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what to look for when buying a '79 series II XJ6

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yes Brian, the Primrose color which is yellow by any other name. It might be the camera and the lighting in that garage. The trouble with the sellers of that car is that they seem to be in a daze, provide little info., can't "find" the keys, and at the same time, they want to sell it. If it was me trying to sell a car, I would have everything ready in advance for a buyer. But here we have the potential Buyer telling them where to look for the keys! Unbelievable.
 
I had always been neutral to despising of the Primrose, but a few years ago I saw an XJC (6 or 12 I can't remember) in Kentucky in Pale Primrose and Green Leather with the Black Vinyl Top. It was pristine, and actually one of the most beautiful cars I have ever seen. I wish I had pictures of this one to share.
Anyway, I have yet to see another XJ in that shade that really catches my eye at all. I don't think the larger cars wear the color too well. There are a few XKE's in some similar if not identical shade that are gorgeous as well, but the sedans seem to be begging for a repaint.
I have a few pictures of my car (Olde English White) taken inside the garage and I have often thought how different (and how yellow) the car appears when not in the sun! Strange, but your comment on the yellow struck a familiar thought with me, I hope I didn't come off as the color expert! Sorry about my wording...
It's a shame how many of the old gems are shoved away and forgotten about like the PA car you ran across. I hope it finds a good home and gets back on the road soon. It does look very solid and original in the photo, much cleaner than most originals out there for sure. I hope she finds the darned keys to the thing though...... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
 
Brian makes a good point about the yellow not being a good colour for the larger cars. Red (bright red, the deeper reds look great)is another colour that does not lend itself well to a larger (XJ Series) Jaguar. Looks wonderful on the earlier cars such as the MkII though.
 
What I want ot know is, did Eric buy the $500 Jaguar?
 
That's what this whole thread started out about - an old XJ6 he had found for $500.
 
Re: what to look for when buying a '79 series II X

tony barnhill said:
That's what this whole thread started out about - an old XJ6 he had found for $500.
Click to expand...

Had a flurry of paying jobs on the lift, and the Jag has a starting problem (probably a cold start injector), so it got moved to the back burner last week.

I'll keep ya posted.
 
Re: what to look for when buying a '79 series II X

Eric,

I just missed a 1975 XJ6 on ebay, meant to send you the link, but had paying jobs tying me down as well. There are more listed often, though, and surprisingly most are great examples. I believe it went for $1500 or so, but looked as if it were new. BRG/Biscuit and I think it may be relisted. It was in Ohio, not too bad for you I think. I'll check the ad and see if the Buyer backed out. I decided to stop bidding at about $1100 when I walked outside and saw my other cars needing the cash and attention. I had to re-focus, painful as it was.....

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif

BTW - I follow everything Series II closely, not just the coupes... My prediction (already coming true) is that anything in your range that you run across that is complete and has been garaged/maintained or just garaged even, is GRAB IT NOW... The prices are climbing rapidly as of last year, but are still reasonable at the present.
 
Re: what to look for when buying a '79 series II X

Hi Brian;

Guess What? She had a Key made ($400.00) / Flatbedded it to her house ($75.00) / Waiting for the "Title"! / Battery is dead / Has`nt started it etc etc etc! "Incredible"!!

I`ll be seeing it this Sat PM: This should be interesting!!

I`ll keep you posted;

Regards, Russ /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif
 
Re: what to look for when buying a '79 series II X

usually, sellers "pay" for their lack of homework when selling a car. Obviously she is already paying and has not even sold it yet.

From the poor pictures they provided it looks like a "L" model, (Long/Limo), and a 12 cylinder based on the drooping front end due to the weight. And of course, with my great powers of observation, it will end up being the "Normal" body with the 6 cylinder. But definitely a Series II.

And when you do buy it, please take some REAL pictures and let us see the car in the light of day. Also, there is a Parts Car too? that's a bonus alright, so bring a Car Hauler and document the whole thing 'As Found'. Great for Posterity.

Ex
 
Re: what to look for when buying a '79 series II X

That's exciting news, and sounds like a win-win situation for sure. Can't wait to see more pics either. I have a feeling it is better than we can see from the priors...

I too have exciting news, I think I am probably the last Jaguar customer for the local expert, the only one I trust around this area at all. He is a true relic, and a great guy, just doesn't need or want the business anymore, but for some reason (begging maybe on my part) agreed to tune my XJ6C and diagnose my electrical problem. I had thought last year, after an illness he suffered that he would never work on anything but his own cars any longer, and was saddened by the retirement that seemed to be imminent. Happily, he still has that spark and is sharp as a tack, and I guess we've bonded over our love of the British cars also. I don't expect to put a time-frame at all on this repair/tuning work, and am just feeling lucky to have an honest and devoted British car expert checking the car out for me.

Let us all know what happens on your venture, I am still eyeing a Sedan, maybe SIII again. Since I posted last someone hit my parked RX-7 Convertible in the rear quarter and down the side, possibly a total and was selling the car anyway to move back into a newer or less quirky Jaguar for a while. I am looking also at an XJ40, not my pick, but one of the most enjoyable cars I've ever owned. It is a Vanden Plas, in the same family since new and well-maintained. I'll keep you up to date on how all of this unfolds also.

Brian
 
Re: what to look for when buying a '79 series II X

By the way, Eric, you are talking about the keyless car that Exotexs clued you onto???
The one that we have seen the pics of in this thread?
I just assumed that, correct me if it is another..... And if it is another, did you ever reach anyone on that one?? It looks promising, something seems right to me on that, maybe a diamond in the rough there, or in the rough pics anyway! Whoever hid that key probably didn't want the car to go away is my guess. I do that, you never know about those jealous family members.....
Thanks,
Brian
 
Re: what to look for when buying a '79 series II X

all I say is: if the car doors are open, the keys are nearby. Perhaps on top of a tire, perhaps under a carpet/mat, perhaps inside an ashtray, Where would YOU hide the keys? That's where they are. People don't just throw away the keys to a car!

Brian, if you want a project Series III XJ-6, I know of a 1985 selling for a few hundred bucks! seems like the 1985's are being sold in pairs all of a sudden. Just recently there was another local car selling for $2,200, it sold for $1,600. and now this one. I don't have parking space, otherwise I would have grabbed it already.
 
Re: what to look for when buying a '79 series II X

Hi There Exotexs & Brian;

Well; Yesterday, I spent $50.00 in gas / $8.00 in tolls / 9hrs of time getting to and fro to view the "`74 XJ6-L": Here`s what I found:

The roof looks like a "GIANT" 5ft. dia. basket ball dropped on it! Its pushed-in, front to rear, Side to Side: Engine turns over but won`t start: Carbs have no oil in them & the carb linkages are not moving at all, (I sprayed a bunch of WD40 on the whole thing): The paint is really faded pretty bad: It is Old English White with a Tan Int: (The Interior on a scale of 1-5 is a 1 or 1-1/2): It is showing rust at the front of the sill area / around where the bumpers mount etc etc (I really Stopped Looking at this point): In my opinion; "THIS IS A PARTS CAR"!! She is still waiting for the duplicate Title: The pic shown in this thd. is "NOT" a recent photo! She says it is; But "NO WAY"!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif

This is Interesting: As I pulled up into the drive, First thing I saw was the Rear End of an "`66 E-Type Rdstr": I thought I died and went to heaven or I was getting into a ton of trouble! Thinking I was going to buy "TWO" cars! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif

Well; the E-Type is a total "BASKET CASE", Un-Fortunately! Thats probably what you thought may have been the Parts Car or tons of Parts! It really made me feel sick when I got up close and personal with the E-Type as these are My Favorites!! In my opinion; At Best; Its good for the "CRUSHER"!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cry.gif

Thats it folks: She`s a really nice older women & wants to "DUMP" these cars: Her name is "Jackie" and her direct email address is; (ebcaleb@gmail.com) if you wish to contact her: Tell her "RUSS" sent you (Nothing in it for me) but may help in getting the car for next to nothing! We never did discuss price; NO NEED TO!

As I had mentioned; "SHE WANTS TO DUMP IT"!!!!!!!!

Have Fun;

Regards, Russ
 
Re: what to look for when buying a '79 series II X

My gut wasn't working on this one, or as you said, these photos were ANCIENT!!
It really looked too promising, I guess, but you gained the experience (trying to put a positive spin on this for you Russ! Help me out here..)

I hope someone near her needs a parts car, or just wants the cash for the metal and few good parts left on the poor old cat. Dissapointing, to say the least, but I always enjoy the hunt anyway, after the initial let-down wears off. Thanks for filling us in, I am stillllllll waiting on the Insurance Company to appraise the RX-7, but the guy with the XJ40 is in no rush, even said he is holding it for me. I told him not to, since I am leaning back to a solid SIII, prefer an 85 or 86 since I have had and lost both years.
Side note, does it seem to anyone else here that the 1980 thru 1984 XJ6's are a rare find anymore? I would love to have an early SIII but the ones I am finding are junk or one-owner very high-dollar examples?
Still no word from the local Jagxpert who has my XJ6C, but that is good news I think. As long as he takes his time, and feels no pressure, he'll enjoy the project and that means alot to me.
I'll keep an eye out for the SII Sedans.
 
Re: what to look for when buying a '79 series II X

Russ,
There is a forum member in Indiana that I spoke with a few times about his 1979 XJ6L. I think that it is a very solid car, lost contact though and will have to dig through the old posts to see who it is. I had a hard-drive crash recently, and lost all of the saved notes and pictures, but I believe he still has the car and it would be worth the price he was asking, I just couldn't justify it at the time. I'll dig around and try to put you in contact with him if you want, havn't seen him post for quite a while though. Let me know, email me if you want more details, I'll be glad to get them for you.

Brian
 
Re: what to look for when buying a '79 series II X

Russ,

I actually found an old thread from 2005 when I was thinking about buying the car. It was a 1979 XJ6L, and it was northeast Indiana for sure, not too far from you for a good. Search the forum for this thread, "Late Series III motor/FI into a Late Series II XJ?" if you want to read what the member wrote about his SII and I sent you a PM as well of some information. If you have your sights on an SII this one is worth looking into at least.

Best Regards,
Brian
 
Well, guys - I bought it. here 'tis......

So I had originally backed out because the girlfriend needed rent money. The seller got tired of trying to sell it, so he said I could have it for the same price the crusher was gonna give him for it - $150.

So I'll be in the market for interior parts pretty soon.....

Oh, and then a customer tells me a '77 spitfire he was trying to sell is ready for pickup. How much, I ask? "Just come and get it" he says.

I'm running out of parking space......
 

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Re: Well, guys - I bought it. here 'tis......

Isn't it amazing? Sometimes these cars just fall right into your lap. Congratulations! I, on the other hand, am still waiting........ /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
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