1972 Jaguar XJ6

This Series 1 XJ6 with the 4.2-litre engine and 3-speed automatic gearbox was completed in early December 1971 and left Coventry for Glasgow shortly afterwards to Arnold Clark’s dealership, from where it was bought by the company J McGowan and Sons in January 1972.

We believe that the McGowans were from County Leitrim in north west Ireland and we have some evidence that the car spent many years there cherished within the family and then with a family friend before returning to the UK mainland in early 2017. It was then sold through Southam’s Classic Car Warehouse of Blackburn, Lancashire. During those 45 years, the car only averaged around 1,000 miles a year.

Whilst on sale with Southam’s, the car was featured in a Road Test by Classics World and the article is still online - search for “Classics World road test xj6 1972” to find it, or see the screenshots of that article in the gallery below. Aside from a wire-wheel conversion, the car has changed little since.

Another owner later - who did the wheel conversion - it was bought by our vendor in May 2020.

Having ridden in the back of XJ6s as a child in the seventies - his dad had owned two - he’d been looking for a good rust-free example for about 11 or 12 years but couldn’t find any in the UK that fit the bill. Eventually, he located a black one with a cream interior in New Zealand and imported it to the UK.

Almost immediately, this white XJ6 surfaced and it was too good for him to pass up so he decided to add it to his small collection. He’s not done a great deal with it, just a new headlining. Having two XJs and a handful of other cars, he doesn’t find much time to use it so feels that he should pass it on for someone else to enjoy. They could keep it in the super condition that it is or spend some time and money taking it up to concours level if that’s what they desire.

Finished in its original colour of Old English White, the XJ6 was repainted around 4-5 years ago and the paintwork still looks incredibly good today with very few marks or blemishes.

The bodywork appears very straight, with no obvious damage and the shut lines and panel alignments are as good as they ever were - or probably better.

The chrome grilles and bumpers, as well as all of the brightwork trims and fittings are very good for the age of the car - not perfect, there’s a little patina here and there but no apparent damage and nothing that lets the side down against the new paint.

The XJ6 sits on immaculate 15-inch wire wheels - a fairly recent and costly conversion from the original steelies and hubs, which will come with the car if the next owner wants them. All are fitted with classic Blockley tyres with an authentic period tread pattern and in good order.

Anyone who feels that wire wheels are not authentic, should check out the prototype - Project XJ4 - which was conceived as an E-type saloon and rides on wires.

But, if you prefer the original wheels, the vendor has them too.

The fabulous-looking and mostly original interior is trimmed in a combination of leather and vinyl - black around the dash and blue elsewhere. The seats are upholstered in blue Connolly leather - perforated and pleated on the facings - and are very comfortable and present very well with just the expected level of light creasing on the front seats - driver side particularly.

There is wood veneer across the dash fascia - which has a few light scratches on the glove box lid - and wooden door cappings. The instruments are mostly classic Smiths dials with auxiliary gauges and analogue rocker switches in the central dash. The large diameter steering wheel is original too - complete with horn bar.

There is a modern JVC CD radio fitted which has Bluetooth connectivity and a hands free microphone neatly installed in the upper dash. It is connected to modern retro-look speakers fitted into the door cards.

The original sill plates are a little scratched as you might expect but intact and the blue carpeting appears sound. Modern rubber overmats have been added to front and back footwells for additional protection. Overhead the headlining has been replaced recently but looks very authentic and has been nicely done.

The rear boot is quite spacious and is lined with original style black vinyl. To one side are the jack and wheel brace and under the floorboard is a spare used wire wheel fitted with older Firestone rubber.

Tipping forward the front-hinged bonnet, the engine bay appears tidy and honest with no obvious artificial titivation save for a repainted alternator. The 4.2-litre straight six is fed by twin SU carbs and it starts well and runs very smoothly, idling at 750-850 rpm with good oil pressure.

Underneath the car, much of the chassis, suspension and running gear has been coated in a protective black paint - which not only looks good but will prevent premature corrosion. The car has clearly been kept properly garaged when not in use to maintain this level of condition underneath and to our vendor’s knowledge has never been stripped down or restored.

The car’s last MoT expired in January 2021. Of course as an historic vehicle it is exempt from annual testing but we would encourage classic car owners to get an MOT to serve as an independent assessment of roadworthiness, should it ever be needed or requested.

There’s a sheaf of paperwork that comes with the car including various invoices and receipts for parts and maintenance work done including some from its time in Ireland.

The S1 XJ6 was the beginning of a long line of Jaguar’s executive luxury cruisers that changed little in terms of their overall outline for nearly 40 years. Considered as the best car in the world in its day, the XJ set new expectations in ride, handling and comfort, which even by today’s standards are exceptional. Ownership was the sign of statesmanship or business success and quietly but confidently told the world that you’d made it.

This car is low ownership, very original, extremely solid, looks incredible and still shows fewer than 49k miles on the odometer. It’s not easy to find unmolested S1 XJ6s like this one, so we think it will sell for between £10,000 and £15,000.

Even at the upper end of that estimate, this is a corker of a car for the money that can be driven, shown and enjoyed exactly as it is.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Woking. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.