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What's your favourite XJ?

Wow! It’s been five decades since Jaguar launched the XJ6. Oh, hang on. Initially it was named XJ4 and dubbed ‘E-type saloon’ in the press and it didn’t have the double-overhead-cam 4.2-liter inline-six. What it did have under that long bonnet? We don’t know. Perhaps you do? When you look at the historic prototype images below, which date back to 1966, you may even well recognize the E-type in it. Cool, isn’t it? You may also recognize William Lyons’ famous Wappenbury Hall house in the background.

The current Jaguar cars’ head of design said he remembered the XJ6 well as a 14-year-old, as designer Ian Callum told The Autocar: “At the time the XJ6 came out, it wasn’t considered a proper Jag, and yet it became the quintessential design for years. When it came out, people my father’s age said, ‘That’s not a Jaguar.’ And as a teenager, I thought, ‘Well, that’s a Jag, and I love it, so you can all go to hell.’”

Now that’s exactly what we thought of the XJ he came up with in 2010 – certainly a dramatic departure from the XJ6-range as we knew it. We surely must be getting old..!

Published:
Tuesday October 9th, 2018
John Campbell
08 January 2024, 06:18
We had the third LHD XJ Series I in our family for fifty years. It was built in August, 1968, and was the first LHD XJ sold to a private individual. It now resides at the LeMay America's Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, USA.

Finished in it's original colours of Regency Red over black, the XJ combines beautiful lines and great visibility with a strong 4.2-litre engine and a soft, cushy suspension that also handles well. A wonderful car to drive!
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Dan Mouton Sr.
07 January 2024, 19:50
My favourite XJ was an XJ12C which I owned and loved and at this time in my life I would like to find a very sound one to restore and enjoy the smoothest ride of all the cars I ever had—I loved that body style.
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James Bandy
07 January 2024, 12:46
Mes Amis,

I have had two XJ6s and one V12 saloon... I still have an '87. They're very, very nice. There are no problems, except here in the US cooling is a problem (I believe they tested them in England—not very hot there). The fuel system (two tanks) is a great idea. They should have kept that on XJ-Ss. As a medium road car, the XJ6 is very, very nice. Head gaskets... hmmm, no problem, but with V12s they're not good, again because if the cooling system. I did replace the radiator with an albumin type... solved the problem.

I also lust after a Mark V!!

Vive la Panhard!

JPB
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TVC15
15 October 2018, 13:59
The photo must have taken in the Jaguar Factory parking lot , check out the oil stains !
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Joe Mingolla
14 October 2018, 18:47
I've owned many luxury cars including 3 Jaguar saloons. I am very fond of the last model XJ before the dreadful redesign of 2010. I have a 2008 and I've put 100000 miles on it with no problems except for suspension airbag failures on the front and rear. I get great gas mileage at 80mph cruising( 24!). The last iterations of '08 and '09 were the most beautiful of all XJ's. People are always telling me how much they like mine. A true classic!
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Darryl
14 October 2018, 10:03
Definitely the Series III XJ6 - mine was from 1985 but purchased in 1999 as my first Jaguar.
Undoubtedly the best ride I have had in any car ever. Absolutely superb in my opinion.
Unfortunately the 4.2 engine was a little thin in metal between the cylinders and blown head gaskets were a common (and expensive) problem for my example.
Since then i have moved on to a 1948 MkIV - still the same nice ride (albeit not quite so comfortable) but NO engine problems!
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Michel Vandamme
14 October 2018, 09:54
I have had many luxury cars in my life, but the Blue/Black XJR V8 I bought in 2005 was and still is, the best car to my eyes.
It is fast, reliable, beautiful and prestigious.
I used to buy and keep cars for 4 years but this one I just can’t get separated
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Robert
10 October 2018, 08:16
Having had a few, I can say that the 2008 model with the V8 was my favourit. Where they came up with after that aluminium beauty in 2012(?) the latest version, made me switch to Range Rover. Horrible! If they would bring that e-type XJ....I probably switch back again. What a great concept!!
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Jeroen Booij
11 October 2018, 10:24
Good one Robert. We feel the same about the radical design change here.
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