1975-77 Jaguar XJ6-C XJ12-C

Nothing Like It

What do you get when you remove two doors from one of the world's most beautiful sedans? A beautiful coupe, or something lost in the translation? We'll opt for the former, though many think the latter. The XJ coupe, based on the short wheelbase Series I sedan version, was introduced in 1973, but engineering problems (mainly body rigidity and wind noise) held up production until the '75 model year.

Plus	Minus
Looks Oh, that interior Room for four Still a relative bargain if you're patient	Resotration/Service/Maintenance costs The best ones are now quite pricey

Production was limited, with about 6505 (about 1800 U.S.) sixes (XJ6C) and 1873 (about 700 U.S.) twelves (XJ12C), and more than half were left-hand drive. Mechanically, they are identical to the sedan. Engines were the venerable DOHC 4.2L inline-6, and the SOHC 5.3L V-12. All the usual Jaguar "idiosyncrasies" apply here: electrical, fuel, & mechanical maladies, dual fuel tanks (you have to fill up two tanks!), parts prices, etc. And of course, watch out for the dreaded spontaneous combustion worm. If you have to ask...

Why do people put up with this? Well, what else looks like a Jag? And don't listen to those smug German car lovers. Once the kinks are out, the Jag is at least their equal as a Grand Tourer, and arguably better. We think these coupes are extremely undervalued in today's market. They're powerful and sexy, but usable, too. Jaguar's reputation for repair and expense doesn't help, but relative (Theory of Relative Worth -- were you paying attention last issue?) to what's going on right now, these could easily double over the next few years.

For a long time, Jaguar's cabins were unsurpassed.

2016-19 Update: Values continued to rise for a couple years after this article was first published, then stalled during the "Great Market Correction". They've risen steadily since, far outpacing their 4-door siblings. They'll probably take a breather here, and are susceptible to fallback should we see another market correction.

Current Values

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