I just bought a 1971 XJ6 series 1. Has 16,000 miles on it and was sitting in a polebarn with a broken radiator. Absolutely no rust. All fixed up- it drives like a dream. The XJ6s around in the USA have had Chevy engines installed and they really aren't worth anything and never will be.
Totally agree. Nothing against Chevy, but that XK engine was the performance benchmark of the industry for decades. A 4.2L in an XK-E would wave goodbye to a 327 Corvette from the same year.
I'm always amazed when I hear the reiterated criticisms of the Mk 2 and other Jaguars of the period. I bought a 1965 3.8 Mk 2 when it was 20 years old and never owned a more reliable car. It had very little rust (door bottoms only), the brakes never seemed bad to me, and I used to do long trips at high speed at night, having no problem with the lights. The facia never confused me. Think of the current multitude of switches and gadgets on today's cars and tell me the Mk 2 had a confusing dashboard! I had no timing chain issue in the fifteen years I owned the car. I had no oil leaks, nor from my later 420G. The Mk 2 steering was heavy without power assistance but only at parking speed and not at all unmanageable. I had the later gearbox which was an huge improvement on the Moss box, the latter being the only criticism I think is pertinent if you had a pre-'65 car. Besides a leaking power steering easily sorted, I had no trouble with the 420G either. In spite of its bulk it handled beautifully. I am still driving a 1996 Daimler X300 and that too has been very reliable, with only a water pump, apart from normal service items, needing replacement. How I wish Jaguar still made cars with the style they had during those William Lyons days and up to the X350.
Had a 420 just like the one in the video, even in the same colour. Lovely motor, 110 mph cruise @3100 rpm in overdrive top and 21 mpg. All done quietly, smoothly, just wafting along!
Own a '58', bought used in 1966. Constantly broke down & always needed something done to it. BUT it was and is great classic car and for an American teenager in the 60's the car was a babe magnetic!
Believe it or not, my first car was a '59' 3.4. I bought it in 1966. It was a beater. The guy who owned it had raced the Jag. It was always breaking down. But when it ran it was a thing of beauty. Sadly, I had to sell it when I went into the military. Fast forward fifty years, I'm the proud owner of a '07' S-Type.
my father bought in 64 a 62 3.8 grey met, red leather, in 72 it needed a set of tyres and taxing, he couldnt afford them, so it was scrapped, my father always said it was the one car he wished he never got rid of and i could see as a car mad kid (i was born in 71) that my dad realy wished he had kept it i dont think it was that there worth money just it was a great car, a car made when they made real cars, now ive bought a grey met with red leather 3.8 mk 2, and i love it and il never sell it
I think it’s really unfair to suggest Mk1s and Mk2s were poorly made. I’ve been around Jaguars all my life and I have never known the XK engine to “consume timing chains like smarties”, a friend of mine has a Mk2 with well over 400,000 miles with only one rebuild. My old XJ6 has done well over 300,000km as well.
Having owned performance cars 1963 when I was 17, I had many Jags over the years, the last being a 420, all bought used and inexpensively. The fashion today seems to be to bang on about how 1960s and 1970s cars so very unreliable etc etc, with bad brakes, handling and the rest. The critics probably do not actually have any real-time experience of operating these cars in their day, Quentin Wilson for instance is not old enough to have done that I would guess!! Fact is they were as reliable as anything of their time which was VERY reliable - IF they were looked after properly. The modern car does not need the attention these did of course, service intervals can be much longer, but believe me, any machine, vintage, classic or modern will break eventually if not cared for!
The Thing Quentin Said At The End "Why Can't We Build Cars That Look This Good Now" I Think Well It Would Be Ruined By All The Air Bags And Stuff Shame Really!
The greatest accolade, of course, was that the Mk2 was the über bank robbers gettaway car of choice. Nothing could catch them. If the brakes were so bad, bank robbers would have used something else. They braked well and, for the time, had excellent roadholding and power.
I’ve owned both and the Mk2 was the better car. To founder Sir William Lyons, the E-Type was an entrée to his ambition forJaguar, which was to replace Mercedes as America’s favorite luxury sedan. And he nearly made it. The unions and government interference not even Jaguar could rise above. The best part of owning my 1970 Series 2 E-Type 4.2L was the its stunning design, which I can attest made me at least interesting to people I was exceptionally interested in. But that said, the car understeered and the brakes did not live up to their reputation. I know it’s heresy but in my 70s I am still a sports car guy, and the best sports car ever built was and still is my current-generation Miata. The best Jaguars of all in my opinion were the XJ sedans from the X308 series, from 1997-2003. Ford had pumped billions into the brand and they were more reliable than the Germans. Over the years I’ve owned three, and as we descend to driving electric pods, I am reconciled to the memory of my 2001 Emerald green XJR, with its supercharged 32- valve V8, as the greatest performance sedan I have had the privilege to own. (But do not buy one now unless you are wealthy. They are too old.)
As you know, the X308 series of sedans had timing chain problems in their first couple years, but the factory switched from plastic to metal timing chain tensioners and replaced those that failed under warranty. My 2001 XJR with its supercharged V8 was utterly reliable and amazingly fast. And it put in the shade any German car parked nearby. I loved my dad’s Mk 2, and the X 308 generation was a worthy successor.
Completely disagree, my Daimler 250 is amazing, the dash isn’t confusing, the brakes are brilliant, the steering is heavy, but, at least you know the wheels are doing something and are not driving a a disconnected modern plastic toy
Buy a bunch of the prettiest ones, block 'em up in a barn with some tarps over them (tarps make a huge difference), and in 20 years, you may have a fortune on your hands.
Unfortunately, hundreds or thousands of XJ6 Jaguars were destroyed under the "Cash for Clunkers" program a few years ago here in the USA. A silica sand mixture is poured into the oil cap and the engine is run until it seizes. The car is later crushed at the scrapyard.
...the reason IMO that cars don't look this good is because people want a car that will hold more and crash better, then there's all the legislative bumf that has to be met too. Still, Alfa do a good job today!
Had plenty of all of them... 2,4 a nightmare, never ever get stuck on a chewing gum... 3,4 and 3,8 different league. But as it is said in the video: they look much better than they drive... biggest let down was the lousy rear suspension giving it a bumpy ride and bad controlability at the edge... But nevertheless: trendsetter of sports limousines and incedibly sexy.... that shape....
it may be a controversial opinion but I think that the only modern car that has come any where near the looks of the MK2 is the 1999 rover 75, its image may be a "granddads car" but I think both cars look gorgeous!
Had one loved it the timing chain I changed mine in about hour so simple to do also chained the clutch so easy at to work on onlyflaw I found was at hard turning was under steer but if you new this it was ok ,
Yeah, it's owned by Tata, not that it'll make much difference, since Tata aren't advanced enough to build a car as technical as the Jag. Jag started to go to hell once Sir William Lyons and the original engineers like Lofty England retired, and the Business School/MBA generation came to power; they knew nothing about cars and cared even less, but were always open to a fat payday when FoMoCo finally came along.
All the mentioned shortcomings were even more present in other cars of the era. What a load of crap about e.g. the steering and the brakes being lousy.
![The Car's The Star - The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud [BBC 1995]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/BpfYH93e8h8/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the most beautiful cars ever made.
I just bought a 1971 XJ6 series 1. Has 16,000 miles on it and was sitting in a polebarn with a broken radiator. Absolutely no rust. All fixed up- it drives like a dream. The XJ6s around in the USA have had Chevy engines installed and they really aren't worth anything and never will be.
Totally agree. Nothing against Chevy, but that XK engine was the performance benchmark of the industry for decades. A 4.2L in an XK-E would wave goodbye to a 327 Corvette from the same year.
Yes, wish I still had my Mark II, every time I drove it a smile was elicited.
David Snyder Buy another. It's as simple as that.
I'm always amazed when I hear the reiterated criticisms of the Mk 2 and other Jaguars of the period. I bought a 1965 3.8 Mk 2 when it was 20 years old and never owned a more reliable car. It had very little rust (door bottoms only), the brakes never seemed bad to me, and I used to do long trips at high speed at night, having no problem with the lights. The facia never confused me. Think of the current multitude of switches and gadgets on today's cars and tell me the Mk 2 had a confusing dashboard! I had no timing chain issue in the fifteen years I owned the car. I had no oil leaks, nor from my later 420G. The Mk 2 steering was heavy without power assistance but only at parking speed and not at all unmanageable. I had the later gearbox which was an huge improvement on the Moss box, the latter being the only criticism I think is pertinent if you had a pre-'65 car. Besides a leaking power steering easily sorted, I had no trouble with the 420G either. In spite of its bulk it handled beautifully. I am still driving a 1996 Daimler X300 and that too has been very reliable, with only a water pump, apart from normal service items, needing replacement. How I wish Jaguar still made cars with the style they had during those William Lyons days and up to the X350.
Had a 420 just like the one in the video, even in the same colour. Lovely motor, 110 mph cruise @3100 rpm in overdrive top and 21 mpg. All done quietly, smoothly, just wafting along!
Own a '58', bought used in 1966. Constantly broke down & always needed something done to it. BUT it was and is great classic car and for an American teenager in the 60's the car was a babe magnetic!
Believe it or not, my first car was a '59' 3.4. I bought it in 1966. It was a beater. The guy who owned it had raced the Jag. It was always breaking down. But when it ran it was a thing of beauty. Sadly, I had to sell it when I went into the military. Fast forward fifty years, I'm the proud owner of a '07' S-Type.
that early xj series 1 was the best driving car I have owned.
my father bought in 64 a 62 3.8 grey met, red leather, in 72 it needed a set of tyres and taxing, he couldnt afford them, so it was scrapped, my father always said it was the one car he wished he never got rid of and i could see as a car mad kid (i was born in 71) that my dad realy wished he had kept it i dont think it was that there worth money just it was a great car, a car made when they made real cars, now ive bought a grey met with red leather 3.8 mk 2, and i love it and il never sell it
I think it’s really unfair to suggest Mk1s and Mk2s were poorly made. I’ve been around Jaguars all my life and I have never known the XK engine to “consume timing chains like smarties”, a friend of mine has a Mk2 with well over 400,000 miles with only one rebuild. My old XJ6 has done well over 300,000km as well.
If they were driven hard, the chain guides were problem.
Having owned performance cars 1963 when I was 17, I had many Jags over the years, the last being a 420, all bought used and inexpensively. The fashion today seems to be to bang on about how 1960s and 1970s cars so very unreliable etc etc, with bad brakes, handling and the rest. The critics probably do not actually have any real-time experience of operating these cars in their day, Quentin Wilson for instance is not old enough to have done that I would guess!! Fact is they were as reliable as anything of their time which was VERY reliable - IF they were looked after properly. The modern car does not need the attention these did of course, service intervals can be much longer, but believe me, any machine, vintage, classic or modern will break eventually if not cared for!
This guy is just trying to score points as a British snob. He is forgotten but the car will never be.
A beautiful car I remember my friends rich father had one.
Beautiful car I had 3 of them !
Love that Dealers accent.. Barnsley! A sen' Goo : D folk.
Quite heartening that at least two of those Jaguars are still on the road today
There are thousands on the roads surely!
@@stevenvanstadenvanstaden4317 Two of the Jaguars featured in the programme :)
We can still build car's like this, still build the Morgan don't we.
The Thing Quentin Said At The End "Why Can't We Build Cars That Look This Good Now" I Think Well It Would Be Ruined By All The Air Bags And Stuff Shame Really!
The greatest accolade, of course, was that the Mk2 was the über bank robbers gettaway car of choice. Nothing could catch them. If the brakes were so bad, bank
robbers would have used something else. They braked well and, for the time, had excellent roadholding and power.
Damn! So, that's why I like Botticelli as well ;o)
Ahhh...the golden era of Jaguar, 1950-1970! These days it's nothing but a big Ford.
Everybody adores the e-type but given the choice I'd have the Mk2
I’ve owned both and the Mk2 was the better car. To founder Sir William Lyons, the E-Type was an entrée to his ambition forJaguar, which was to replace Mercedes as America’s favorite luxury sedan. And he nearly made it. The unions and government interference not even Jaguar could rise above.
The best part of owning my 1970 Series 2 E-Type 4.2L was the its stunning design, which I can attest made me at least interesting to people I was exceptionally interested in. But that said, the car understeered and the brakes did not live up to their reputation. I know it’s heresy but in my 70s I am still a sports car guy, and the best sports car ever built was and still is my current-generation Miata.
The best Jaguars of all in my opinion were the XJ sedans from the X308 series, from 1997-2003. Ford had pumped billions into the brand and they were more reliable than the Germans. Over the years I’ve owned three, and as we descend to driving electric pods, I am reconciled to the memory of my 2001 Emerald green XJR, with its supercharged 32- valve V8, as the greatest performance sedan I have had the privilege to own. (But do not buy one now unless you are wealthy. They are too old.)
I ended up with a '65 S type after test driving a MK-2.
Well . . .
Quentin's last line of dialogue should have been "Why oh why can't we build cars anymore" Sad but true.
I am laughing at the tape hiss. Quentin didn't lisp this badly!
The XK6 used exactly same design engine as the MK2. The XK engine never popped timing chains.
As you know, the X308 series of sedans had timing chain problems in their first couple years, but the factory switched from plastic to metal timing chain tensioners and replaced those that failed under warranty. My 2001 XJR with its supercharged V8 was utterly reliable and amazingly fast. And it put in the shade any German car parked nearby. I loved my dad’s Mk 2, and the X 308 generation was a worthy successor.
I would have thought the jags would be better undercover. He says one day thay will all be restored. Good luck with that one.
The British love to criticize their own brands. As far as cars are concerned, they have done it almost to destruction.
Is Chris rawlingson still renovating them?
He owns 24 and he has 2 on the road? That's a good ratio for old Jags : )
Did a history check on them. He never put any of them back on the road
@@AW_2000 If you did it on the government number plate check website it won't give you any information if the car is too old
My family are millionaire scrap dealers Quentin!!! I still like you though 😂
Completely disagree, my Daimler 250 is amazing, the dash isn’t confusing, the brakes are brilliant, the steering is heavy, but, at least you know the wheels are doing something and are not driving a a disconnected modern plastic toy
Just brought one magnificent v8 engine just fitting electronics ignition want to hear it sing again
@@garypeatling7927 , well done that man, when she fires into life it will all be worth it
Buy a bunch of the prettiest ones, block 'em up in a barn with some tarps over them (tarps make a huge difference), and in 20 years, you may have a fortune on your hands.
Yes you are right tarps make a big difference. Thay microblister your paint.
Unfortunately, hundreds or thousands of XJ6 Jaguars were destroyed under the "Cash for Clunkers" program a few years ago here in the USA. A silica sand mixture is poured into the oil cap and the engine is run until it seizes. The car is later crushed at the scrapyard.
XJ6's are going to the scrap yard in droves here in Los Angeles. And the cars here have no rust on them.
...the reason IMO that cars don't look this good is because people want a car that will hold more and crash better, then there's all the legislative bumf that has to be met too. Still, Alfa do a good job today!
It looked so good that in 1998 they released a new one, why they never called the mk3 god only knows.
Had plenty of all of them... 2,4 a nightmare, never ever get stuck on a chewing gum... 3,4 and 3,8 different league. But as it is said in the video: they look much better than they drive... biggest let down was the lousy rear suspension giving it a bumpy ride and bad controlability at the edge...
But nevertheless: trendsetter of sports limousines and incedibly sexy.... that shape....
There isn't enough money in the world to fix up a bad one. I have to say that they weigh a lot more than a ton. My MGA weighs a ton.
I prefer the look of the Rover P5 Coupé. M
shocking, the way they were built... (0;48 - 0:52), as if they were thrown together.
Thay were build at a price. And no rust proofing .That s why that rotted.
it may be a controversial opinion but I think that the only modern car that has come any where near the looks of the MK2 is the 1999 rover 75, its image may be a "granddads car" but I think both cars look gorgeous!
+Steve Interdonato Where is Detroit today?
Roger Daltreys put a bit of weght on...
consumed timing chains like smarties I don't think so q.
Had one loved it the timing chain I changed mine in about hour so simple to do also chained the clutch so easy at to work on onlyflaw I found was at hard turning was under steer but if you new this it was ok ,
@mayddtube they aren't owned by Ford anymore
the car at the end he gets out of is a Daimler 250 tit wilson
vectra123 wrong its a jag, jag has smooth grill Daimler has flutted
vectra123 The car is a jaguar .it's got a leaper on the bonnet .
1.30 'Just over a ton' lol. Try 30cwt. Or a ton and a half. (3.8)
Still puts what ever you are driving today to shame. The lines are pure sex, just not telling the Mrs. tho.
look at the 3.8 jaguar s beautiful and a lot better just
you forgot to mention its morse´s car
9:07 that's not true, the Mercedes CLS was a gorgeus car
I thought Jaguar was an Indian owned company now? Tata motors? How could Britain let that happen?
ugh ... the cash for clunkers programs are such bad ideas.
and this boy... a scrapdealer's son - I almost died of shame. topgear is better without you mate :)
Yeah, it's owned by Tata, not that it'll make much difference, since Tata aren't advanced enough to build a car as technical as the Jag. Jag started to go to hell once Sir William Lyons and the original engineers like Lofty England retired, and the Business School/MBA generation came to power; they knew nothing about cars and cared even less, but were always open to a fat payday when FoMoCo finally came along.
Your not wrong, it's criminal whats happened to them.
All the mentioned shortcomings were even more present in other cars of the era. What a load of crap about e.g. the steering and the brakes being lousy.
E - type , feminine !!!!!!!!!!! Really !!!!!!!!!!!
NO
I’d rather have my MG ZA Magnette.