that came in via grey market.

I'd love to have one but as far as value goes, well, I don't think anyone owning one is sitting on a pot of gold unless the car is in exceptional condition. Rare doesn't always mean valuable.

What's he asking for it?

I doubt that you'd have any trouble selling it.

Cheers
DD

 

Especially round these parts.

 

It's a white 84 with new tires, new leather, a spare engine, trans, and wheels, and 155xxx on it. He says it makes a great daily, so I assume he daily drives it. He's asking $4k obo but I happen to have a large stack of cash I was planning on spending on either an old muscle car, or bigger turbos for my 300ZX. If I decided on it, I could probably get him down quite a bit lower.

 

Is the spare trans a 5 speed also

 

Sounds like a good deal to me if the body isn't too rusty.

Cheers
DD

 

A 5-speed manual transmission was originally fitted to the 3.4 litre Series 3 cars in Europe, but not exported officially to the USA. It was a development of a British Leyland gearbox used in the Rover saloons of the time.

Is this what we are discussing ?

 

Yes, as far as I know.

I've never seen any exact figures but the "bandied about" estimate is that less than 5% of the Ser III XJ6 production was built with the 5-speed box.....mostly 3.4s but the 4.2s as well.

Some cars have been converted to 5-speed using OEM parts, or others using a Toyota gearbox, or others using an all-in-one kit from a USA supplier. I suppose the car in question could be one of those but they're overall even less common, I think, than the originals....but perhaps more likely in the USA.

Cheers
DD

 

I have a friend in Nashville who did the swap to a 5-speed manual and I also have an article about the swap from the Music City Jag Club if you're interested.

personally I don't think the XJ lends itself to a manual transmission, but it's a matter of taste.