Harry’s Garage is paying special attention in his XJC.
Complete paint job and engine out.
Good thing to see a revival of interest on the XJ on a mainstream channel!
This is part two of what is to become a series until the job is done.
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I really do enjoy Harry’s petrol headed shenanigan’s… in the first episode when they were looking at the car the guy restoring it said it would cost between £15- £20K, and I laughed, now he has sent the engine away to have it rebuilt and with everything else this will end up thick part of £30K easy…
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As with nearly all the car restoration/repair costs on classics, it won’t be worth what he’s going to spend but that’s normal for a privately owned classic. It’s why it’s nearly always better to buy a car someone else has restored. I reckon to get back about half what I spend on mechanical, trim or bodywork in increased value, the balance is the cost of my hobby and I suspect it’ll be the same for him in this case.
Cheapest fix on that car? A bit of sound deadening and foam on the inside of the roof will sort the tinny sound.
Very intrigued by the idea of a quick revving V12 and a manual box to make a great sounding, fairly quick hot rod / Grand Tourer, though with a 700kg (!!) engine/gearbox the car will always be 1850kg to move around.
I watched his little Zagato Lancia Fulvia video - that thing looked pretty cool and should be very usable as a road car though I suspect may end up costing the same or more to fix up
Made me realise how rust free my car is … I think. Will definitely keep an eye on this. And what colour do you think he’ll go for? I’d vote Lavender Blue, it’s effectively purple and a period correct colour. My favourite XJ colour and I very nearly did my car in it.
I’m afraid he’s going to paint it some terrible color. What’s he got against Squadron Blue?
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ya I’m really happy to see him fixing that thing up. God if I had a manual v12 XJC 
I wish I could afford the same resto on my XJ. And a manual swap with it. What would it take to make the exhaust on my series 3 sound a little more like an e-type?
You replace the first pair of mufflers with straight through pipe.
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Estimate x 2 = real cost !!!
I watched every episode in Harry’s Garage, especially the jaguar ones and those thousand-mile tours.
One episode interested me quite a lot was the tyre fitting episode for his cars. The correct vintage tyres for the xjc12 have rather aggressive tread patterns almost like the BFgoodrich and Dunlop all-terrain tyres. He mentioned that the tread depth of those were shallower than hi performance modern tyres. I was wondering if the tread design was to deal with the less than ideal road surfaces in the 70s?
Since I may need some new tyres very soon, and I use them for hillclimbs most of the time. Those roads are not nearly as nice as city roads. I may explore some choices in crossover/suv tyres as well.
Fan,
don’t know what you’re up to, but unless you’re on gravel keep clear of SUV tires. Most tires available today in original sizes for XJ sedans are minivan/SUV or other nonsense tires. The issue is less about thread than sidewall stiffness.
Yet, any regular v-rated tire will be a lot better for your purposes than original Dunlop or later Pirelli P 4000, don’t worry.
Good luck
Jochen
75 XJ6L 4.2 auto (UK spec)
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I have recently fitted a set of Michelin Energy XM2+ tyres to my XJC, 205 70 15s, albeit H rated. They look good, like they belong on the car, and very happy with them. Cost $NZ 800 fitted and balanced for four. Should be available in the West Island…
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Jochen, V rating tyres in the right size are not available at my local Bobjane fitters, unless I change to 215/65R15, then there is one choice from Kumho. I would like to keep the tyres from Michelin or Pirelli. Then a lower rating of 96H would be more available.
It is interesting about the van tyres, which have much higher weight rating. I know they look ugly, but some local club members use then for weekend racing and never complain about them. To be honest, I wont put them on my xj6.
Dave, Michelin XM2+ has been on my Subaru since the car was new. The first set lasted 85000 kms until the workshop told me they were 11 years old although tread depth still legal. What did you use on the jag before switching to Michelin XM2+?
I used primacy3 on an old Lexus GS and really like them. So I assume they are good for heavy big sedans. My xj6 currently runs Falkens that I dont really like.
Hi Fan
I got the car a year ago. The previous owner had it 33yrs, and the tyres were about 20yrs old and of mixed parentage. So I never really drove on them!!
They are only used for club runs and the like, nothing challenging, but I think they suit. Over here the Primacy are only available in that size as an SUV tyre, and are significantly dearer also. They would be a waste for the way I use the car.
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Uniroyal rain expert on mine when I replaced all 4. Nice soft sidewall and was recommended by the jag specialist I was using. Very cost effective solution.
Pirelli P5 was homologated for XJ in 1978 which may indicate some factory preference but the classic reissue of those is three times the price of the uniroyal. And the Michelin are 4 times more expensive
Just fitted a full set of Pirelli cn36 to the other classic and it’s a lot nicer feel than the moderns I had before. Those old pattern tyres have very distinctive looking tread patterns.
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Dear Mike,
Do you have any insight in what Harry did to his XJC’s suspension?
I heard him say it was done at XJ Restorations, but they seem to have ceased operations.
A thicker anti-roll bar and stiffer polyurethane bushings? Shorter springs? Adjustable shocks?
And even if you shouldn’t have the info about Harry’s car: any advice on the above?
In copy I join a picture of my XJC, which I restored with my Uncle 7 years ago. In the meantime I’m working on 2 XJ S2’s - a manual and an automatic.
Many thanks in advance for some advice (and if any other jag-lover has advice, I’ll be grateful)
Best jag-regards
Peter (Belgium)
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Peter, that car is stunning! Beautiful and it looks so much better than modern cars IMO
Bob
Fan,
tires have to be compromises for stickiness, stability, comfort and longevity.
High performance tires have to sacrifice longevity. So if you find a tire keeping its thread over 50000 kms, you may rest assured it is not a performance tire:-)
As for availability: original size “serious” tires indeed are obnoxiously expensive. Hereabouts, the “cheapest” of them, Vredestein Sprint Classic 96W runs at 230 EUR. I’d consider 215/65 still “more or less original”, and it improves choice - and price level! - a lot: starting with “el cheapo” (but decent quality) Nankang Remex RX-615 96V at 75 EUR and Kumho Solus KH17 96V at 114 EUR.
Good luck
Jochen
75 XJ6L 4.2 auto (UK spec)
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I fitted Pirelli Scorpion 205/70/15 tyres to my '72 and I’m very happy with them. They’re the type fitted to Mazda MX7s and similar. They look like a normal road car tyre.
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Thanks Jochen. My S1 is only used at night or in weekends, doing less than 3000 miles a year. Longitivity is never the first criteria to consider. The road surface is a combination of gravel, bitumen or asphalt. So I may rule out the stickiness bit as well. In the 215/65r15 size there are better choices for V rating tyres at lower prices. I may go for the Kumho KH27 100v.
Paul, those look good on your 72’. I have them on my Lexus RX for 3 years now, very confident to drive in different conditions.
I missed the Pirelli 35% off sale on last Friday because I have not got the Carbs fixed yet. Otherwise, I will run the same tyres like you. Are you happy with the noise level with them?