Hi everyone,

I am brand new here and have read a fair bit about these cars even prior to joining and have some questions about the XJ 5.3 coupe. I have owned a number of cars over the years and I especially have loved owning and driving the European ones including Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini but haven’t yet dipped my feet into British motoring as an actual owner. My father purchased a lightly used, 1979 XJ6L in a beautiful midnight blue. I drove this car many miles when he still had it. It was a truly beautiful car that was always a big attention getter.

Now, as I have owned and enjoyed a few cars, I recently came across a couple of YouTube videos from Harry’s garage where he showcases an XJ 5.3 coupe in what appears to me, squadron blue with Kent wheels, and I am stricken. I have attached the video below. I did a quick search online and there doesn’t seem to be many of these available for sale, so I thought I would make a post, say hello, and ask the group what their thoughts are on these cars? I figure this would be a series 2 car from the 70s so I hope I am posting this in the right forum. Any thoughts on ownership experience, reliability of the cars, and pitfalls to avoid, as well as what I can expect to pay for the car would be great. Cheers!

"Reliability" is a word not often associated with 40-50 year old cars, especially limited production quasi-exotics. Unless you find, and pay for, a fully sorted example, any reliability will be the result of your own efforts to make the car reliable and keep it that way. It can be done. But these never were, and will never be, 'drive it and forget it' cars. It's a lot like owning a boat. A degree of owner commitment is required. You have to enjoy the upkeep aspect of ownership.

Anyhow, just to get the conversation rolling......

Rust is always the big concern on cars of this vintage.

I would do some research on parts availability of the coupe-specific parts.

There's a buyers guide somewhere in the 'sticky threads' at the top of this section.

Cheers
DD

The car in the video has since been fully restored at a cost that Harry admits to of £60,000. This included repairs to the sills and rear quarter panel areas to remove extensive rot, and a full restoration of the engine and drivetrain components.

great advice. I am handy and can do some things. I would also like to get a lift for the garage. I think that would help tremendously for my tinkering. I also have my limitations and would want a good shop to help with things I can’t do. I don’t need the car for daily driving but I would like it as a weekend cruiser. I would check into parts availability but honestly, I wouldn’t know what parts are coupe specific other than maybe door glass? I think that I would prefer to get something nice to begin with and keep it nice.

WOW!! £60k is a lot! I saw a second video of the car after he did exhaust and suspension. Car seemed much more fun to drive! I will look at his other videos and see what they are all about. One thing I’ve learned is to get someone who knows exactly what they are doing look at the car and do a proper PPI. Thanks for the heads up!