Jaguar XJ6 Series 1 Cars and Coffee 

What octane you use on the xj6? Regular, Plus, or Premium?

@@RAMCO840 I have a 1973 xj6 and it runs best when I add octane boost to the gas

Yes, I'm on my sixth. You can't get enough of these things.

That's so true !!!

Thank you!

Thanks for the comment and what a great automotive memory! It really is a superb design. I have an XJ12 now, series 2 so not as elegant but very close and feels the same from the driver's seat. Same poise on the road, but more power and so smooth. I can't imagine the fuel consumption at 120mph all day, though it would happily do it!

It's on the back of the first of the fast cars in the 60s it seems incredible now to think that then people would take their car out to see how fast it would go. No one would do that now . I suppose we ve all got used to fast cars and speed Today is not that big a deal. Then again a mate of mine had a C 63 with a chip upgrade so you get the throttles to open fully and you get 540bhp instead of the standard 450hp. That was interesting.

Nice!

Out of the 1855 c-12 s made 686 came to the U.S..

Thank you, I agree!

Love the jaguar it's got class😅

Great! The Jag projects a kind of peaceful sense, doesn't it!?

@@gigpete agreed, I have an XJ350, best car i've ever had, normally like metal and rock music but in the Jag I put classical music on LOL.

Thank you!

Thank you for commenting! Funny, I keep thinking I will buy an XJ-S, They are amazing cars, coming on the heels of the (by that time long-in-the-tooth) XKE, and I am fond of the V12, but by the time we get to that era I start looking at the Mercedes and Porsche options instead. Ah, but the XJ6! Nothing like it! Combining the attributes of the vintage sedan, components of the classic sports car, and gorgeous lines, it is my preference, too. This particular car was sold off as planned, but now it's a bit of a regret and I'm on the hunt for another, though a diamond in the rough like this was is virtually impossible to find.

Gig Pete Be sure to search RU-vid for video of Harry Metcalfe and his very early mustard yellow XJ-S and XJ coupe (among other exotica). The channel is called Harry’s Garage. You’ll love it.

I'd forgotten about Harry's XJS, and his drive to Monaco in it! But I do know his videos well. In fact, I mentioned the Mercedes SL in my prior reply: my '82 SL is blue and has been backdated with the euro bumpers and steels wheels with blue hubcaps, to look very much like Harry's early R107 SL!

Gig Pete I have a backdated S2 Alfa Spider, identical to the one on the VelocemotoHD YT channel. I fell in love with that guy’s car and made one exactly like it, except mine is left-hand drive (I’m in Canada). Check it out! We are kindred spirits :)

@@lebojay Very nice! Funny, I started the restoration of a very original and rust free 1978 Spyder just a few years ago, with the intent to backdate it the same, but I discovered front end damage that I didn't feel was worth fixing. Oh, and I'm Canadian too, see the video of taking my Elan home to Victoria for a visit! Classic cars connect!

Thanks for the comment, and glad to hear about Heather!

Green Sand I think? Just bought a S1 in Sable Brown,cant wait to pick her up

paul willis You are right I had exactly same car in eighties don’t know why I remember the colour poss because I was respraying parts . Yes Green Sand lovely colour and mine had dark green leather interior R reg 1977 I think

Yeah, tough to own a classic these days if you aren't turning you own wrenches.

Same thing with the wheels, they came to North America earlier than the other markets.

I haven't driven an XJ40 but my understanding is that they are really nice.

@@gigpete,.. they have a very smooth ride and still handle the curves very well.

Well spotted. The plinth is definitely Series 2. The number plate light for the Series 1 was in a housing attached to the bumper so the bumper has to be different too.....

US-spec series ones began using the series II chromed wheels and boot plinth, my '73 has them as well.

Thank you!

Daimler/VDP versions had the larger boot panels I think

I agree Frank. All XJs are lovely, but like you say, for me the Series 1 dash is the best

Thank you!

Thanks! At least in the U.S., some time in '72 we got the larger plinth with the integrated license plate light. I've seen a '71 US car with the early style. But all the '73 series 1 cars I've seen here (and in Canada, I think? ) have had the larger style. I saw a post from a fellow in Australia with a later series 1 and the early style, so not consistent everywhere, it seems. Where are you?

I had a Series 2, 4.2 engine, in this colour. Only thing was that it had velour seats, prefer leather. Fantastic car though. Still got a pot of the touch-up paint in a store room.

Yes! What country are you in? In the USA, there is just no question that Jaguar went to the "Series 2" boot plinth during Series 1 delivery, by '73 certainly, but '72 likely. In the UK, along with the painted wheels and hubcaps, it seems they maintained that trim level until the Series 2 debut.

Stock setup :)

@@gigpete William Lyons knew best 👌

Yes, a victim of the standardized US headlight regulations. Greatly disliked by most, though I personally don't think they hurt the car too much.

You have a sharp eye. They did an admirable job of disguising it. The lighting standards of the time forbade odd-sized headlamps. I'm in the middle of converting mine, it's not difficult. I'm modifying the indicators to two-color also.

You're welcome!

Hi, thanks for the comment. No, this was sold on Bring a Trailer in late 2018, went to Florida to join a Jaguar MK10 I believe.

Hi, thanks for the comment! No, no collision or boot lid change. As discussed in other comments, there are differences across the markets. This is a '73, fairly late Series 1 car, and by then the US (and Canada too) already had the different boot plinth and license plate light (since the bumper mounted ones tended to fill with water) and the styled chrome wheels. I've only seen the early boot plinth once or twice over here, pretty rare. It surprises me how long the UK home market held on to some things - only goes to show how the car buying markets were indeed different.

@@gigpete Did you happen to make a note of the Commission number? I'm wondering how close it is to mine.

It is in the low 72000's. It was built on January 10, 1973.

That's a good question: pretty, fancy, sporty, and ELEGANT. Where would you go today? Tough call. No room for that individuality now, and little of that "contemporary classic" vibe.

I've had multiple people, especially from the UK, comment about both the boot plinth and the wheels. By 1973 the US market started to get some of the new updates on the final year of series 1 cars. The larger boot plinth, with the integrated license plate light, replaced the upwards facing one that was mounted in the rear bumper, and always filled with water.

@@gigpete Ahh, that makes sense. I’ve learned something new. I do prefer the look of the original plinth still.. Enjoy your V12, another cracking car 👍🏻

@@paulfitzgerald7513 I've been working on the '73 I recently acquired, swapping out all of the US-spec exterior lighting for proper UK bits, and generally getting it running, and was tearing my hair out trying to sort out the LT wiring for the ignition, nothing matched what was in my Haynes manual until I accidentally glanced at the diagram for the series II. My car is a very late series 1 with ignition wiring for the series II.

@@mescko I suppose it stands to reason that they would start to use the latest wiring loom. Good luck with getting your car how you want it, I’m very jealous 🥹

@@paulfitzgerald7513 Thank you. I've also started the ball rolling on a 5M swap, already have the most important item, the gearbox. There's a local tuning firm that makes a bellhousing/flywheel adaptor kit for a Nissan 5-speed and a third pedal kit.

Thank you!

It grows on you... ;)

@@gigpete Beautiful Shape though..👍

Thank you!

it has no comfort. I've driven it.

@@korayerkmen90 you didn’t drive one when they were new I did, you probably drove a neglected car which will always disappoint

@@jackkallemdjian3945 It was in like new condition when I drove it 3 years ago. It belonged to a rich person. I do not think it was worth the money when it was new. It's not worth anything now either.

@@korayerkmen90 fair enough

@@korayerkmen90 You're just talking shit. Nobody would let such a heathen as you drive their Jag. You're all mouth and no trousers son.

Hmmm, I think I'll choose to take that as a compliment and say Thanks! Lock away your valuables...

@@gigpete, Of course, it is a compliment, your Jag is your real villans motor ;-). The music even has a Get Carter quality about it.

@@gigpete A bit like a _'gentleman burglar'_ ---haha.

mkylelewis if properly maintained they’re reliable

@@nicholasscarff2621 Thanks for that Nicholas. I'm so tired of comments dissing these beautiful machines.They need proper servicing by good mechanics, not a bloke in a shed who is willing to have a go. In the UK they've always been popular with garage owners . My Dad has had four Jags. His partner liked Mercs. They just weren't the same. We went for a tour of Scotland once. I was in a 1275 mini, Mum & Dad in a series 3 Daimler. I had to wait for him for a while at Hamilton services near Glasgow. He'd been pulled over for doing 99.7. He thought that was hilarious.

Jon Jones people who dislike them usually haven’t driven an XJ, or have worked on one that’s been poorly maintained. I’m yet to drive a car that is as fantastic to drive as an XJ. I think that a competent home mechanic who is willing to spend the time necessary to do a job properly can work on them with little trouble; I do all of the maintenance work on my XJ myself - including the big stuff - I recently rebuilt all the suspension on my SIII. It’s all about how much time you’re willing to spend and how much lateral thinking you can do. I love my SIII though, the 4.2 pulls strongly and the ride is simply sublime. I hope your mum and dad enjoyed their Daimler thoroughly!

@@nicholasscarff2621 They certainly did. And I was always happy to chauffeur them around if asked. I think that's an interesting thing. They look so beautiful, but driving them is even better. Today I drove my Dad to Stafford. His current car is a Peugeot.!?!?? What is the point? When he collected his series 3 Daimler, not brand new but gorgeous, I drove him there in my 1275GT. My brother told me that on the way home, Dad got it up to 120, and kept it there,most of the way home, to "test it" !

Hello! The "D" should, I think, only be on the Daimler-branded version called the Sovereign (or DoubleSix for the XJ12 twelve cylinder version).

ok cheers sir very nice

thanks sir whats the colour

The colour is Green Sand.

cheers sir is beautiful

Hello and thanks for the comment. I have great respect for the classic Mercedes and have spent some good time with them. But the Jaguar's driving dynamics and interior look is the winner for me. There is a superb and active online community, Jaguar Forums and Jag Lovers Forums. We sold off the XJ6 from the video, but currently have a series 2 XJ12 that I drive very frequently, multiple days per week. The series 1 are prettier inside and out, but the series 2 car is really the same. And now the series 3 cars are getting real attention in the market, too. I prefer the earlier ones, though.

Did you get it?

That's a great comment, thanks! Today I believe the purchase strategy requires a trip to Florida and substantial woo'ing of its current caretaker... Very very hard to find a Series 1 XJ6 like this one.

@@gigpete My dad had this car growing up. He let me take it to high school dance. I would love to buy one. looked exactly the same.

@@gigpete call me if you can help me find one 8432599351

Do you happen to be in the UK? I've had other folks suggest that as well, as there are some differences between markets. For example, I gather these chrome wheels are associated with the series 2 in the UK. However, North America had them through most of the Series 1 years, and it's rare to see the earlier solid wheel and hubcap setup over here. Other examples of changes that the US and Canada may have seen before the UK include the boot/trunk lock plinth, and the switch from chrome instrument/switch bezels to black earlier than the UK? Not sure on these. This is definitely a Series 1 car by our definition, as Series 2 received the impact bumpers, very different grill, revised dash, and so forth. Regards, Peter.

Why do you think that it is a series 2?