Gaguar xj6 series 1 4.2

 It seems inconceivable that a car as innovative as the XJ6 remains so affordable. Not only did it set new standards in ride quality and handling, but also its perfect proportions remain a highpoint in Jaguar design. Plus, with a spacious interior and large windows

delivering excellent visibility, it feels a lot more modern to drive than even the 420that had been produced just a few years before.  Bigger than the S-type and 420, but smaller than the 420G (which remained in production until 1970), the new car replacedJaguar’s existing, complicated saloon line-up. 

 The Jaguar XJ6 series 1 4.2 has the benefit of Jaguar’s famed independent suspension, setting new standards for refinement and handling, and, with 245bhp, the familiar 4.2-liter engine gave a strong performance. There was also the option of a 2.8, but its lack of power (180bhp) and well-reported problems with piston failure didn’t make it popular, then or now.

The 4.2 with the manual gearbox cost a mere £2,254, around £5,000 less than the two cars mentioned by Autocar. Unsurprisingly, the car proved popular, and more than 54,000 were produced in just five years.

 As with the 420, there was a Daimler Sovereign version. While technically identical to the XJ6, and still available with either the 4.2 or 2.8 engine, it featured a slightly more luxurious interior that accounted for a higher purchase price – in 1968, a Sovereign 4.2 manual was £2,713. 

 Whereas the Jaguar was bought by modern businessmen, the Daimler model’s old-school image – the long-wheelbase model, especially – remained the preferred choice of the chauffeur-driven landed gentry.  Just 15,000 Daimler Sovereigns were produced.

 Yet, while the motoring press still universally consider it to be one of the greatest cars ever made, all Series s (including the Daimler) can be bought for £10,000 today, plus or minus a couple of grand, depending on. 

 Issues affecting the XJ6’s construction are typical of all old cars, which are mainly rotten sills, floor pans, chassis members, front subframe mounts, and, perhaps the most problem-prone of all, the rear suspension mounting.

 Moreover, a large part of the scramble should be eliminated to acquire welding access, another significant assignment. The damp in the boot is normally caused by the rear window seal allowing water that gets past to drip down.