I've just learnt that the XJ40 model of the Jaguar XJ didn't get the V12 engine until 1993 (not sure exactly when in that year, though). Before that I think they continued to sell the old XJ12 (Series III) alongside the new XJ40 XJ6. So all XJ40s made before 1993 will definetely be XJ6s. So if an XJ40 appears in a pre-1993 movie or carries a UK numberplate with a letter below L (and possibly K) is definetely an XJ6. The XJ40 XJ12 was only produced for two years (1993-94). The next XJ12 (for the X300 model Jaguar, technically the 6 litre V12 version was the X305) was released in 1995 and was also only made for two years before Jaguar did away with the V12 engine altogther and introduced the V8-engined X308 XJ8 in 1997. The X300 (or X305) XJ12 had a V12 badge on the central door pillar. Also the XJ40 XJ12 was technically called the XJ81, but we can still keep grouping under XJ40.

According to this site; http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C03962 the XJ40 XJ12 were introduced in March 1993 and made until August 1994 and that only 1200 were made, making it fairly rare. Wikipedia says that the XJ12 was made until the end of the 1994 model year (model year not actual year, new model years seem to start in the autumn).

Actually since the XJ12 was considerably rarer than the XJ6, is it better to list XJ40s and X300s (and possibly Series I-III) as XJ6s by default, unless it is clear that it's an XJ12?

Anyway I've gone through all the XJ40s on the site, and listed all the pre-1993 ones as XJ6s.

you are right. but V8s were introduced in 1998 model (could be 1997 as a produce date anyway)

With XJ40s, how come some of them have rectangular headlights and some have circular twin headlights? Was it optional or was it according to certain trim levels?

I guess that they revered to round ones to make more like older models as many people did not like square ones?

this is a question I could not found the answer anywhere to it..
Probably they were for different markets or just as an option, as I can find all years, models tec with both rectangular and quads...

Well I've seen XJ40s in Britain with both rectangular and quad headlights, so I don't think it's a foreign market thing.

The Sovereigns & Daimlers had the"styled"aka square headlights, the rest of the base models had twin round.

Is that a fact? Thanks! Although I think the circular headlights look a lot better.

I like these square headlights (but I like the round ones too). Actually I like much more XJ40 than others

And the rarer XJ12, did that come in both square and circular headlight form?

Ok, I`m doing an explination post as best as I can, I worked for Jaguar till 2000 & have owned loads(mainly XJ40s).

Identification & explination is very difficult (even for me!) especially as they were constantly evolved thoughout their lives.

What you guys have said so far is correct.

The Jaguar XJ12 (launched in March 92`) wasnt badged as a "Sovereign" & so had twin round headlights, it was actually higher than Sovereign spec inside though.

If I remember rightly the only external clues between its a V12 other than the badging was the V12 had black grille veins & 16" diamond cut lattice wheels.

However, different markets may have had different wheels, there was also many warranty claims for corroding diamond cut wheels & many were refurbished & refinished in silver paint. Many people change wheels as well.

The Daimler version was badged "Double Six" & like all Daimlers (Vanden plas in certain markets).

Externally, Daimlers (& Vanden Plas models abroad)had the square headlights as well as a chrome strip running from the top corner of the headlights down the sides to the top edge of the tail lamps, just below the door handles, black tinted rear lights(instead of the red tint Jaguar ones), fluted grille top & boot handle plynth, fully stainless side window edging (instead of the 1/2 stainless, 1/2 matt black Jaguars).

Inside there was FULL leather interiors including the door trims, centre console & sunvisors(as opposed to the Jaguars which had vinyl door panels, centre console & sections of the seats to reduce costs), rear picnic tables, 2 individual rear seats (heated & electric reclining in the last incarnations, the Jaguars had a normal full width bench seat), darker burr walnut veneer(& more of it, the dash veneer is about in inch deeper, the ceiling mounted sunroof switch/courtesy lamp surround, the rear cigarette lighter surround with an extra tray below),

The headlight issue remained the same throughout the XJ40`s life, the rule being twin round for standard models & S models & styled square for the Sovereigns & Daimlers(VP), although it is possible to swap them (you simply swap the lamp units & headlight ECU`s)& many people do, usually fitting the twin rounds in place of the rectangular units.

I`ve even managed to fir clear lens X308(XJ8) headlamps to the XJ40 mountings after a bit of cutting & rewiring.

Any other questions, ask!

;-D

The easiest way to explain the SI, II & III models is...

SI, intriduced in 1968, Externally the easiest way to identify them is that have a low front bumper with indicator/sidelight units ABOVE the bumper, horn grilles under the inner main beam lights & a much taller grille.

THE SII models were introduced in 1973, externally, the bumpers were raised to headlight level with the indicator units below the bumper, they still had the surface mounted push button door handles & opening 1/4 light windows of the SI as well as a virtually identical rear.

The 2 door coupe was based on the SII from 75-78 & is possibly the prettiest XJ ever made, there were even some converted into convertibles by Avon(who also converted 4 door XJ6 & 12`s into estate`s which were the ugliest XJ`s!).

The SIII was introduced in 1979, they had a slimmer glass area & had flush, lift up door handles, the bumpers were now black rubber with the front indicators & rear fog lamps fitted within them & the bumpers had cosmetic chrome trim applied to the tops, the grille had only vertical vaines, the rear light units were made bigger & incorperated reverse lights.

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/buyers_guide_xj.htm

The SIII XJ6 continued till 1986, when the XJ40 was introduced, although the XJ12 soldured on till 1992.

Even now, the SI-III is a competitive car in many areas, especially the sublime suspension which is as smooth as a current Rolls Royce, despite this they still handled better than its contemparies.

Its also a VERY safe car to crash in, they are built like tanks, double skinned in many places & using thick gauge metals, & will demolish even Volvos & Merks. The only stronger production car is 49`-98` Rolls Royce`s & Bentley`s, unfortunately this means they are depressingly popular with British banger racers(even the coupes) & many die on tracks on a weekly basis, even now.

You can pick up a project XJ (SI, II, III or XJ40) for as little as £100, usually very rotten! Legal, drivable, average ones are typically around £800-1500 & the best ones (especially mint, low mileage, historied SI`s & SII coupes & the best SIII`s) do go above £5000.

An XJ40 royal pool car that was driven by Princess Diana(with pictures & film footage) recently went for over £14,000 on ebay!

Rust is the XJ`s biggest enemy & has claimed most of the XJ`s, especially in the UK where we still use salt on the roads 3 months of the year to prevent ice. Salt & metal dont mix well, especially in classic cars that have many rust traps.

Mechanically they are pretty much unbreakable if looked after & are like big tonka toys to work on, the main issues are failing gearbox`s(although its a basic unit thats relitively cheap & easy to repair) & blown head gaskets. blown head gaskets on their own arent a problem, but the head bolts pass through the water jacket on the XK engine, & if the car hasnt had good quality antifreeze changed on a regular basis, these bolts corrode. this means when you come to remove them, they snap deep within the engine block, rendering the engine scrap in most cases. The XK engine is still a fairly common lump used in many Jaguars between 1949 & 1992, many rotten Jags still have good engines, but they are slowly getting rarer all the time!

Thanks for the info!

Basically what I'm trying to do is work out which of the Jaguars on this site are XJ6's or XJ12's, instead of them being just listed as XJ's. This includes Series I-III, XJ40 and X300.

You mean like this one?

http://www.rudi-heck.de/assets/images/Jaguar_seitlich.jpg

http://www.rudi-heck.de/html/mein_klassiker.html

You mean like this one?

http://www.rudi-heck.de/assets/images/Jaguar_seitlich.jpg

http://www.rudi-heck.de/html/mein_klassiker.html


Thats ok!

Yes, like that one, however... the front grille veins on XJ40`s (am I spelling veins right?) are chromed plastic & tend to corrode/chip, MANY owners simply spray them matt black with aerosols to cover this up.

Also many XJ40 owners (especially those with the expensive metric tyres) upgrade their wheels, the lattice wheel was fitted as standard to many XJS`s & X300`s, as well as certain XJ40`s so they are plentiful on the second hand market & often find theyre was onto XJ40`s...

I`ve also noticed many XJ40`s on the big(& small) screen end up getting destroyed & are deffinately made up of bits & pieces of several XJ40`s, again, making identification impossible.

So really there is no way of knowing for sure without seeing the badging on the boot or opening the bonnet (or measuring the exhausts which are marginly bigger bore).

Even the SI-III V12`s were virtually indistiguishable from the six`s, on the SIII the only difference on the later ones with the pepperpot wheels, was 1" wider wheels which are difficult to spot(& again, wheels have been swapped around by owners).

You know, I don't think I've ever seen an X300 or X308 with lattice wheels.

What I've now done is gone through all the XJ40s listed on this site and checked whether they have the lattice wheels or black grille veins (and gold cat's head badge), it turns out that none of them do, so I've renamed them as XJ6s. All the square headlamped Jag XJ40s (the Sovereigns) are named XJ6 now. Given the rarity of XJ40 XJ12s (only a tiny percentage of the overall total of XJ40s produced were XJ12s, 1200 out of 200,000, correct me if I'm wrong), it makes it much more likely that they'd use an XJ6 in a film, especially when one gets wrecked. Some XJ40s listed are too difficult to see properly (should all of these be listed?), so I've left them as XJ.

Now I would like to know how the X300 XJ12 looks different from the X300 XJ6, I have a feeling some of them are erroneously named as XJ12s.

Yes, but it is also true that a lot of people never bother modifying their cars, aside from choosing their own specifications if they happen to buy the car brand new. A lot of the XJ40s' original owners were probably rich old farts who weren't into fiddling with cars (this is pure speculation of course). Of course the second hand owners may well have changed some of the features.

But with the XJ40s featured in movies, I get the impression in some cases they went for something cheap (that they didn't mind smashing up), so many of them could be older than the 1993+ cars (which is when the XJ12 was finally released). All XJ40s featured in movies made before 1993 (or was it 1992), are definetely XJ6s.

I think in this context it's "vanes" rather than "veins"