Guru's I need your advice. What do you think about $3K for a 1976 Jaguar XJS with 120K miles and in a running condition.

Thanks in advance

 

If you like it, buy it :-)

I'm really not sure what you're asking.

Cheers
DD

 

I am asking about the price, is it worth 3 grand.

 

XJS is one of few semi-classic cars, where value is so variable, that $3K might buy you almost any model year. $3K can also be too much, or too little, for the above.
To tell you what she is worth, I'd need to see some good pictures and many of them.

 

What Mish-Mish said :-)


Cheers
DD

 

Bear in mind that as a '76, it will be a V12 engine, which whilst a magnificent piece of engineering can cost a huge amount in maintenance and repairs. Main thing, though, is the body shell, because Jaguars in the 70s were not well built at all in this area, and are very prone to rust. At a price of $3000 with that mileage and age, I think you need to look very carefully at the car, and if you really think you want it, knock the seller down as $3000 sounds too much at first glance.

Other things likely to need attention are brakes, and suspension ball joints, and springs and shocks.

Look for evidence of maintenance and repairs done.

 

Auto or manual ??
A good manual matching numbers is worth at least twice the price of
a similar auto. A 76 auto will have the sluggish Borg Warner box.
With the info supplied the value could be anything from $ 500 - $15,000.

 

I think that Pre-HE V12's are likely to be collectible in the future. There are fewer examples of them than the more common HE versions and they have some distinct differences that set them apart visibly and mechanically.

If it's an unmolested, rust-free example, that may be a fair price. Rust is the biggest issue.

 

Is $1900 a decent price for this 1976 XJS? Please forgive how new I am to the world of Jaguars, but after years of admiring every XJS we'd see, my wife is finally cool with me getting one. I would really appreciate any advice concerning this Jag. The guy selling it says it's on consignment and doesn't know anything more about other than the few times he's driven it, he said it felt good.. (not worth much) He sent me all these pictures so I thought maybe some of you veterans could help me out. I know it's an automatic, and I'm hearing about this sluggish Borg Warner box.. Can anyone offer any advice? Here are the pics he sent me..
Thanks,
E

 

If it runs good and there is no rust you are probably ok. Just be aware that you need do read "The Book" and do all the maintenance that has been skipped. Most likely the maintenance is not up to date nor have some common ailments been dealt with. Buy it and immediately do the most important items. Then slowly work through the rest.

 

Heh, I've seen this car on Houston craigslist. There's a white 89.5 in North Houston for $2k. Think it has around 70k miles. Burgundy interior. Mechanic says everything works, paint looks a bit rough in the photos though. Leather could use conditioning but nothing major. I'd look at the 89.5

 

It looks very nice indeed. Problem is, as everyone else has said, RUST. As well as any obvious rust (eg under front windscreen on the valance between the screen and the bonnet, ie hood), you have to look at the car carefully, in these places at least, and probe very hard with a screwdriver:

Under front carpets, and the back carpets
All round the rear wheelarches
Between front wheel arches and doors
Both ends of the sills
At the rear underneath, level with the front of the rear wheelarch, where the arm coming forwards from the rear axle joins the bodywork - all round this area on the horiziontal and vertical surfaces
Under the boot (trunk) carpet and right at the edge of the boot outboard of the exhaust tunnels
Under the radiator there is a structural member across the car that is notorious for disappearing.
Top of the join between the front wings and the engine bay (bonnet up)
Around the outside of the rear screen

If all this is OK, then you need to know what has been maintained, if anything. If nothing much, this is what you will have to do, as a minimum, to get the car as a reliable and good driver:

Change all shocks
Change all rubber bushes, ball joints, and rubber blocks throughout the suspension and steering of the car, front and back
Clean up as many loom connections and earths as you can find
Probably update the ignition spark box as the OPUS system on the car is bound to be going home (REOPUS is the most popular over here)
Change all oils and filters
Renew tyres
Fix aircon, maybe
Clean up radiator fins and remove debris between the radiator stacks
Check and renew brake calipers and brake pads as required.

The good news is that XJS parts are not expensive and are easily available. Over this side, XJS parts are less expensive than parts for modern mass-produced cars like Fords. If you do all these jobs yourself, the parts costs of all this will be much less than you paid for the car, and at the end you will have a very nice vehicle. If you do not do the jobs yourself, it will be very very much more expensive, and 90% chance of never being properly either.

Just my opinion, hope it helps

Greg

 

RUST RUST RUST

I bought a RUST free car, as you can see from the pics the rust was hidden until I started pulling things off.

Be very critical with your viewing and poke at every part with a pointer.

 

Nice to see that it's previous owners have refrained from making styling 'improvements' to the car.
It sits on it's original ( and charmingly 70's) 15" GKN 'Kent' alloy wheels. It has also kept it's original back ( and hopefully front ) rubber bumpers . The interior also hasn't been messed with. No retro wood inside which is exactly as Jaguar intended.
Apparently the cars biggest potential market ( North America ) insisted that their customers would be put off by the lack of shiny wood in a Jaguar - so in 1981 Jaguar capitulated to boost flagging sales and many early Pre HE cars have been er -- 'updated'
You are likely to encounter rust issues with most XJS's so they will nearly all need careful examination.
The 1976 car is what's known as a PRE HE ( pre 1981 HE engine ) and are an aquired taste. I was very tempted by this one which sold quite quickly late last year at around the £ 8000 mark.














When restored this is what they look like.

 

Sweet Jeebus that's beautiful.

 

That is stunning. I've always liked the Kent wheels on the XJS or the XJ6, especially when they are in great shape like that.

 

That is a sweet looking car, LOVE the colour.
As for price for these cars.... mine is down to $2500 and still no bites

 

Nosox, post up the details on your car?

 

WOW I love it, beautiful car

 

Don't want to hi jack this thread or put it on the for sale board. PM probably best if anyone can help