1982 Jaguar XJ6 S3 4.2

Delivered on the 1st of June 1982 by Heron Rossleigh, Edinburgh, ‘MSF 142X’ is a Series 3 Jaguar XJ6 that’s fitted with the fuel-injected 4.2-litre straight-six engine LJKS lusted after when he drove it.

Finished in the classic colour of Rhodium Silver with an Isis Blue hide interior, the online MoT history and the paperwork in the history file suggests the 73,000 miles recorded on the odometer may well be genuine.

Running well after significant recent expenditure to recommission it after a few years in storage, it is being offered with no reserve, offering the canny Jaguar enthusiast a rare opportunity to add value as they tick off the few jobs that remain. 

The Rhodium Silver (paint code MDE) coachwork gives the illusion that Jaguar’s designers carved the XJ6 out of a solid ingot of silver to create a 1:1 scale model, something the good panel alignment, decent shutlines, and excellent stance reinforce.

The usual XJ6 brightwork is thus somewhat hidden too, although it highlights the new-fangled injection-moulded rubber inserts. These protective strips are in good shape with only the offside rear having been lightly scuffed and slightly dislodged. 

The 15-inch ‘Pepperpot’ alloy wheels are free of serious scuffs and scrapes, with only the odd small scratch along their perimeter and a few lights marks on, and around, the centre caps. 

The tyres are 205/70R15 Nexen Nblue Eco on all four corners. While all have a good depth of tread, they were made in 2017 so are at the end of their useful life.

Nonetheless, we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. 

Having concentrated on getting the Jaguar running properly, the seller admits there are a few areas that still need attention on the bodywork. 

These include rust at the base of both front wings and both front doors. It has also broken out on the boot hinges, around the rear screen, the inside of the bonnet, at the base of the offside A-pillar, under each door, along the sills, and around the offside fuel filler flap.

There is also pitting on the rear bumper and the bonnet-mounted Leaper, and the chromed front grille has lost its sheen. The paintwork is also flat with lots of orange peel to the finish and what seems to be a fine mist of overspray, including across the glass. 

The lamp lenses are generally good though, with no serious damage to any of the lenses and just a few minor scratches and cracks to the rear units.

The leather-covered steering wheel has lost some of its colour, which either translates to an attractive patina or unacceptable wear depending on how you feel about this sort of thing. The top of the central armrest/cubby has been repaired with more enthusiasm than skill too, so you’ll almost certainly want to get that sorted.

The outer edge of the driver’s seat is a little bit softer now than it was back in 1982 but then aren’t we all? It’s developed a few creases too, but we think that most folk would be very happy to leave it as it is for another decade or so.

The rest of the cabin has enough character to remind you that you’re travelling in a classic car but presents well enough to remind you that the XJ6 “renders superfluous all cars that cost more.”

The Isis Blue hide, trim code JEF, is soft and largely free of wear ‘n’ tear, with the only obvious issues – and these are minor – being a small split on the lower edge of the back of the driver’s seat and another above the air vent on the rear of the centre console. There are also a few loose stitches on the nearside base of the rear seat.

The door cards are in great shape, and the grey carpet is free of holes and serious wear. 

Lovely details abound like the Jaguar script on all four sill tread plates, the typography used on the switches and controls, and the beautiful wooden ‘T’ handle for the automatic gearbox.

The boot is vast, which means there is still plenty of space even with a full-size spare steel wheel and the tool kit in it. Lifting the spare wheel out reveals a solid metal floor with only a little rust developing around the drain holes.

As for work to do, the front of the headlining is wrinkled and has rust stains on it, the driver’s floor mat also has a few stains, and both front footwells have rust underneath the carpets.

Work in June 2024 included overhauling the braking system and handbrake, and fitting new front wheel bearings, a balljoint, and a battery.

More recently, the rear subframe was removed and cleaned before being reinstalled with new springs and dampers plus new rear exhaust silencers and tailpipes. 

This work was undertaken by Sovereign Motor Engineers, an independent and well-respected Jaguar specialist who also photographed the underside with the subframe removed. The photos are in the history file, along with the invoices for more than £2,500. 

Mind you, it was worth it as the result was an advisory-free MoT that doesn’t expire until May 2027 – and this is, you’ll recall, on a car that doesn’t even need one. 

As the video demonstrates, the Jaguar’s engine bursts into life and shows very good oil pressure immediately. The ammeter suggests the battery isn’t being charged though and there is more vibration under load than we would expect, plus a little more vibration at idle than is usual. 

However, it hasn’t seen much use in recent years – the odometer was reading 79,000 miles back in 2019 – so perhaps it just needs a good run to help clear its throat. 

Which wouldn’t be a hardship: The seller drove the Jaguar to us, a journey that prompted him to remark “it’s a nice, honest example that drives really well” and we found nothing on our test drive to contradict his assessment – and especially enjoyed the crackle from the new exhausts.

The engine and underbonnet area present honestly; what you see is what you get, which is how all cars should be presented. 

The underside has a bit of rust developing on some of the painted metal edges and where the old underseal has flaked away, but the rest appears to be well protected by underseal. We would also refer you to the photos of the car with the rear subframe removed, which give an unusually clear view of a part of the car that is usually obscured.

Also note the recent exhaust silencers and fittings, the repainted subframe, and the new rear springs and dampers.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes the paperwork we mentioned above plus many others for servicing and repairs dating back as far as 1990.

There are 21 expired MoT certificates in there too plus the Jaguar wallet and book pack, including a service history booklet that spans the range from its first service on the 14th of June 1982 all the way to its eighth on the 6th of February 2003. 

Ideal for the Jaguar enthusiast on a budget, this XJ6 is being offered with no reserve, so will have found its next owner once the very first bid has been placed.

Yes, it needs some work to arrest the corrosion that’s starting to develop but it has good bones, as that advisory-free MoT can attest.

It also runs and drives well, so you could have a summer fling before sorting out the bodywork in the winter months; with a fair wind you could be up and running again for next year’s show season.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.