For five distinct generations across about four decades, the XJ full-size sedan (or saloon) set a standard in driving luxury that other automakers strived to match. Some of the earliest examples of XJs are still on the road, and this Regency Red example still looks classy even today.
The Pick of the Day is a 1969 Jaguar XJ listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Boise, Idaho. (Click the link to view the listing)
“A lovely and original survivor,” the listing begins. “This car is pure sex appeal on wheels. The Series 1 XJ was the last car designed by Sir William Lyons and the attention to detail is extraordinary.”
The Series 1 of the first-generation XJ went into production in Coventry, England, in 1968 and lasted through 1973 with just over 82,000 units produced. Design was indeed carried out by Lyons, who became known as “Mr. Jaguar” later in life. His work in the automotive industry started as early as the 1920s, and in 1935 he co-founded Jaguar Cars. His involvement with Jaguar continued for many decades, and he even served in a consultative role after retirement well into the 1980s.
The chrome-trimmed body of this 1969 XJ received a quality repaint at some point in life. The exterior is said to be rust free, and even the interior is in good surviving condition aside from some cracking in the leather upholstery as shown in the photos. For being about 55 years old, some wear and tear is expected.
Power up front comes from a carbureted 4.2-liter inline-six mated to a BorgWarner three-speed automatic transmission. The seller says that the car runs as it should, and it has been maintained by the same Jaguar mechanic for over 25 years. “Holds her fluids well, though she’ll spot a bit on the garage floor.” Worth noting: The clock and the original radio are not working at this time.
Sir William Lyons would be proud of how clean and well-kept this XJ has remained. During his tenure at Jaguar, he sanctioned the creation of the Jaguar Drivers’ Club in 1956. The club remains in existence today and has served thousands of Jaguar owners and enthusiasts over the years.
The asking price is $19,950 for this executive sedan.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Very nice!
I have had a 72 and 73.
Don’t care for the later years.
“Jaguar Cars” was not “co-founded” in 1935. The car manufacturing company was named “SS Cars Ltd” and was founded in 1932. The name “Jaguar” was introduced as a model name in 1935. The company name was changed to “Jaguar Cars Ltd” in 1945.
There is a sportiness about the styling of the swb Series 1 that was lost when they stretched the wheel-base and messed-up the styling for the Series 2. The Pininfarina re-styled Series 3 XJ restored the proportions of the “glass-house” and tidied-up the grille and bumpers, and is an outstandingly elegant car.
The Series 4 (aka “XJ40) is a bit “boxy” – Jaguar tried to update the flowing “XJ” shape by straightening it out and flattening the curves, but got caught out when the market went to more curvaceous shapes anyway. They got it right with the restyled ’95 – ’97 Series 5 XJ (aka the X300) and it successor, the V8-engined Series 6 (X308) . To me, the Series 5/Series 6 XJs are the last of the “real Jaguars” – and still look great today.
(Proof – I even get kids shouting “Beautiful car” / “I love your car” etc when out in my Series 5 XJ6. (it does look pretty cool in Antigua Blue) These kids weren’t born when the Jag was made, and it may be the first “three-box saloon” they have seen, now that the hatch-back has been mandatory for the past thirty years or more.)
The 69 model, XJ6 Is and will always be a classic, it’s body shape should never have changed, for any reason. The more boxy streamlined Jaguar destroyed, the look that Lyons originally created.
Love this car