Found an XJ12L for sale, and cheap... Is it worth picking up just to save and save parts for when these XJ I/II/III's get harder and harder to find parts for?

It runs, but needs much love. Is anyone making floor pans for these cars?

If ya couldn't tell, I'm new to this platform, I come from BMW.

 

Firstly welcome.

The Series cars are always worth the effort, and the V12's are rarer than the 6.

Depending on what year and model it is, would also govern the "value".

Elinor will slide through soon, and she has done floor pans on Nix, so answers will flow.

 

'79 Series II!

 

Let me fill you all in on me a little, this is/will be my third car. First was an '84 318i I parted out, the second was a '95 ZJ Jeep that ended up having sat for too long and the entire underside rotted out.

I'm near enough to 18, so i figured it'd be okay. LOL

 

OH, a '79 S2 XJ12L is one rare end of model beast.

There are most anything you need out there, it just takes some looking.

I have used XK Unlimited in San Louis Obispo over the years without any real issues.

The rot you are experiencing is not available down here, so I really have no idea of the enormous work involved.

Upside, you got plenty of years up your sleeve, and these cars are getting more rare, and the $$ will climb as the stocks thin out for a stock as a rock version.

 

Every auto enthusiast should own a v12 at least once in their life. I've owned 2 Jaguar V12's and 2 BMW v12 in my life so far. I still have a BMW v12. I would purchase it as an experience if you're into that type of thing. For example, this weekend I took my family apple picking and paid 75$ for apples I had to pick myself...I could have bought them easily at the super market for about 40$ with far less effort but it was fun.

For the Jaguar, the price of entry for the V12 club is very low but the price in time and frustration may be high depending on your automotive skills. Personally I find these early fuel injections systems interesting, others find them daunting. In any case,...ultimately you will be rewarded with a engine that is underwhelming and hoovers petrol like an American big block with leaky carburetor.

You should almost look at these cars and most other cars from that era as exactly what not to do. The build quality is very low with sloppy welds and poorly fitted body panels. The wiring is terrible right down to the quality of the copper of the wire itself, the brittle insulation, the placement of fuse blocks, the amazing lack of relays, the over use of high current switches, and self corroding connectors. The 6 cylinder engine management adapted for a v12 is complex but unsophisticated. I could go on and on but in there lies the opportunity to improve and fix...that's the interesting part for me and many others and perhaps you too.

 

Wolf Steel in Canada made floor pans for Nix and several other members of this section.
Jaguar XJ6 and XJ12 Body Panels

Half length (front half) and full length are available. Captive nuts are attached for accelerator pedal, but they may not fit your car Exactly as they didn't fit mine, but it was an easy fix.

My driver front pan cost $119US delivered, lists for $135CA.

Also, be aware, the corrugations are not as deep in the Wolf pans so different deadening strips are needed, and they don't match up Exactly with the stock rear pan if you're only replacing driver front for example.

Here's the full story if you're interested:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...re-faq-130153/
(';')

 

Odd, I was impressed with the extensive use of relays. Wire and insaulation quality, not so much.


And, most factory welds leave a lot to be desired....


I'd ply with a V12 if I were ten years younger. I narrowly missed an opportunity a decade or so back....


Carl