Good morning all,

I have currently an XF and subscribed to forum due to Air Con fault, while I am waiting for an answer to my thread I thought I would post this one..

My father must have one of the oldest XJS in the UK (214 one off the production line) and I understand that the first 100 went over to the states. I am trying to persuade my father to finish tidying it - Note it has only been siting in his garage since I was born when the Tax ran out(1983)..

The car starts fine and always has been moved a few times a year but never been put back on the road..

I was just wondering whether these old models have any value in them?

 

Tons of value, by any non-monetary unit of measurement. Ie., lots of us wouldn't sell ours if offered a good chunk over market. Who knows whether prices will increase in the future? For now, there will have to be other reasons to "finish the tidying". I nominate you to take over where your father left off.

 

I'd agree with the other Greg, looks like it is definitely a rare cat. Also as he says, it will be worth far more than monetary value, as a TV ad over quotes, "Those who like it, like it a lot". I know I would not sell my '89 XJS Convert. for far more than a market book value right now, She's a mature pure-breed and an attention getter over here in Atlantic Canada.

 

I agree with the other two Gregs. It is a matter of time, at some point these cars will be worth a great deal, but you will have to wait until your newborn son is about 35 or 40. By that time there will be VERY few jeft anywhere, as all us over 55s (being kind) will be gone and nearly all our cars will be gone too. But those V12s that remain will be rare and desireable, and the older the moreso.

Remember you could not give away E types 25 to 30 years ago, and now, in the UK, rebuild-ready wrecks go for a fortune. Recently a totally intact (as in all there) but all utterly shot, rusty, interior gone, engine had it, never moved in 40 years factory build number 60 E type went for 110,000 UKP ($160,000 in real money). It will need the same again spending on it!

So it will not help our own retirement plans, but will help the next generation, those that have somewhere to store them and enough interest to keep them going.

 

Hey! The 6-cyl cars won LeMans! Lol.

 

Greg in France
I have only today registered with this forum and am interested to see another Francophile. Can you point me towards a reliable and affordable source of spares for a 1983 XJSC 3.6 litre manual? In particular I need a replacement left side silencer and tailpipe, and hydraulic hoses for the P.A.S. Any advice for me?
All best - StuD

 

I get all my new bits from David Manners in Birmingham. They courier stuff out very cheaply and are really efficient. Prices are reasonable, same as any of the others. Norman Motors in London are good too. SNG have a depot in France but I found them to be quite inefficient, and not knowledgeable enough.

Hydraulic PAS hoses are a stupid price new, I have done this in the UK, but been unsuccessful in France where the 'under the arches ' car fixing industry does not exist: "this" being take the old ones to a hydraulic hose maker and get them to renew the flexibles and swage them onto the old steel bits from the old hoses. maybe a plant hire place would know where to send you? PM me if you need more info.

Where are you by the way?

Greg

 

I was too harsh in my earlier assessment of the value of your father's XJ-S.

That car will surely be valuable in the future, not sure when. Maybe even now. You don't see many early ones for sale. It is different from later ones (does it have black painted bumpers, no wood on the dash? what colours inside and out?). If it's more or less original I'm sure it will command a premium because it is one of the more interesting versions of the model, and its a first edition.