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LondonItalian
The easiest way to explain the SI, II & III models is...
SI, intriduced in 1968, Externally the easiest way to identify them is that have a low front bumper with indicator/sidelight units ABOVE the bumper, horn grilles under the inner main beam lights & a much taller grille.
THE SII models were introduced in 1973, externally, the bumpers were raised to headlight level with the indicator units below the bumper, they still had the surface mounted push button door handles & opening 1/4 light windows of the SI as well as a virtually identical rear.
The 2 door coupe was based on the SII from 75-78 & is possibly the prettiest XJ ever made, there were even some converted into convertibles by Avon(who also converted 4 door XJ6 & 12`s into estate`s which were the ugliest XJ`s!).
The SIII was introduced in 1979, they had a slimmer glass area & had flush, lift up door handles, the bumpers were now black rubber with the front indicators & rear fog lamps fitted within them & the bumpers had cosmetic chrome trim applied to the tops, the grille had only vertical vaines, the rear light units were made bigger & incorperated reverse lights.
http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/buyers_guide_xj.htm
The SIII XJ6 continued till 1986, when the XJ40 was introduced, although the XJ12 soldured on till 1992.
Even now, the SI-III is a competitive car in many areas, especially the sublime suspension which is as smooth as a current Rolls Royce, despite this they still handled better than its contemparies.
Its also a VERY safe car to crash in, they are built like tanks, double skinned in many places & using thick gauge metals, & will demolish even Volvos & Merks. The only stronger production car is 49`-98` Rolls Royce`s & Bentley`s, unfortunately this means they are depressingly popular with British banger racers(even the coupes) & many die on tracks on a weekly basis, even now.
You can pick up a project XJ (SI, II, III or XJ40) for as little as £100, usually very rotten! Legal, drivable, average ones are typically around £800-1500 & the best ones (especially mint, low mileage, historied SI`s & SII coupes & the best SIII`s) do go above £5000.
An XJ40 royal pool car that was driven by Princess Diana(with pictures & film footage) recently went for over £14,000 on ebay!
Rust is the XJ`s biggest enemy & has claimed most of the XJ`s, especially in the UK where we still use salt on the roads 3 months of the year to prevent ice. Salt & metal dont mix well, especially in classic cars that have many rust traps.
Mechanically they are pretty much unbreakable if looked after & are like big tonka toys to work on, the main issues are failing gearbox`s(although its a basic unit thats relitively cheap & easy to repair) & blown head gaskets. blown head gaskets on their own arent a problem, but the head bolts pass through the water jacket on the XK engine, & if the car hasnt had good quality antifreeze changed on a regular basis, these bolts corrode. this means when you come to remove them, they snap deep within the engine block, rendering the engine scrap in most cases. The XK engine is still a fairly common lump used in many Jaguars between 1949 & 1992, many rotten Jags still have good engines, but they are slowly getting rarer all the time!
SI, intriduced in 1968, Externally the easiest way to identify them is that have a low front bumper with indicator/sidelight units ABOVE the bumper, horn grilles under the inner main beam lights & a much taller grille.
THE SII models were introduced in 1973, externally, the bumpers were raised to headlight level with the indicator units below the bumper, they still had the surface mounted push button door handles & opening 1/4 light windows of the SI as well as a virtually identical rear.
The 2 door coupe was based on the SII from 75-78 & is possibly the prettiest XJ ever made, there were even some converted into convertibles by Avon(who also converted 4 door XJ6 & 12`s into estate`s which were the ugliest XJ`s!).
The SIII was introduced in 1979, they had a slimmer glass area & had flush, lift up door handles, the bumpers were now black rubber with the front indicators & rear fog lamps fitted within them & the bumpers had cosmetic chrome trim applied to the tops, the grille had only vertical vaines, the rear light units were made bigger & incorperated reverse lights.
http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/buyers_guide_xj.htm
The SIII XJ6 continued till 1986, when the XJ40 was introduced, although the XJ12 soldured on till 1992.
Even now, the SI-III is a competitive car in many areas, especially the sublime suspension which is as smooth as a current Rolls Royce, despite this they still handled better than its contemparies.
Its also a VERY safe car to crash in, they are built like tanks, double skinned in many places & using thick gauge metals, & will demolish even Volvos & Merks. The only stronger production car is 49`-98` Rolls Royce`s & Bentley`s, unfortunately this means they are depressingly popular with British banger racers(even the coupes) & many die on tracks on a weekly basis, even now.
You can pick up a project XJ (SI, II, III or XJ40) for as little as £100, usually very rotten! Legal, drivable, average ones are typically around £800-1500 & the best ones (especially mint, low mileage, historied SI`s & SII coupes & the best SIII`s) do go above £5000.
An XJ40 royal pool car that was driven by Princess Diana(with pictures & film footage) recently went for over £14,000 on ebay!
Rust is the XJ`s biggest enemy & has claimed most of the XJ`s, especially in the UK where we still use salt on the roads 3 months of the year to prevent ice. Salt & metal dont mix well, especially in classic cars that have many rust traps.
Mechanically they are pretty much unbreakable if looked after & are like big tonka toys to work on, the main issues are failing gearbox`s(although its a basic unit thats relitively cheap & easy to repair) & blown head gaskets. blown head gaskets on their own arent a problem, but the head bolts pass through the water jacket on the XK engine, & if the car hasnt had good quality antifreeze changed on a regular basis, these bolts corrode. this means when you come to remove them, they snap deep within the engine block, rendering the engine scrap in most cases. The XK engine is still a fairly common lump used in many Jaguars between 1949 & 1992, many rotten Jags still have good engines, but they are slowly getting rarer all the time!