Hello,

First time poster, long time Jaguar lover...

I've recently been tasked with assessing the value of my father's 1984 XJS with the AJ6 engine and 5 speed gearbox. I understand this to be one of about 25 or so cars Jaguar shipped with this config to the US for use by Jag Execs.

The car has been in storage for a few years. It has some body rust and needs work on the brakes and upholstery, obviously a full tune up. It would be a fairly easy restoration, but a restoration nonetheless. It was a daily driver at one time before it was stored and has 120k miles on the clock. It's claret red with a light grey interior and has euro spec headlamps.

My question is: can anyone give me a starting point for the value of this car. It's unusual, so there isn't much to compare to. I found a couple cached ebay auctions of similar cars in excellent condition going for about $15k or so. I'm trying to determine the value so I can assess whether it's worth selling, restoring, or trading.

Thanks.

 

Hi and welcome,

I looked at one last year in Michigan....was actually an XJSC Targa top in green
good running condition 75,000 miles I think...well under 100.000 at least...usual fixes tweaks required, $7,500 asking, no rust as I could see.

It was the right color, but we really wanted/preferred the full convertible.

You really need to get it running for max sale value.

Also, are your sure it is an AJ6 motor?

Photos please, if possible.

Thanks,

Rob.
2006 X Type Wagon.
1994 XJS 6.0 V12 Convertible.
1987 XJ6 DD.

 

It's a 3.6 litre, inline 6 from 1984, so I assume it's a AJ6. This one is a coupe, not a targa top.

I'm hoping to get out to see the car this weekend, will take photos and see if I can get more info.

 

Thr 5 speed is desirable, but then the rust negates all positives in my book. As you know the XJS is on the bottom shelf here in the US as far as current market value goes, so IMHO "street price" on something like this is highly dependant on right-place-right-time-right-buyer type timing. Putting it on fleabay will yield some indicators.

Another way to look at it is that the DrivenMan website offers a manual for approx $5K, so perhaps add that plus labor.

 

If that is indeed a U.S. model with 6 cyl 5 speed, that is a very rare beast here in the States.

The fact that it has Euro spec headlights makes me suspect that it was really a gray market car, not a car imported by Jaguar. I would recommend that you contact the Jaguar Heritage Trust and confirm it's origins.

Jaguar Heritage

How it got to the U.S., and the story behind it (with documentation) could have real influence on it's collectable value.

Best of luck

 

Thanks for the input, everyone! It took a while, but I finally have this car out of storage. I took some photos and have more info.

The euro spec headlights were installed by my dad. He's English and hated the US style lights. It was definitely a US-shipped demo. We lived near the Mahwah NJ Jaguar HQ and he purchased the car from someone he knew who had purchased it directly from a Jaguar employee. At one time, I think he had a Heritage Trust certificate, but I'm pretty sure it's been lost. In any case, the fifth character in the VIN is an '8,' which would indicate it shipped from the factory with "Manual 5-speed/LH Steering" according to the VIN decoder at jagrepair.com, so I'm quite sure it wasn't an aftermarket job.

Right now, it turns over easily and gets a spark, but doesn't seem to get adequate fuel to run. It's been sitting for about 6 years, so not too surprised about that. I may have a local vintage Jaguar specialist take a look in the next couple weeks. The rust is pretty bad on the trunk and rear bumper area, but overall, it's not a really hard restoration project. Underneath looks pretty decent actually.

You can see more in the Craigslist ad I posted. (Search "XJS getrag" in the New York area, it's the only one listed ) I may post to ebay or more collector-oriented sites at some point, but I've had pretty good luck selling vintage motorbikes and autos on CL the last few years. If anyone is interested, feel free to reach out on the CL ad for now...

 

looks like some serious rust, if you can see that much,i.m sure there is a lot more you cannot see!!

on an XJS/or any Jaguar, its the amount of rust that will dictate price or value!

i have had 3 jags given to me,FREE, because of rust, and repair estimates were far above the finished estimates values!

 

Very pretty, but yikes! Look at all that rust!

I would love a manual XJS, V12 or not, but the rust is a killer, and the fact that it doesn't seem to drive right now.

FYI there was a similar one on eBay last week (manual, I-6, same color, even) that did not run but also had fewer miles and no visible rust. Fuel pump was suspected.

 

Sad to say I think that ones a gonner. You need to find someone to buy that with their heart and not their head...... it does happen..... getting it running would be a help. I think its worth throwing a new fuel pump, filter and fresh gas at it, or at least hitting the existing fuel pump with a hammer to see if it starts cooperating. Many people who don't have one are surprised at how well XJSes drive......... getting behind that nice wooden wheel and looking down the long bonnet may help the romance impact (and divert attention from the chronic rust!)

 

.

what ever you do !! do not send it to the junkyard, i have seen around 10-15 yrs back, some would end up in scrape yard, near my business, i asked what he gave for XJS-XJs he said around $75 non runner, up to $150,if the run! (thank the stars that mentality has passed). he said gets around one per month, and sold the rear cage assembly for $50. cash! for hot rodders.

 

They did in fact bring in about 25 cars. I think the code name was XJ57. I remember the corporate people driving them. The car is way underpowered.

 

But thanks to the manual trans and gearing, which help compensate for the lower horsepower, they were actually pretty good performers. Off-the-line acceleration was stronger than the V12s 'til 50 mph or so.

Cheers
DD

 

Underpowered? Compared to what?

1984 XJS 3.6 Coupe (this car): 225 hp, Torque net: 240 lb-ft, 20 mpg (U.S.) / 17.5 mpg (U.S.)

1984 XJS V12 coupe: 291 hp, Torque net: 319 lb-ft, 17.2 mpg (U.S.) 12.9 mpg (U.S.)

The 6 cylinder is slightly less powerful, but weighs 200lbs less and has a manual transmission. Not sure I'd agree with your assessment--especially after driving both versions. (Also, not to be dismissed: the 6-cyl has at least 15% better gas mileage, pretty nice when you drive it regularly!)

This car is not going to the junkyard--not under my watch anyway. The rust is a concern, but I'd stop short of calling it a "goner." I've seen far worse restored. Getting it running would be great for the sale, but unfortunately this isn't the only aspect of my parents' affairs I'm managing right now--and it's not the highest priority. I may get to it though.

I fully understand there are repairs needed, but there are very few classic British motorthings that don't need repairs. If you're looking for a quick flip, this is probably not for you. But for collectors looking to invest, this is a lower-priced, highly unusual NA example with a unique, verifiable history. I've had quite a few inquiries about this one already and I am pretty flexible on price. Pretty sure someone will take a chance on it.

 

Actually, maybe quicker throughout the range...

3.6 Coupe -
top speed: 145 mph (declared by factory); 0- 60 mph: 7.2 s, 1/4 mile drag time: 15.7s

V12 Coupe -
top speed: 143 mph (declared by factory); 0- 60 mph 7.6 s; 1/4 mile drag time: 16.1s

(specs from 1984 Jaguar XJ-S Series 1 Coupe full range specs)

 

Maybe. Maybe not.

If you look at a compilation of *actual road tests* the acceleration figures are all over the board for both engines. But, it is generally agreed that, if nothing else, the 6-cylnder stick shift cars accelerate faster coming off the mark.

Cheers
DD

 

"Slightly" ?


The USA version was actually 262 SAE net HP. But, either way, whether you call it 66 fewer horsepower or 37 fewer horsepower, it is quite a significant difference :-).

'Tis the lazy 2.88 gearing used on the V12s that blunts the acceleration until some momentum was built up.

Cheers
DD

 

Jaguar XJS - very rare 6 cyl + Getrag 5-speed

 

Congratulations! Your car made Jalopnik's Nice Price or Crack Pipe!

For $6000, Could This Rare But Rusty 1984 Jaguar XJS Be The Cat?s Pajamas?

 

Haha, it's funny how many people in the comments think the rust is very minor and an easy fix. Let us know how the sale goes, I'd be very curious!

 

Wow! Are we saying that the manual tranny is all that it takes the 3.6 to overcome the V12's whole 66HP superiority and pull it faster, not only to 60mph, but also at the 1/4 mile's higher speed / higher rpm's, which I hear is V12 territory? What is it with that 3.6L marvel that it's even factory rated 6HP higher than my own 4.0L AJ6 (219HP)? In that case they could've kept it intact and save extra r&d $$... . Was the 3.6L ever sold in the US in any Jaguar car?

Cheers,