1987 Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas With a 5-Speed Manual! 

Watching Bill driving a manual left handed while filming is a kick! 😂 The things he does for us!

I've always loved these cars. And a five speed manual just makes it even better.

Bill even shifting gears with his left hand like an Englishman.

Compare this car to what is made today. Nothing has this class, elegance, simplicity. All computers now but lacking basic beautiful bones. And oh, those raised edges on the rear quarter panels tapering downward...sublime.

That’s what I love about older cars they have their own identity with the exception of “badge engineering “

1987 - Near the end of Jags that really looked like classic Jaguars

My late dad owned 2 British cars; first in the 1980's a Rover SD1 and then in the 1990's a Jaguar XJ40. After he got rid of the Jaguar he came up with the saying: "if you _thoroughly_ hate someone, advise him/her to buy a British car!" 🤣🇬🇧👍🏻

At last, someone from the US who realises that the engine(s) are part of the character and appeal of Jags. Too many seem to have been swapped out for Chevvy V8s or whatever but the Jag engines have the LeMans wins behind them.

Only drove one of these - an auto - plus its Daimler Sovereign equivalent - superb cars... Must simply pull you up on the pronunciation, it's a 'Jag-you-are', dahling....Love the videos, you are a cultural icon...!

Brings me back to my childhood... My aunt had one in dark blue.😊

I absolutely love that you're putting out videos regularly again keep it up Bill we all love you

The tinted windows look amazing . I love how they let the beige seats peak through giving the car an aura of mystique and prestige

You're right Bill, this car is gorgeous!

Sir William Lyons "a pretty incredible cat" who named his cars Jaguars! LOL. I love the pun.

Great word Bill... "identity" - describes exactly what cars only 20-30yrs ago used to have. Today, they all look the same to me, hence why I wouldn't buy a new car. Plastic covered "Eggs" on wheels the lot of them. What you have here is a real Jag and a beauty at that. We may be the same "vintage" Bill, cars of my youth also - what a blessed generation we are to have lived through the high-water period of 1960s-(early)1990s car design.

I remember watching THE EQUALIZER within the last 10yrs and loved seeing the jag. The new EQUALIZER has the jag suv. This one is immaculate 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩. I’m now a jag guy since 4/2023 and I love how it’s not being mistaken for every other car out here.

Had an 83 automatic. Possible the prettiest four door car ever made.

One of my favorite cars ever - they are gorgeous. My college roommate’s mom had one - I think an ‘88 model, Vanden Plas, black with cream interior and picnic tables, and I think a 4.2. She loved that car so much and we always found an excuse to drive it when home on holidays. Her husband sold it after about three years because she kept getting speeding tickets, as it felt like you were going about 50, when you were actually going 90 mph. It was replaced with an E Class Mercedes - which was also really nice…but we rarely borrowed it and she never got a speeding ticket in it.

I always lusted after these as a kid. This XJ is absolutely gorgeous. The Vanden Plas is always the top of the range version. What I've found is that many Jag owners don't know anything about Jaguar cars. I agree with what the previous owner did, if I had the money, I would have converted it to manual too. Very cool. Thank you.

My first thought when I saw my first Jag engine was - looks like it belongs in a plane. Then I got that same car 7 years later - 1983 SIII Vanden Plas. I couldn't imagine it with a 5 speed. I want! I want! I want!

Only the subscribers who have been watching for years will remember his other video with the multiple Tawny pics 😂

Converted to a manual transmission! That's cool! For all its, umm, moments, there is something about the Jaguar.

I see it has the headlight revision. Very nice. And the manual is extremely cool. The spoke wheels are beautiful

I never tire of hearing about where weapons or small children can be stored in the vehicles Bill reviews.

This Jag is absolutely friggin beautiful. You dug up another gem Uncle Bill.👏Thanks for sharing. Keep ‘em comin.

I absolutely love these old Jaguars. This one has an awesome interior. Thanks for sharing Bill

I can’t believe this has a manual! 🤯

21:15 Three possible reasons for the separate tanks: Stability of the rear end when cornering. It is common on ships to have separate narrow tanks to reduce the open surface of the fluid. The car is so low and sleek that once you've put the spare wheel under the boot (it won't fit in a wing), there's no room for a decent long-range fuel tank under there -- and the space in the wings is going begging. If one fuel pump fails you have another one to switch to.

It’s about time you got a classic Jaguar with a manual, you old bastard!

My comment written 1 year ago! Thanks Bill for this video!!! 1988 bought a used XJ 6 III, 4.2 1980 model in Switzerland, it was a French import and had a 5 gear stick shift on a Rover transmission, very rare. White with blue leather interior, shifting tanks functioned with no problems, I loved to drive it on alpine passes, like Susten, St. Gotthard, Lukmanier and San Bernardino etc. Sold it after 5 years. Like the memories of these years back then. Thanks Bill for your work and lots of side stories. I enjoy your channel.

Bill you have outdone yourself here ! Best Jag summary I have heard and that sultry babe was so appropriate for such an iconic car. Well done indeed . I remember being a poor apprentice and pumping gas part time and drooling over these cars with those fabulous racy gas caps.... And two of 'em!!!

Good morning! Life is better with Bill in it. I would rather meet Bill in person over any actor, musician or political figure. Bill is the King of the GenXers! God bless GenX!

For the love of God Bill, who placed the rear badges like that Stevie Wonder?

As a kid, I remember people being so fascinated with the dual gas tanks. I also remember my friends car start to smoke under the dash, & get totaled by insurance.

I owned one and loved it. Mine was a 1982 XJ6 with the 4.2 litre inline six. British racing green and nice leather interior.

Just bloody lovely in every way and every angle. Most beautiful sedan ever. Only a full blown Fleetwood Brougham could draw attention away from it if parked next to the XJ6 Series III ... and that is saying something.

LOVE the logo with the Goats on it!

I always liked this body style! Another great video from the Bill the Great!!!

I've loved Jags since I had a the Hot Wheels version of an XJS as a kid. Love the channel.

You are an amazing storyteller, Bill! I would listen to you even if you just had a podcast. Keep up the good work 👍

It was and still is CLASS and ELEGANT, such a BEAUTIFUL CAR I still stare in awe when I see her roll by it is pure CRAFTSMANSHIP.

Love the original Equalizer show. Edward Woodward was made for that show n car.

Fabulous car/transmission combination!! What a beauty!

Very nice one of my all time favorite Jags!

I miss my 1987 XJ6 so much!!--Solent blue with Savile grey interior. It literally rusted out. So beautiful and super handling...and those curvy lines. The mechanics were reliable if you had a good Jaguar mechanic. One day, I'll find another one! Keep this one, Bill, but move those rear badges up where they should be!!! And don't let Dalton touch it!!!

You really deserve more subscribers my friend. I'm a 65-year-old Aussie, and you have always spoken my language about cars. I had to subscribe, involuntarily, I just had to. You know your cars and aren't a young boy like Doug D. who is an endless irritant as far as I am concerned. You know with the weather? You make your choices and then live with them. I live in Melbourne Australia (4 seasons in one day of Crowded House fame) Which is sometimes true.

We have always had love for the Jag. And we enjoy your longer vids as well. Central California watching

The difference between this guy and Raiti's Rides cracks me up. Raiti's Rides always mentions putting Twinkies and chocolates and lollies and chips in the consoles, pockets, bins and glove box. With this guy it's always guns and narcotics. 😂

Ahhh, the 80s. Everything was so much better then, especially the cars!

Thanks for this one Bill. I love these old Jags. Those were the times...

Absolutely stunning Jag! There's just nothing else like this. Love how these older models really look like Jag should be. Is it just me, but that 6-cylinder looks huge under the hood. To me it looks like it came from the ship :D

Now this is rare I like this especially with a 5-speed manual go-baby-go

I always look forward to Harvey Fierstein's reviews!

Now THIS is a curious car..... Well done.

A stunning example, indeed! The curves, wire wheels, color, five-speed, and mystique are all great qualities!

Had a real look of quality w/ the wood & leather. Almost makes you want to light up a Cuban & have some cognac. Sure miss the leaping cat on the hood but the wire wheels make up for it.

Always something about a Jag! 😍

Hi Bill, it sounds like a belt tensioner or something is squeaking a bit in this car. I can hear it when you start it in the beginning of the video. Beautiful car, though.

I’ve always liked the XJ’s but been put off from owning one because of the running cost of owning one. There’s still some lovely examples of these around. Another informative video thanks Bill.

Tawny Kitaen, the late one lives on in the heart of old Bill .

Crazy People is an incredibly underrated comedy. Peter Boyle was truly insane in that. Hit the road jack..

Bill’s affinity for Tawny Kitaen continues

This is the era when Jaguar made sexy cars.

Damn you. That's exactly what I've been looking for and here it is.

Beautiful car. I'd love to daily this elegant Jag.

Pininfarina have always been a design house of subtle excellence, in my opinion. What they did in tweaking the styling is to create a monument out of the original. What a gloriously floating piece of metal, around very sound and innovative engineering. As interesting as the Citroën DS in so many ways.

Had two series 3 & two xj40 wonderful 😊

Another great video, Bill. You brighten my day...😅

Brilliant video, Bill. Awesome car. Many thanks

Beautiful car and Bill you are a national treasure.Keep the great videos coming.

Sweet ride Bill! The interior is magnificent as in all those Jags.

Thank you Bill, Very Beautiful Jag.

Beautiful special car thanks!

Love all the channel ....have a beautiful Monday everyone ✌️

As an Englishman who is a fan of American culture, in the main, I'd love to go to America and soak up the Americana. Having said that, Edward Woodward driving that black XJ6 in New York does seem deliciously defiant, like the American driving that huge Oldsmobile convertible in London in Dempsey and Makepeace.

The Jaguar straight 6 is a thing of beauty. The inherent balance is a feature I have always favoured in engines. Sadly few manufacturers use this engine type, instead using boosted 4 & 3-cylinder engines, which lack the finesse and elegance in use.

*OMG! I am speechless* 💙 Thank you, Bill!

Thank you for another video, Bill! The more the better!

The two fuel tanks are in the rear quarter panels, only place they could fit them and keep rear seat room, plus a full sized spare.

Well Bill said "crappy" instead of "shitty", so I guess that morning was not quite so miserable. 😊

Original steering wheels were in a very slim plastic/Bakelite-type material - a little disconcertingly slippery if you prefer a grippy leather rim, but it does encourage a rather more restrained driving style appropriate to the car...

What a work of art!

Aqui no Brasil 90% dos carros são manuais , eu cresci com eles , na verdade eu os odeio , sempre amei a transmissão automática ❤️ desde a década de 80 , tinha um Cutlass 67 hidramático ❤️ na rua debaixo da minha , eu amava aquele carro por causa da alavanca de câmbio 🇺🇲❤️

The XJ series started in 1968. Whitesnake used this car in several videos incl. Still of the night. The wood steering wheel is aftermarket. This car has been repainted. I still don't understand why painters can't put the badges back to the original spot on the trunk lid. These cars had dual gas tanks behind the rear wheels. If the previous owner removed them and converted it to a single tank setup then the fuel switch should be inactive.

New profile picture! Bill figured out how to be pop on youtube it seems. Congrats!

My uncle had a pretty red one like this in 88 in NJ with the wire wheels. Caught fire in the in driveway at my grandparents house. They repalced it with a black one.

This was when Jaguar built beautiful cars not that the F Type is not ugly, far from it but this car is just a gem.

What a beauty of a Jag!

I think I would trade my gorgeous Euro Mercedes 350SE for this car because of the 5-speed and the overall condition of this one. Love the proper Euro headlamps very much.

I know the car has its detractors but Jaguar had a real challenge replacing the E-type. Another sports car was never going to match its predecessor so Jag were right to go for a different genre of car. I do rather like the XJS. Very informative video.

My father had a series 2 and a series 3, both autos and both the 4.2 straight 6. The series 2 was actually nicer, seemed more refined and better built. The interior of the series 3 was as per Bill's car, although the steering wheel was on the other side because we are in the UK...... There was a moment of panic about fuel consumption, I recall, on the day he had the series 2, brought on by the rapidly falling fuel gauge until it was realised that this displayed the fuel level in the tank being drawn upon only (and not both). My recollection is that they were both quieter and smoother than Bill's car, that sounds almost like it has a misfire at the start of the video. On rare occasions I was allowed to drive them, especially when I was doing an errand my father did not want to do (eg go and collect the grandparents). Deep joy for a 17 year old used to driving a mini!

Let's get a 2 hour rv review 😂

That whitsnake video was the only one that could get me to watch MTV for hours without changing channels. Cause I was waiting for it to show again. Heard Tawny Kitain recently croaked, sad.

What a rare and mystical creature! Absolutely Beautiful

Jaguar XJ and BMW E34 4 big round headlights 😍

Most beautiful car ever made.

A beautiful example, though I'm not sure wire wheels were ever a factory option, at least not here in the UK. I had a lovely metallic silver 1982 Series III 4.2 Sovereign with dark blue leather. Drove it down to Spain many a time - remember a boy on a donkey watching me pass at speed on the plains of La Mancha once, as though it were an alien craft. Very familiar with them and my brother sold many - never heard of a single one, of all the series, burst into flames here - maybe the hot sun in the US and unfamiliar owner/mechanics there. Mechanics and the tin worm were more of an issue. The engine however is not long lived by modern standards, often a rebuild around 100K was needed - I had 170k out of mine which was pretty incredible going. I blew the head gasket going over the Pyrenees once and the garage in Malaga when I got there had never seen one. The owner with his cigarette over the engine bay, looking at it in stupefied awe, didn't inspire confidence. This car in the initial start up shots sounds like it needs some chain attention, they shouldn't be that noisy. Manuals were quite rare here too and although it's very nice in your example, I personally think it's one car that suits the auto box, even though I prefer a manual normally. The 4.0 L XJ40 that replaced mine had a bullet proof engine by comparison.

"British Gangster!" Super funny Bill!😀👍💯

Harry Metcalf loves his so much he did a Full Restoration

The XJ40/X300 were the last proper Jaguars.