The Jag bug...

[The Horvaths]

Howdy folks. Just thought y'all might get a kick out of my new project and my new daily. Project is an '87 XJ6 VDP, daily is a '99 XJR. Plans for the XJ6 are a cosmetic restoration and the obvious tune-up. Plans for the XJR are to leave it as is and drive it. For those of you that have never driven a Jag, I'd highly recommend it. It reminds me of my Fury, but modernized. It is simply... Bliss.

 

[live4theking]

I gather that you picked them up for a song.

 

[The Horvaths]

I gather that you picked them up for a song.

Yep. I got very, very good deals on both cars. Sold the GTO to fund them. It was simply more car than a 19 year old needs.

 

[LocuMob]

It was simply more car than a 19 year old needs.

Huh? Is this Dylan talking? What happened to the guy that races a C body?

I watch Top Gear, and they ripped the Jags to no end. I have a friend who has ten (yes, ten) in various conditions, including two XJRS's, and he loves them. I would love to do one Roadkill style, but I don't think that will happen, I can't allow myself to spend my money on something other than my old cars. The downside of owning a fleet.

Now go get some pictures of burnouts! 19 year olds know how to do those, right?

 

[The Horvaths]

Huh? Is this Dylan talking? What happened to the guy that races a C body?

I watch Top Gear, and they ripped the Jags to no end. I have a friend who has ten (yes, ten) in various conditions, including two XJRS's, and he loves them. I would love to do one Roadkill style, but I don't think that will happen, I can't allow myself to spend my money on something other than my old cars. The downside of owning a fleet.

Now go get some pictures of burnouts! 19 year olds know how to do those, right?

Yes this is Dylan
The GTO was considerably more aggressive; I'd consider it a track car that I had to drive on the street. The jag is much, much more tame, and more practical at that. It does do good burnouts though...

 

[78Brougham]

Nice job! I've had a few Jags over the years and still have one a V-12. I love them.

Congrats!

 

[Xenon]

Yes this is Dylan
The jag ------ It does do good burnouts though...

Prove it............. !!!!

 

[CBODY67]

Back in the '80s, a service station customer had several customers with '80s and older Jag sedans. As much as the old B-W automatic was maligned as "antique", it shifted pretty dang smooth. One of the older ones had a small block Chevy conversion (which meant it has the steering column hiss as the Jag rack and pinion box didn't need all of the boost of the GM/Saginaw power steering pump. But that '80s sedan was really neat! A bit of old world elegance. I helped him deliver another Jag back to a customer in it. I DID like the way it handled in normal traffic, especially on bumpy turns. Reminded me of our '66 Newport (HD shocks and my tire pressure alternations), but more refined. I could live with that!

Big John's in Dallas used to do a big job of replacing the worn-out/expensive to rebuild Jag 6 cylinders with small block or big block Chevy V-8s. When he was done, it looked like it came that way. The 454s were wall-to-wall motor.

Congrats and ENJOY!
CBODY67

 

[rapidtrans]

Want Pictures?
This was a rental back around 95. I was traveling to St. Louis Assembly once a week for a project and rented so many Budget cars I was given an offer to rent a new XJ8 sedan for cost of a Taurus. Imagine my surprise when I found this in my parking space at midnight in the Tampa airport!

Although the long 6 is not the fastest thing around it was an excellent cruiser. With the dark blue top this might be my favorite color for this model.
The next year I got a deal on a white XJ8 sedan rental at the airport. That car could scoot.

 

[jake]

Always a fan of this body style, very cool!!

 

[78Brougham]

Back in the '80s, a service station customer had several customers with '80s and older Jag sedans. As much as the old B-W automatic was maligned as "antique", it shifted pretty dang smooth. One of the older ones had a small block Chevy conversion (which meant it has the steering column hiss as the Jag rack and pinion box didn't need all of the boost of the GM/Saginaw power steering pump. But that '80s sedan was really neat! A bit of old world elegance. I helped him deliver another Jag back to a customer in it. I DID like the way it handled in normal traffic, especially on bumpy turns. Reminded me of our '66 Newport (HD shocks and my tire pressure alternations), but more refined. I could live with that!

Big John's in Dallas used to do a big job of replacing the worn-out/expensive to rebuild Jag 6 cylinders with small block or big block Chevy V-8s. When he was done, it looked like it came that way. The 454s were wall-to-wall motor.

Congrats and ENJOY!
CBODY67

Personally I can't it stand when they stuff a Chevy in a Jag. Sacrilege. Just as bad someone Putin putting an LS in a Mopar.

The Jag engines are awesome and a work of art.

My '93 XJS Coupe was beautiful, very quick, especially in sport mode, and would get very good mileage 27 MPG on the highway.

 

[saylor]

a seldom seen picture. well, a picture of a picture.

iirc this one was a '73. sold to the carpenters. yes those carpenters. this pic is at the dallas JOASW show in whatever year it was. the last t shirt i have is from like 20 or 22, and it says they are up to 50 now... so it was a while ago.

and the hilton isnt the hilton anymore. down on mockingbird and 75.

my old man used to show jags nationally.

sell the 99. keep the vandenplas if it has jag engine. try to find an xj6 pre-73 if u want a 4dr. or get an xke ^^

 

[CBODY67]

Personally I can't it stand when they stuff a Chevy in a Jag. Sacrilege. Just as bad someone Putin putting an LS in a Mopar.

The Jag engines are awesome and a work of art.

My '93 XJS Coupe was beautiful, very quick, especially in sport mode, and would get very good mileage 27 MPG on the highway.

I'll concur, sacrilege and future potential tissue rejection issues. Problem is that some people like the cosmetics and want something common in the way of mechanicals. Something that "anybody" can work on, rather than a specialty shop and more money. BTAIM

Enjoy!
CBODY67

 

[twostick]

4.2 Jag is one of the best looking engines ever.

Kevin

 

[78Brougham]

Something that "anybody" can work on, rather than a specialty shop and more money.

I don't have any problem working on them. A lot is "mindset" just like our beloved Chryslers, you have to love them to own one. Then the repairs and maintenance comes easy.
Too many have bought these as a status symbol just to claim they own one.

 

[CBODY67]

The understanding and appreciation of the vehicle is a MAJOR part of enjoying the vehicle, what it does, and how/why it does it. Some people don't care and want something more generic in nature, but others have different orientations and desire something more than an appliance car.

As Chrysler products have always been unique in many ways, as in design/engineering, tactile feel, suspension calibrations, many just don't understand why they are different than a similar GM or Ford product. But WE generally like the fact that they rode more firmly, made different starter noises, and how responsive the engines were to throttle input. MANY things that you just can't key into until you spend a full tank's worth of time with them on the open road. THEN you start to understand the steering/chassis responsiveness (especially "at speed"), How a throttle input of (the famous) R_H makes a few mph difference, and how much of the perceived "rough ride" comes through the stronger UniBody structure. ALL GOOODD!

In general, by comparison, the "easy to work on under the hood" of the '65-'68 cars seemed to be diminished with the more stylish "69-'73 cars, to be returned to somewhat with the '74-'78 cars. Those maintenance issues, back then, I figured was because Chrysler hired too many former GM engineers, as many were similar to GM cars back then, it seemed. But I still liked the cars, anyway.

AND it was necessary to find a tech that understood Chrysler products, too! Outside of the dealership environment. Those that used their GM experience to try to fix a Chrysler product generally had mediocre results, which motivated some first-time Chrysler vehicle owners to go back to their Fords and GMs, that their techs knew how to fix. Some times, Chrysler's observed "higher level of engineering/design" got them into trouble in this area, by observation.

As more vehicle designs have become more generic and standardized, to me, there's still a "feel" about Chrysler products that I like. The seats just "fit" me better than others, for a greater degree of "being home". And confidence in the other vehicular systems that other brands have tended to upgrade into.

Historically, Ford and Chrysler have led in engineering innovations and getting into market niches that GM either didn't know about or were waffling on. When Chrysler and Ford had successes, then GM scrambled the troops to get into that market or bring that innovation to market, BUT after they'd wringed the last penny out of production costs to do it.

Funny how Chrysler has influenced GM actions over the years!

CBODY67

 

[rexus31]

Congrats on your new rides and welcome to Jaguar! My daily: