Recently there was a question about the existence of an AJ16 XJS with manual transmission. Also over the years, I have often been asked how many 4.0L 5 speed XJS's were sold in the US. I have done a bit of research on the web but never found any concrete answers other than some educated guesses.

So I sent an email to the archivist at JLR asking for 5 speed production numbers by body style for the US and Canada. After speaking to a specialist for this area, the archivist responded with the following:-

"I did the figures for US and Canada for XJS facelift manual cars.

1992 Coupe - 33 Canada only
1993 Coupe - 37 US and 4 Can
1993 Convertible - 62 US and 4 Can
1993 2+2 - 2 US and 4 Can
1994 Coupe - 19 US only
1994 2+2 - 56 US and 2 Can

There was none in 1995 or 1996. There was approximately 70 Manual AJ16 engine XJSs and none were sold to the USA. It doesn't mean none have been imported though."

Remember these are calendar year production figures, so some cars produced in 92 may be 93MY and some in 1993 may be 94MY.

So a total of 176 cars for the US and 47 for Canada. A manual AJ16 looks to be a very rare bird and if someone did bring one over here, it's probably the only one!

That ends this public service announcement

Cheers,

Allan

That's extremely low numbers.

Interesting about the manual version. The reasoning Jaguar always trotted out either for not offering manual transmission, or leaving it until late in the production life of any model to make it available, was that there was no demand in their all-important US market. Once the vehicles get into the hands of enthusiasts the opposite applies and manual versions become the most sought after!

Graham

That is why I am doing a conversion. As soon as I save up $5K. :-)

Allan--thanks for doing the legwork on that. I thought the numbers for Canada were higher, and the US lower, so I'm surprised. And now better informed. I have never personally seen a manual XJS (other than mine) outside of the UK, but I have seen four others for sale in Ontario over the past twenty years.

How long did it take for a reply from JLR? I sent them the same question a couple of months ago but did not get a response.

Graham's point (about manuals not being popular with people who were buying new Jags at the time) is interesting. Probably partly why there ain't any new manual Jags available now. Not happy about that.

David, if you can afford the conversion and like driving a stick, you're gonna LOVE your XJS double. If it gains in value, you win again.

Allan, where does yours fit in here?

Allan,

Did you eMail JLR or JDHT (Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust)?

I did read that all the factory records are handed over to JDHT once a model has been out of production for around ten years.

Graham

Greg,

Mine is a 2+2, so I'm one of the 56 lucky buggers

The archivist was very responsive, I had my answer within the week.

Graham is exactly right, when the manual cars were available nobody wanted to buy them and now they'd bite your arm off for one

I've never really understood this, the 5 speed option in the US came with other important goodies, such as significantly uprated springs, firmer Bilstein shocks, thicker anti-sway bar, firmer steering and suspension bushings, less boost on the power steering assist and upgraded 16" wheels with Z rated rubber. All these elements combined to make this a much more agile and athletic cat. Still an extremely comfortable long haul traveller but one that corners absolutely flat and isn't afraid of the twisty bits Also the gear ratios of the 5 speed make it much quicker to launch and faster to 60 than all but the XJRS, yet 5th gear allows it to lope along at 2500rpm at 75mph. Amazingly the manual option was at no additional!!

Ironically poor acceleration from rest and less than sporty handling are two things that often are criticized by automatic owners, go figure.

Cheers,

Allan

Graham,

The archivist works at the Jaguar Heritage Archive (JDHT?) in Gaydon but has a JLR email address.

Cheers,

Allan

Allan,

Can you share the archivist's email address with the forum or could you send it by private message please?

Thanks

Andy.

for one conversion option, check out

Conversion Components, NZ

Conversion Components - About Us

PM sent.

Cheers,

Allan

Ok so the convertible with a back seat is called 2 + 2? I did not know that.

Any idea whether there was a SportsPack in 92? My 5 speed coupe rides/handles as you describe (un-Jaguar-like firmness going by my previous X300 experience) but is on 15" wheels.

The email I sent was to JDHT via their website.

Greg,

I'm not sure about Canada as the manual option was not introduced into America until the 93MY. It does not appear that the SportsPack was available here in MY93 and was introduced in MY94 along with 16" wheels.

You could check a few things.

The Bilstein shocks are green coloured and the standard Boge are black.

Measure the diameter of the front anti-sway bar. I'm not sure of the difference but I can measure mine and compare.

The front road springs should have a splash of paint on them, I can't remember which is which but I think the Sportspack are yellow? I'll check mine.

Cheers,

Allan

Allan,

Thanks - I thought that type of enquiry would actually be answered by JDHT even if JLR claimed to be the source!

For anyone not familiar with JDHT, they don't just hold records:

Jaguar Heritage

They have the most desirable collection of Jaguar vehicles and can also supply parts and technical information. I've read posts from some members who have gone to extraordinary lengths to obtain Workshop Manual and Parts Manual DVD's which are available directly from JDHT.

Graham

Gonna brag/reminisce for a sec....I visited that collection at Brown's Lane. There was an ancient Daimler with elephant-hyde folding roof...NUB 120 was there...the XJ13, a D-Type....Even the parking lot was a show: I recall an indigo Daimler 250-V8 with red interior (gorgeous), and a ratty green Gordon Keeble.

Thanks for that. I'm going to assume my car does not have it. The shocks are battleship grey (I was told they were original when I bought the car at 36,000 miles). Front bar is 7/8", rear 5/8".

On a smooth road the ride is sublime. But when a front wheel hits an imperfection I feel and hear the impact, as though the tires are over-inflated (front wheels only). My car does not need any front-end work. I'll have to try driving another XJS to see if it is the same.

Hmmmm, a rear anti-roll bar? I do not believe my car has one and I thought that they had never been fitted as standard to 4.0L cars? It's a bit confusing though because Jaguar introduced and deleted the bar several times during the life of the car.

I'm not sure about the grey shocks either, I have always seen either green or black factory shocks.

I just looked at my front springs and they have a splash of yellow paint not red, I'll correct my post above.

Cheers,

Allan

Goes to show you that people who could afford this car at $70k+ did not want to bother with a manual.

People who want the car below $10k prefer to work with a manual...

Maybe so, but I bought my car new and would not have bought the automatic version

Cheers,

Allan

total number of 1994 4.0 L XJS cars produced in 1994 = 5618
total number of 1994 6.0 L XJS cars produced in 1994 = 1300

Allan, you are 1 of 77 of 6,918! Congratulations!!!!