Description
By: Jaguar World Monthly .
Superlatives are often overused in the motoring press to the point where they become meaningless and, when Jaguar launched the XJ6 back in 1968, the new car certainly had vast amounts of praise lavished upon it in print. However, looking back now, it's not hard to see why motoring journalists the world over were wracking their brains for new and inventive ways of saying `fantastic', `great' and `superb'. Quite simply, the XJ6 was a car more than worthy of all the acclaim it received as, with its release, Jaguar moved forward by about a mile the benchmark by which all other executive saloons were judged... and that's not an exaggeration!
Originally available with both 2.8- and 4.2-litre versions of the XK engine mated to either three-speed automatic or four-speed manual/overdrive gearboxes, the XJ6's drivetrain was well-proven, as was its suspension setup. But, clothed in a sleek unitary construction body, it was the overall design's inherently high levels of refinement, performance, ride and handling which combined to enable it to blow the opposition away.
Of course, although 'right' in 1968, the XJ6 evolved as Jaguar continually strove to keep the car at the head of the executive pack. V12 power was an option from 1972, and revised Series 2 and subsequently Series 3 cars were launched in 1973 and '79 respectively, with production of the latter extending, in V12 form, right through to 1992 – by then, the first versions had long been considered classics!
With such an extensive production history, it will be no surprise to learn that much has been written about Series 1-3 XJs over the years and, here at Jaguar World Monthly, we've certainly amassed a wealth of XJ features and photographs that cover everything from model history, through to buyer's guides, servicing advice, upgrades and much more – all of which are reproduced here in one essential reference work.
In short, if you want to learn more about the Series 1-3 XJs, then there are sure to be many articles contained within this book that will inform, explain, entertain and amuse. I hope you enjoy it.
Matt Skelton
Editor, Jaguar World Monthly
