I am about to purchase a 1991 V-12. Is there anything I should look at while inspecting it? It has a new front suspension, low miles (70k). I have never even seen a v-12 before so I am not sure what I am getting into. This will be a Sun driver while my 94 xjs is my daily driver.

 

First thing I'd do is run a CarFax on the VIN. IIRC, there was no 1991 XJS in California, so if it is a 1991 MY you'll want to find out where the car originated and where it spent most of it's life.

 

Cooling system in perfect condition and new fuel hoses in the engine bay would suggest that the owner really knows how to take care of his XJS. Also, ask what work, if any, the ignition system has had in recent years. A new or new-ish distributor cap and rotor also suggest proper care and feeding

Cheers
DD

 

Don't forget the brakes! The now hard to get accumulator is getting harder (pricier) to find.

 

Why was Jaguar not able to sell the 1991 XJS in California? Not emissions compliant? Any other years affected?

Mark

 

so 91 has the teves? I was hoping to get away from that. I thought it was a bosch system?

 

I think it was Teves all the way till mid 1995 when the switch was made to the same system used on the X300 sedans...whatever it was called


Cheers
DD

 

I stand to be corrected but I think jaguar simply played it a bit loose with model year designations ...not unusual....and stretched '1990' further out and started '1992' a bit early.

My 1988 XJS was built in Feb 1987 and carried a 1988 VIN !

Cheers
DD

 

Ahhh...that might explain why I dont see many '91's for sale. I seem to find plenty of '88's and '89's.

I prefer the 1990 model. I'd sell my '89's to upgrade to a '90.

Mark.

 

1991 build (Yank '92 MY) was the first of the facelift cars with the Vin starting at 179737....So a '91 MY would be a 1990 build ie, pre facelift.

 

There is a 1990 MY, but maybe the US didn't have it, or call it that? 1990 MY XJS starts at VIN 165791 build commencing September 1989.

1991 MY starts at 175258 but again maybe the US call it something else?

1992 MY officially starts at 179737 but there are a few cars built before this VIN.

As we know, US cars sometimes had a different MY to the official Jaguar World MY, but I thought that only happened in the later years of production?

Paul

 

In USA-speak, when the facelift cars were introduced, they were designated 1992 model year and carried 1992 VINs, even if they were built in calendar year 1991

In the USA we're accustomed to a model year encompassing two calendar years, most typically starting in late summer/early autumn. So, for example, we'd normally expect to see 1990 model year production starting in August or September of 1989 and running until July or August of 1990. That's not carved in stone, but it's typical. If there's a variance from that it's usually for marketing reasons.

Jaguar and others importing into the USA assign model years to fit marketing or legal needs....with the latter surely including compliance with (or perhaps, in some cases, dodging!) emissions and safety compliance requirements.

Cheers
DD

 

That is my recollection. There was some emissions or other regulatory issue that was getting addressed in the '92 MY 'facelift' model, so they only sold '90 MY cars in California until the new model release.

The 1991 MY cars were available outside of California.

 

For reference, my 1990 XJS has a vin of 174***...

 

Teves mk 4

 

I am a proud owner of my second xjs, 1991 V-12. I never thought I would own two of them. I am not totally sold on the black color but its not bad. The green on my 94 is hard to beat, though this new to me v-12 is a much better ride. It just has more power and feels right. the car drives very straight and does not suffer from all the alignment issues my 94 has.

There is a little twisting since there is no brace on the bottom, I am looking into to adding this. It will need the typical leather re dye and wood refinishing but mechanically it is perfect. I am getting it from a jaguar mechanic. Very cool guy who gave me four newish tires for my 94 and is giving me boxes of nuts and bolts, extra parts. The car has new fuel lines, new ignition, and all new front suspension including lower bushings. It is dialed in mechanically and has 74k miles. Paint is fading on the hood, leather is cracked, and it needs new wood for the ski slope. I can definitely bring it back with a little love.

...I have not paid him yet... meeting him tonight. So hopefully he doesnt back out. He is sort of reluctant to sell it...

It has the classic tags on the back instead of the v-12. What does this mean? Is there a difference?

 

The Classic Collection was a limited edition version after the US dealers complained they didn't get any of the Le Mans Celebration cars. It has upgraded Autolux leather in Magnolia with contrasting piping, Elm burl instead of walnut, leather gear shift knob, and gold badges.

 

Interesting. ...he changed out the gold emblem. Also, it has no piping and it has a wood knob. not sure about the elm... I have to find a laminate for the slope since it is currently missing wood. I was going to get walnt burl, glad you brought up the possibility of different wood.

I will probably get the V-12 badge on the back. Removing it was downgrade IMO.

 

For reference, there is a picture of Safari's black Classic Collection convertible in
this thread:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...t-lady-149616/

BTW, did you run a VIN check like Carfax? Make sure you do before you give him the dough. It's cheap insurance in case there are surprises in it's history, and you'll want to know where it was before California.

 

It was in Utah before Cali. Its cheap enough where even if there was a surprise in history I would still get it.