Waking Up The V12 - First Drive of the Season in my 1977 Jaguar XJ12

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  • Опубліковано 11 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 57

  • @gregharvie3896
    @gregharvie3896 Рік тому +1

    Hi Adam, from Sydney, Australia. I'm 67 now and have loved BIG Jags since I was a little kid and mum bought a brand new black MK10 in November 1961 when they were a brand new design. We actually collected it from the Jaguar factory in Coventry, when it was being fitted with temporary UK rego plates & paperwork finalised for its shipping, I was shown around where MK10's were being finished by hand. Norman Dewis was my first escort and when called away Malcolm Sayer finished off telling me that its shape was a first for cars that it used the concept from aeronautic aerodynamics called laminar flow hence its puffed up elongated egg shape. Perfect for low drag efficiency, hence the very low, tapered and forward rake of front panel, the "hilly" bonnet and matched shape at the rear and specifically for laminar flow the widest/fattest/tallest part was the very middle of the car. Drive one on a wet dirty road with a friend in another car, at journeys end, look at the two vehicles, the strange shaped MK10 will look near clean and tidy the other car will be smothered in road filth from the wet while the mk10 has basically been "sucked" clean due to its shape OR drive one in bad crosswinds, you will notice no difference than on a calm day a MK10 will not be affected by the crosswind a superb but misunderstood giant and the WORLDS FIRST Luxury Sports car. When brand new in England in Nov'1961 it was FANTASTIC a standout on the road EVERYONE looked & pointed at it. Mum kept it 10 years & bought a new '71 Jag mk10/420G version. When I was 15 I was given a hand-me-down Aussie GM FC Series 1958 Holden it was in a hideous 2 tone color scheme it got me to last year high school & 1st year at uni. I'd been saving for years and bought a 1965 LHD 1965 4.2 litre MK10 & could only afford it as it was LHD With just 18months to get it to be RHD as in mid 1976 all LHD cars were being de-registered for road use, banned from the road. with 2 months to deadline I bought a very sad tired 1968 British private import RHD car for nearly no money & my just retired engineer grandad & myself did the big RHD swap-over in midyear uni break. I kept it 5 years and sold it at a good profit. Having completed a medical degree at uni and with a decent amount of cash coming into my bank account, I bought a rare 1974 series 1 Long Wheelbase 4.2 litre XJ6 (yep '74 a custom order car & in EVERY way) built as a vinyl-roof-less JAGUAR Van Den Plas 6cyl however built like a MK10 Jaguar with 3 su carbies plus its engine had a special-order high output bronze head. Also, it was painted in a nonstock color, a very dark plum/maroon color with bone un-dyed thicker leather.
    At Jaguar car shows it totally confused people, however its first owner gave me all the paperwork where he ordered and paid for it via Jaguars main Parisienne dealer for it to be shipped to his euro winter home in Australia. I owned it 32 years, adding ten times the mileage from 18.200 miles to 190.000 miles it was flawless & superb I feel owing to it being a handbuilt special-order car NOTHING went wrong with it. It cost Jaques Antonie MORE than a v12 Van Den Plas to buy it in the first place. The virtually racing specification XK engine had more power than an off the shelf V12 but no v12 costs. As a doctor I could get a tax rebate on all operational costs of one new car, or two beyond 5-year-old cars, So Mr Taxman paid for ALL maintenance on my '74 Ser1 XJ6 Long, and my '74 Cadillac Talisman (special just 3 year "ultra" car) and only the first1974 model Talisman's came with lovely leather interiors. So both were kept perfectly like new. In mid 2012 an older doctor I knew had passed away & I sold the XJ to a friend who wanted it, as I had the opportunity to buy the older doctors '67 Jaguar mk10/420G version from his estate, perfectly kept like my own cars and with just 50.000 miles on this one owner 45 year old car, best of all it was the identical color exterior & interior as my '65 MK10 I'd owned years earlier, & another bronze head car, same as both my mk10 & my XJ6 Long so no aluminium to steel engine fights either.
    Looking at it with a doctors scientific reasoning and skill and having owned both mk10/420G and a premium xj6 L and having been a child & adolescent around both a mk10 and later 420G version. Having owned the two types both with the most powerful versions of the XK6's in them and driven both types over many years and big miles, the bigger older, more expensive mk10/420G is the better car. I can see why the XJ range was introduced the overall intrinsic design/engineering is there. However, the COSTLY FINE POINTS have been removed and replaced by a cheaper alternative, copying how Mercedes made the W111 fin model sedans and their W108 fin-less replacements with unscrew able front mudguards the cheaper pressed metal front end suspension mounted to inner guards, the unscrew able rear under bumper mudguards, and worst of all the un-lined front mudguard wells. The bigger older mk10/420G's have more robust, heavy duty front cast steel cradle which both the engine and suspension system, is mounted to, giving it a rolling smoothness, a better quality full steering box not the rack /pinnion set up whose rubber mounts give up and go squishy, torn rubber boots etc. But worst of all is rust spots created with the cheaper XJ body construction, the worst spot being the void space between the lovely curved rear under bumper valance panel and the unseen gap it covers in front of the vertical rear tyre well. In the first week of owning mine in 1979 I removed the two rear under mudguards and sprayed enmasse with marine liquidlike tar paint to stop any chance of rust there, and in the front mudguards massively spray all that area with marine tar paint and in behind the two little removeable inspection panels so my car would last. And that it did. All un-necessary in a mk10/420G as its already "hermetically" sealed for life by its more costly superior construction and design, hence wanting another and buying the second one in 2012.
    Finally , consider this. In Sydney 50 years ago there were a number of Jaguar wreckers handy for cheaply priced good quality "nick-nacks" for your car almost new but half price or less. The best was JandD spares in the far western suburb of St Mary's 40 odd miles from me. However when I and Pa had finished raiding the "crappy" '68 420G of its RHD hidden pieces needed for a LHD to RHD swap I sold the leftovers for more than I had paid for the whole car in the first place. JandD wrecked only Jaguars and Mercedes. When I was there it was late on a saturday years ago and we (grandad Pa & myself) had gone there to drop the car off and have a couple of beers. They were crushing and "cubing" cars that had been crash damaged & fully stripped of anything useful. Having a weighbridge they could also handle scrap metal from others. What had been delivered to them was a badly wrecked navy blue mk10, and a strange mushroom/grey color Mercedes 600 the stripped out ml10 body shell weighed considerably more than the light weight longer 600's shell which was way more busted up and damaged that of the jaguar which had fares way better due to its beefier construction. Very interesting to see the two cars "skeletons".

  • @Jef20vt
    @Jef20vt Рік тому +1

    That's a beautiful example. Took the pajamas off my v12 (x305) last weekend. Connected the battery, started on the button and did 180 miles. Happy place I've use it all week to compute. Battery back to 14v now. Did a oil change last weekend too. Had a slight vibration from the tires standing. That's gone now. Good too see a proper classic keeper on the road. My x305 hasn't seen salt so is rust free. I do about 10k miles a year. I need to do a European road trip. Visit some old friends. I've a stainless exhaust, sports cat and straight through resonators. I can hear the v12. If I had wanted silence I'd have got a daimler 6. At the same time I respect a origonal.
    My issue is the computer switches modes, mpg miles average speed etc on its own. At least since waking it up.
    This year is gear box filter and full fluid. Oh and Drive more. Have a good summer.

  • @johndavey72
    @johndavey72 Рік тому +3

    Hi Adam. Driven a number of these over time but the only car that beats this is the 6litre V12 . They are supremely comfortable and that silky smooth V12 🥰🥰

  • @bruceburns1672
    @bruceburns1672 Рік тому +2

    Timeless beautiful styling .

  • @8000Christopher
    @8000Christopher Рік тому +3

    Your winters in Sweden, are similar to our winters in Nova Scotia, Canada. So last weekend I got my 1983 XJ6 out of storage, my my, that car is such a pleasure to drive. Yes it would be a better performer with a 4 speed automatic transmission, other that the 3 speed it has, but it's like seeing an old friend when I get it out of storage, such a wonderful automobile. Thanks for your vids.

    • @alexpittman3632
      @alexpittman3632 Рік тому

      Hey! I’m also a fellow Jag owner in Nova Scotia Canada. I am near Lunenburg. How about yourself? I’d love to chat further and always looking for fellow Local Jag owners. Where in Nova Scotia are you?❤

    • @8000Christopher
      @8000Christopher Рік тому +1

      @@alexpittman3632 I am in Halifax. Do you know about BATANS, British Automobile Touring Association of Nova Scotia, there is a south shore branch.

    • @alexpittman3632
      @alexpittman3632 Рік тому

      @@8000Christopher thank you! No I never heard of them but will look into it now. I’m only about an hour away from you. I’m looking for anyone who can help me work on my car. I used to do it but now have some disability issues and need help. Know anyone in our area? What colour is your XJ6? Great to meet a fellow local Jag owner 👍

  • @geoffclarke3796
    @geoffclarke3796 Рік тому +3

    Love the styling on these cars and that V12 is a brilliant engine. Just let down a little by the 3 speed automatic gearbox but I guess most cars of this type with auto boxes only had 3 speeds.

  • @bruceburns1672
    @bruceburns1672 Рік тому

    People today would not realize how revolutionary this car was in its day , along with the E Type I believe that most people who were into cars styling back then never forget exactly where they were when they spotted the first version of this model, it put the German designs to shame.

  • @alexpittman3632
    @alexpittman3632 Рік тому +1

    You’re pre HE V12 videos are my favorite! can’t wait to see more on this car too. But of course I have a 1979 XJS. I am also experiencing the same issue with my charging system and I am looking forward to your next videos as you troubleshoot yours. still the best UA-cam channel there is! Keep up the great work Adam.

  • @donnysweekendvanlifetravel7854

    a beautiful car adam runs like a swiss watch happy driving nice to see it back on the road all the best donny

    • @LivingWithAClassic
      @LivingWithAClassic  Рік тому +1

      Thanks Donny! It really does. It’s the best running V12 I’ve ever driven actually. Incredibly smooth

  • @wilfredpau3627
    @wilfredpau3627 Рік тому

    Saving the Volvo 740 of Matt Richardson from Furious Driving. Great job Adam!

  • @eddie7305
    @eddie7305 Рік тому

    Thanks

  • @pstreetgarage7304
    @pstreetgarage7304 Рік тому

    Definitely a keeper! Nice car

  • @rogerpritchard
    @rogerpritchard Рік тому

    Wonderful car Adam. I especially like it in white, such a timeless design. Brilliant!

  • @WheelchairWonders
    @WheelchairWonders Рік тому +1

    Adam, those seats look so comfortable.. (Phil)

  • @robelms4891
    @robelms4891 Рік тому

    Beautiful S2 V12. My S3 V12 is exhibiting an intermittent current drain. Any quick checklist on these cars for typical current drain gremlins - a video on the topic would be great. Thanks

  • @jeffharrison5265
    @jeffharrison5265 Рік тому

    Love those cars! I noticed how different the back seat is compared to the XJ6. Nice.

  • @rossilake218
    @rossilake218 Рік тому

    Adam, The E-Type picture road? Sweden, Aircon...Open the windows, let the fresh air in.

  • @martinclapton2724
    @martinclapton2724 Рік тому +1

    I think the series 2 XJ cars were possibly the best looking of all the cars although I’m always torn between these and the series 3 . A lot of people’s favourites are the series 1 cars which I understand , but I’ve always favoured the later cars possibly because I took more notice of cars in general being in my mid -late teens, . Nice car. Nice video

    • @LivingWithAClassic
      @LivingWithAClassic  Рік тому

      I complete agree! They’re my favorite car of all time and why I have 3 of them, 12, 6 and coupe.
      I have also been more towards the series 2 also. I actually planned to get a late series 3 to daily but found a 1975 XJ6 which has been my daily for 3 years

  • @stefanomastropietro9040
    @stefanomastropietro9040 Рік тому +1

    👍 great video. I would be interested to know the root cause of the badly charging alternator

  • @hueyhoolihan582
    @hueyhoolihan582 Рік тому

    it's clear to see you've been smitten! :) and why not? it's easy to fall in love with a looker.

    • @LivingWithAClassic
      @LivingWithAClassic  Рік тому

      It’s a forever car for me. Never getting rid of this one. One day I will treat it to a better paint job

    • @hueyhoolihan582
      @hueyhoolihan582 Рік тому

      @@LivingWithAClassic funny thing about the aging process....
      having now reached a certain age... ALL my cars are suddenly "forever" cars.

  • @Cam-pe3nd
    @Cam-pe3nd Рік тому +1

    Any chance of a V12 firing order sticker on your merch site?

  • @caravaggiosaccomplice7841
    @caravaggiosaccomplice7841 Рік тому

    When cars had oodles of personality and style.

  • @paulb1034
    @paulb1034 Рік тому +1

    Does the charging system use a voltage regulator, worth checking that too?

  • @parrotraiser6541
    @parrotraiser6541 Рік тому +1

    Could the alternator problem be that the drive belt is slipping under load, either because the tension isn't right, or because over the years one or more pulleys have become polished? .Consequently the friction isn't up to driving it against the drag of a full demand.

    • @LivingWithAClassic
      @LivingWithAClassic  Рік тому +1

      Great guess but it isn’t slipping I have checked.
      Most likely it’s a bad remanufactured one. I’ve heard of others with the same problem

  • @michelswerissen6544
    @michelswerissen6544 Рік тому

    Video approved, click.

  • @kathykirby5837
    @kathykirby5837 Рік тому

    I had a Fenair kit installed but it really isn't very cold. Is there a way to adjust how cold it can go? Mine is only a 4.2, I have major envy for your V12 ❤

  • @brianyoung9014
    @brianyoung9014 Рік тому

    Have you checked where the main 12 volt cables come through the bulkhead? they like to corrode there.

  • @urielgiovanni1854
    @urielgiovanni1854 Рік тому

    What do you most recommend for brand or style of XJ6/12 Lifting Jack???

  • @Tigerfire75
    @Tigerfire75 4 місяці тому

    Could the charging be a wiring issue

  • @MrTalvin
    @MrTalvin Рік тому +1

    wow that engine doesnt oscillates when u accelerates

  • @glennpowell3444
    @glennpowell3444 Рік тому +1

    Being a 1977 is that engine still running on a single Lucas coil ignition set up? They were typically hopeless.

    • @LivingWithAClassic
      @LivingWithAClassic  Рік тому +2

      It is but the Opus system has been upgraded to a re/Opus systems. That works really well. It’s the new reproduction Lucas coils that keep on failing. I’m running NOS ones from the 70’s now and problem solved

    • @glennpowell3444
      @glennpowell3444 Рік тому

      @@LivingWithAClassic I have heard of that upgrade and it works it seems.Having worked in the motor factor buisiness Lucas parts were terrible in the later years.Coils got hot and caused pretty bad misfires as they tried to keep up with 12 spark plugs firing in a very short space of time under high rpm.Alot to ask to be fair for a single coil to cope with.I ran a mini 1275 and even with just 4 cylinders to spark Lucas late Lucas coils could get hot and cause running issues.Aftermarket coils had oil in them to dissipate heat.Modern spark plugs dont help as they rely on a very strong HT voltage which alot of classic car ignition systems cant deal with because modern petrol is shit to ignite.

  • @larsw.larsen4173
    @larsw.larsen4173 Рік тому

    Have had a 1978 Daimler Double Six. Recognaise the sound🎉

  • @stevecar
    @stevecar Рік тому

    Just a quick aside do you find Stainless steel exhausts are noisier or do you resource mild steel to original spec? My Daimler 66 just now seems different. Just passed MOT though!

  • @davidrix804
    @davidrix804 Рік тому

    Hi there friend,can i ask a question please? is it ok to add fuel injection cleaner to my tank of my honda crv 2003? As i think your the expert to help me,its running ok but just want to add anyway✌️✌️✌️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

  • @davidsolloway9349
    @davidsolloway9349 Рік тому

    Like # 51

  • @stevecar
    @stevecar Рік тому

    Did you have any thoughts on my comment ?

  • @markboden2749
    @markboden2749 Рік тому

    These cars are luxury yes. But you might aswell go and dig a massive hole in the garden and fill it with cash.

    • @LivingWithAClassic
      @LivingWithAClassic  Рік тому

      Why? A great reliable classic that is amazing to drive. You only live once