So are there really far fewer S1 cars available, or are the later cars just more attractive to most people?

The later cars are not without their qualities, but fwiw I'm more drawn to the older models...chalk it up to my aversion to both '74-onward bumpers and switchgear.

Just curious, as I rarely see any interest in S1 cars here....maybe they're crap, and I just never got the memo?

 

Ahhhh, the Series I cars. What a gem they are.

Too few have survived the test of time and, of the survivors, fewer still are in good shape. It's just too much money and effort to bring 'em back to glory. But, truth is, even the Ser IIIs have begun suffering the same fate.

Cheers
DD

 

While technology may brought more reliability to some areas, there is no comparison between the build quality of an earlier Jag than the materials used & shoddy work by those who labored under BL.

 

Thanks Doug, and yeah, I can imagine that the later cars are essentially the same as the earlier, as they simply don't bring the kind of return necessary to justify basically the same level of time and materials as doing up an E-type.

I've never looked at my car as an investment, though I do wonder at times if these early cars will start climbing in value soon...everything else seems to be getting well out of reach!

 

Yeah, the first-run cars were straight away the ones that did it for me...the final iteration of so much development - MK1, MK2 /S , 420G, 420....maybe it's because I can see Sir William's (and all that worked under him) touch there, who knows.

 

The Series I-II-III cars, and the XJS, are climbing in value...particularly those in exceptionally nice condition. Those in fair/good/average condition are naturally valued quite a bit less...but still climbing a bit.

For many, many years the great thing about these older Jags was you could buy even the very nicest examples for very low prices compared to other special interest cars.....thus making them great for a hobbyist/enthusiast who wanted something special but didn't have a ton of money to spend. Those days are ending.

Of course it has always been a double-edged sword. The low market value prevented many owners from spending very much money on them....thus ensuring that fewer would survive.

Cheers
DD

 

I still have my two. Well insured, unrusted, mostly original Jags. Years go by, I think of selling, then I don't want to. I just keep detailing them.

 

Exactly the reason I am working on bringing mine back. I cannot back this up, but I feel they rusted fast and there was little interest so not many survived. I feel obligated to move mine forward albeit a ton of work.

 

Hey Doug, just curious...what would be your guess as to the current value of an original, near-mint '69 S1 car with less than 50K on the clock?
It's a two-owner car, in near "time capsule" condition, and has recently come back into my orbit. I do not "need" it, however....

 

The Australian experience
About 5 years ago I saw S1 XJ6s starting to seriously climb in value and anything decent could be listed at A$10,000.
At the same time a mechanic acquaintance acquired two XJ6 S3 for A$500 each. One with minor front end damage and the other was a non runner.
He repaired the cars with minimal expense and used one as a daily driver.
Now the S3s are starting to climb in value and he recently sold one for A$7000.
(I have owned my S3 for 30 years and it is not for sale.)

 

Hagerty say a concourse car is worth $37k and an excellent one $27k.

 

Thanks for that Garet...for some reason my computer here is unable to open any Hagarty site, quite unfortunate as they appear to be the only ones that have any kind of current valuation info. Fwiw, theirs is the only website that will not open for me...quite curious indeed.

'preciate it mate!

 

You could try a different browser? They want you to make an account to get all the information, but I'm pretty sure you can do that for free.

 

So I was able to get the UK Hagerty valuation site to open. Fwiw, anything else "Hagerty", on either Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome and nothing opens here for us.

For a '69 XJ6, "Excellent" (aka condition 2) condition is 10,200 pounds, or $12,714. "Concours" (condition 1) condition is 22,800 pounds, or $28,420.

So I guess they're not pulling up much in the UK, I'd have thought there would be less of a gap between US and UK.

 

I think many import cars of the late sixties and early seventies flew under the radar as collectible when they were new because they were different,Maybe mass produced in their home country but imported in smaller numbers.Never entering the realm of daily observation,The only exception I can think of offhand, is the vw beetle, Even so,try to find an early beetle now in good condition for a fair price.

 

As a little bit of back up on this, I was at the British Invasion Car Show in Stowe Vt. this weekend and much to my dismay there was not a single Series 1 XJ6.

 

I was at the British Car Show in Mississauga, Ontario on Sunday. Apparently, it's the largest show of it's kind in America/Canada. At least 1,500 cars on display. You name it and it was there and thousands of spectators! But, alongside my Series 3, there were 6-7 others, but not one was a Series 1, and only one was a Series 2. Getting more rare? None were lumped.

 

I have a S1. I just love the the looks and interior (dash) compared to the later cars. I just resprayed mine and got the front glass in last weekend, and the rear glass goes back in this weekend. Then it's back on the road as my daily driver. Unless something unexpected happens, the future projects all involve a major interior redo. The "final" planned projects are a tranny upgrade with change to limit slip diff., than a upgrade to fuel injection.

I enjoy doing the work myself which keeps the cost down. All the thumbs up I get driving her greatly makes up for the skinned knuckles and sore back. LOL.

Jeff H.

 

Fwiw, I just got on their site, and a concourse is valued at $20,700, excellent one at $18,100.

???

 

I just bought my Series 1, and as I've been reading the forums and looking for information/parts, they're rare. It does seem like nice ones are gaining value- I got lucky, found a 50k-mile car with minimal rust and just needing mechanical work. My goal is a running driving car for next summer's show season.