Jaguar XJ6 - a symbol of Jaguar excellence and heritage

Written by John O'Cean.

​The Jaguar XJ6 is a luxury car that was first introduced in 1968 and became one of the most successful models in Jaguar’s history. The development of the XJ6 began in the early 1960s, when Jaguar was producing several different saloon models that competed with each other and were costly to maintain. Jaguar decided to create a new car that would replace all of them and offer a modern and elegant design, a refined and powerful engine, and a comfortable and spacious interior. The project was codenamed XJ4 and was led by William Heynes, the chief engineer, and William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar.

The XJ6 used the XK engine, a straight-six cylinder engine that had been in production since 1949 and had powered many of Jaguar’s sports cars and saloons. The XJ6 offered two versions of the XK engine: a 2.8-litre and a 4.2-litre. The XJ6 also featured independent front and rear suspensions, which improved the handling and ride quality of the car. The body of the XJ6 was designed by Lyons himself, who gave it a sleek and graceful shape, with a long bonnet, a short rear overhang, and a low roofline. The interior of the XJ6 was luxurious and spacious, with leather seats, wood trim, and chrome accents. The XJ6 also had many advanced features for its time, such as power steering, power windows, air conditioning, and disc brakes.

The XJ6 was launched in September 1968 and received critical acclaim from the automotive press and the public. It was praised for its beauty, performance, comfort, and quality. It was also very competitively priced compared to its rivals from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, or Rolls-Royce. The XJ6 quickly became Jaguar’s best-selling model and established new standards for the luxury car market. In 1972, Jaguar added a longer wheelbase version of the XJ6, called the XJ6L, which offered more legroom for the rear passengers. In the same year, Jaguar also introduced a new engine option for the XJ6: a 5.3-litre V12 engine, which made it the fastest four-door car in the world at that time. The V12 version of the XJ6 was called the XJ12.

The XJ6 underwent two major facelifts during its production life: in 1973 and in 1979. The first facelift, known as the Series II, gave the car a new front grille, revised bumpers, larger tail lights, and improved safety features. The second facelift, known as the Series III, gave the car a new roofline, redesigned windows, slimmer bumpers, and updated interior. The Series III also introduced a new fuel injection system for the engines, which improved their efficiency and reliability. The XJ6 remained in production until 1987 for the six-cylinder models and until 1992 for the V12 models. It was replaced by the second generation of the Jaguar XJ series.

The XJ6 was one of the most influential cars in Jaguar’s history and one of the most iconic cars of its era. It combined style, performance, comfort, and innovation in a way that few cars could match. It also represented the vision and legacy of William Lyons, who died in 1985. The XJ6 was not only a car but also a symbol of Jaguar’s excellence and heritage.

Some famous owners of Jaguar XJ6 are:

• Elton John: The legendary singer and songwriter owned a 1985 Jaguar XJ6 Series III that he used as his personal car for over 20 years. He sold it in 2001 for £2,300 at an auction.
• Jeremy Irons: The Oscar-winning actor and voice artist owned a 1974 Jaguar XJ6 Series II that he bought new and kept for over 40 years. He said that the car was “a joy to drive” and that he felt “a great affection” for it
• Princess Margaret: The late sister of Queen Elizabeth II owned a 1980 Jaguar XJ6 Series III that was specially modified for her use. The car had a higher roofline, a sliding sunroof, a cocktail cabinet, and a blue leather interior. It was sold in 2006 for £32,000 at an auction.

According to the web search results, the total number of models produced for the Jaguar XJ6 and XJ12 Series 1 and 2 are as follows:

• Jaguar XJ6 Series 1: 82,126 produced
• Jaguar XJ12 Series 1: 8,378 produced
• Jaguar XJ6 Series 2: 91,227 produced
• Jaguar XJ12 Series 2: 10,226 produced

The total number of models produced for the Jaguar XJ6 and XJ12 Series 1 and 2 is 191,957. This does not include the Daimler variants, which were marketed under a different brand name but shared the same chassis and engines as the Jaguar models.