Heh guys

I picked up a special edition magazine classic cars magazine today at the newsstand that was on the Jaguar. After flicking through I noticed not one appearance of the XJS. Come to think of it, I notice this alot in magazines and books, they seem to skip or not consider the XJS a classic.

Is this because she's only 29 years old? Has anybody else noticed this? Maybe its just the publications I happen to read or pick up.

Thoughts?

 

The XJS just hasn't 'caught on'.

This subject comes up often. Here's one thread....


https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...lector-131270/

Cheers
DD

 

I have often wondered what people thought of the XK-150 for years after the E-type was released. I am pretty sure that most thought old school, bulky and boring. Well that is not what they are thinking now.

Just seems that the XJS continues to grow into it's own place in the Jaguar family as the years tick by. I looked at the XK8 as a possibility but for me the XJS just had that classic look. I can tell you that every show I have been at with one of my XJS' and XK8's entered the XJS always gets the attention and interest. That is in no way to take anything from the XK8 but rather to say the XJS is now getting to be a true Jaguar classic and the XK8 still looks very modern.

The XJS just has a very unique look that stands out. Every time I see one I just think " Big Cat ". Will that translate into high demand and therefore high prices? -probably not at least in the foreseeable future. But man what a treat to see a very nice example out being driven and there is just nothing else that looks like it on the road.

 

Check out Classic Cars magazine | classiccarsmagazine.co.uk for this month's cover feature.

 

even in the racing scene, the XJS could run circles around an E-type, but die hard E guys would not change with the times!

makes one wonder why British car industry went down!

and the manufacture of XJS far outlasted the E types, probably made far more money also.

 

Whoa Steve M!

Ironic or what!!???

Will that be the same issue out now in Australia?? Man I gotta get a copy ☺

 

The XJS has been a classic in my book for a long, long time. The rest of the world will figure it out soon enough. Buy 'em cheap while you can! Porsche 928 too.

 

Most cars from the 80s still haven't made classic status. It is interesting that cars from the 70s can be but most from the 80s aren't, and this hasn't really changed in 10 years. Maybe the way they are made resulted in more reliable cars or higher production numbers also had an effect, but they just don't seem to be as hard to come by or people don't want them bad enough.

I can assure you that at some point you could hardly give away an E-type, but there doesn't seem to be a set pattern to age or production numbers. I think another variable is the number of baby boomers, average income, blah blah.

At some point all of the cheap XJSs will have rotted so much that they are worth nothing anymore and everyone who wants one that can afford one for 4-5k will have done so. At around that point more people will have taken interest, but can no longer buy cheap fixer uppers, and the prices will go up. Anyways, not to pin one thing, there are a bunch of reasons, but I don't think the XJS isn't a classic because of there is anything wrong with it, it is just within the cut off point around the 80s of cars not being highly valuable or classic yet.

 

There is probably a million reasons some cars are wanted and some aren't.
I bought my HR-X2 Holden(1966) ute in 1991 for $2000 with lpg.




I would have paid $25k for an XJS then. Now the ute is worth $20k plus, I can pick an XJS from a bunch on the market for less than half that(condition applys's ) of course.

HINDSIGHT IS A WONDERFUL THING!

We would all own F-type-r's and mansions now if we new what we had was going to be worth. We would have bought truck loads of them.

 

ah , but if we had all kept them , no one would want one so they could be in the same situation....


that should mess with your head for a while

BB

 

Some definitions that I found:

The Classic Car Club of America is considered by many to have the “definitive” definition of a classic. A CCCA Classic is a “fine” or “distinctive” automobile, either American or foreign built, produced between 1925 and 1948. After presenting this definition, the CCCA goes on declare that there have been 1,366,843 American classic cars produced (over half of which are Cadillacs, interestingly enough).
I love the 'American or foreign built'. Where else is there? Extraterrestrial built?

The Antique Automobile Club of America has been around since the 1935, so surely they must know. They define classic automobiles as “fine” or “unusual” vehicles, foreign or domestic, that are between 25 and 50 years old. 50 and older means a car is officially an “antique”. This is really not unusual. Many clubs and organizations distinguish between classic, antique and vintage automobiles. They seem to think that these distinctions are important. I think they may just have too much time on their hands.
I agree!

Styles, limited editions and cult following

For some people, the design and style of the car is what makes it classic to them. Cars with a very distinctive style that hails back to an era of yesteryear have a good case to be called classic. For example, look at the Dodge Charger or the VW Beetle – utterly distinctive and undoubtedly classic. Similarly, cars that only had limited production runs and are somewhat of a rarity can also fall within this definition as they also share a historic and limited quality.
For most people a broad definition is that classic cars are vehicles that retain their monetary and aesthetic value after their production has ended. Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but having a particular taste for a type of vehicle is no different than your taste in clothing. Assuming that they are properly cared for, classic cars are vehicles that appreciate more in value as time goes by because their scarcity and aesthetic cannot be replicated once original production has ended.
Why define it at all?

Defining a car as a classic helps create an identity to a passionate hobby and ensures that vehicles fit a certain description for insurance purposes. There are many classic car clubs out there that all have their own particular brands and manufacturers, so for them, having a car that is described as ‘classic’ allows them to build a real sense of community and shared interest. For insurance, there does need to be a distinction between regular and classic vehicles as some insurers may not have the proper knowledge or experience to give your classic car the protection it deserves.

Classic car. This classification definitely overlaps with antique cars. The definition of classic car is actually quite similar to that of antique cars. A car must be at least 20 years old, but not more than 40 years old to be considered a classic car. It should again have been repaired and maintained in a way that keeps it true to its original design and specifications. In other words it should not be modified or altered. In addition, many add a stipulation that the vehicle should have been manufactured no earlier than 1925. For these reasons all classic cars are also antique cars, but not all antique cars are classic cars.

Veteran - officially a car made up to and including December 1918.

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Clear as mud!

 

What IS classic status anyhow? How are we defining the word?

I can think of many really cool and interesting cars I'd love to own. In my opinion they're 'classic' for one reason or the other.....but the next guy in line ....or the next million guys in line...will probably think I'm nuts!

We all know that age alone doesn't make a classic, as there are loads of 20-30-40 year old cars out there that nobody gives a damn about.

And we know that rarity ...in terms of either low production or low survival rate....doesn't guarantee classic status (when we can agree on what a classic is, of course ).

We know that lack of prestige means nothing in the making of a classic. Some very pedestrian models have taken on 'classic' status. Heck, even the Chrysler K-cars.....which everyone used to laugh at because they were the epitome of frumpy and dull....are coming in vogue, it seems...at least within certain circles.


Hmmm.....'within certain circles".....


Certainly there are cars that have attained classic or even cult status with certain groups of people. But not acknowleged/accepted throughout the entire car hobby/enthusiast/collector spectrum. For example, if you're a Jag sedan lover then the Ser III V12 variant is almost a holy grail car....but the rest of the world is hardly aware of them...including many Jag owers !


Ramble switch 'off' for now. Gotta go to work !

Cheers
DD

 

Looks like Steve was posting the answer while I was rambling and blathering !


Cheers
DD

 

The XJS is a 'Cult Car' Pure and Simple, which no 'Normal Person' would ever want to own.

If 'Steve Mc Queen' were around to-day, he would be driving one.

 

Or stood at the side of the road wondering why it was overheating!

 

..and if I drove past, I would buy his non-running overheating car off him just because an ex-Steve McQueen car is worth a fortune!

Paul

 

DOUG ,i refer to it as rambling and babbling! HEHE. i been known to do that!

 

OB you are right XJS is a "CULT CAR", nobody in ther right mind would serieously use one for cross country USA driving, year after year, without plenty of money when something simple needs repairs.

garages charge big money just because it a JAGUAR.

my wifes Japanese car is now 12yrs old , bought new and have spent around $1000. dollars on it. a daily driver, 150K miles.

 

Trust You to turn my Dream into a Nightmare!

 

No you wouldn't, you would just give him your Car!