Daimler Double Six V12 - Review and Road Test by Jaguar Dealer
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- čas přidán 19. 05. 2023
- #daimler #doublesix #xj6 #jaguar #classiccars #classiccarsforsale
After 40 years in the classic & sports car business, I've driven almost everything there is. When people ask me ‘What is the one car with the best of everything you've ever had?’ I usually answer; "‘The car they'll bury me in is a Jaguar Sovereign V12 or a Daimler Double Six’".
Watch this video to understand why.
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In 1983 South African CAR magazine tested the Daimler Double Six. I read it many years later as a 14 year old car enthusiast and the last paragraph of that test was forever burned into my mind:
"This magnificent Daimler is lithe, graceful and unruffled on the road, an utter pleasure to drive. It responds instantly and precisely to controls and offers unbeatable quality in its furnishing and equipment. It is a car of rare distinction, for top people."
31 Years later and I still can't resist the impulse to click on any video that features a DD6. I must never be tempted into buying a perfect example for that would lead to idolatry. As it is, I merely consider it the pinnacle of human creativity and history's most complete luxury automobile. Something made for the sheer enjoyment of one's fellow man, designed and built by people who loved cars.
I drive a 1999 Daimler Century V12 and it has the power and grace of a XJ DD V12. Bodywork is indestructible though the car requires regular maintenance. 147 K on the clock. You might seek a similar one second hand
Sir John is a British hero. A commmitted guy
Im the owner of a 91 ABS DD6 exactly the same colour.After plenty of classics,Mercs,Porsches other Jags...I feel this I have now is going to be with me for ever.
The most beautiful saloon ever made.Thats a fact.And quieter than some of those awful electrics you can see on the streets.Regards from Spain!
A great video that I was very happy to see. I live in Germany, have been a Jaguar freak for 30 years and share their enthusiasm and fascination as I also drive a Daimler Double Six Series III in regency red (built 1992). The British gentleman's room on wheels offers an unmatched flair, fragrant Conolly leather in Magnolia with cherry red piping and noble woods invite to a long dream journey. Just consider the incomparable harmony of the charismatic lines of the XJ . The aesthetic perfection with which noble woods and valuable leather are processed to an interior of the absolute luxury class is very impressive. The car is like a drug and is totally addictive. You like to take detours, because the journey is the destination and time takes on a secondary meaning. No other vehicle convinces with as much charisma and elegance as the Jaguar models of series I - III. The Double Six is the absolute crowning glory in this context. But what makes traveling in a Jaguar twelve-cylinder an absolute pleasure are its engine and chassis qualities. They convey the feeling of weightlessness that is typical of a Jaguar. Actually, as a German, I should go into raptures for German vehicles, but my heart beats only for the great classics from Jaguar, and that includes the Daimler Double Six. Daimler Double Six forever! Only two events can separate me from my vehicle, total loss or death and I hope that neither one nor the other will occur so quickly. Best regards from Germany!
Such a wonderful comment, thank you very much. I especially like this line "the journey is the destination and time takes on a secondary meaning". Beautifully said.
@@Classicandsportscar1 Thank you very much for your nice answer!
German engineering is a direct result of the high excellence, superior training & education + no-nonsense national characteristics of your Fatherland. You've enhanced Mini, Bentley, Rolls-Royce & Lamborghini quality & warranty claims per vehicle. Please know this, my friend. 👍
A Gentleman of refined taste.
Now this is a classic I could afford.
Keep up the wonderful work, it’s rare to find someone that has such a passion, and knowledge about what he loves.
It’s true. Even after 4 decades in the business, I still love it. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Except the fuel bill.
People may say, “The best car ever made? Really? It’s 2023, technology has moved on. We’re even in the age of the electric car etc…” Sam Cooke wrote and delivered “A change is gonna come,” to the world in the early 60’s. Music production has moved on in terms of technology too. But a masterpiece is untouchable by new ideas, fashion, or other advancements or frivolities of modernity. Personally I have owned and driven faster, more fuel efficient, more robust, better handling, far more expensive cars than my XJ12. Which one is easily my favourite? Which one is the nicest, most beautiful of them all? No doubt about it, my 41 year old XJ12. Nothing makes me feel the way it does. So to my mind, it remains the best car in my world.
Exactly! You get to the heart of the joys of classic car ownership with that one word; FEEL. These beautiful classic cars are personal to us. The XJ12 is indeed a beautiful car. Thank you for watching and commenting.
For sure technology has way surpassed the classic era. But the esthetic of those days are long lost.
They were very stylish, and well sorted by then. My uncle had one. Beautiful car.
@@shevetlevi2821😊😊😊😊😊 my
Agreed -'74 XJ12L & '86 XJ6
I completely agree. Having an XJ-S V12 myself I totally understand what you mean. They just do everything so gracefully and elegantly, but still have punch when required. There is no better place to be. These classic Jaguars will still shame a lot of modern cars today. Simply wonderful.
Ah, the Jaguar XJS V12 - another beautiful car. We currently have two Jaguar XJS V12 cars in our showroom - one of them being a TWR. We are hoping to make a video of these two cars for our channel soon. Thank you for watching and commenting.
I had a 1989 Xjs v12 for about 6 years without any problems, best car I’ve ever had only I sold it recently now after a series 2 xj6 or Daimler
Most accurate, bravest, most truthful review anybody has ever done about these.
Thank you for this encouraging feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed the review.
A brilliant review, and it really captures the very essence of these graceful, almost ethereal, motor cars. I’ve had one for over twenty years and 200,000+ miles, and with proper maintenance and care, it is utterly reliable and thoroughly competent in a manner unattainable in anything else.
What a great feature !
What a great design !
What a great technology !
What a great car !
What a talented car dealer / consultant / connoisseur !
Lovely car, elegant, powerful, refined and British. The gentleman's choice.
Here, here! Thank you for watching and commenting
I have “discovered” your channel recently and have to congratulate you on your delivery and quality of filming. Your voice can be heard clearly above background without the ridiculous music (noise) that many people use these days.
Your reviewing style is relevant & anecdotes with historical personal references entertaining, keep up the good work & thank you!
I’m glad you “discovered” us and you enjoy our videos. Thank you!
Agreed , we need more of this
My first car crushes, at 13 years old were British, but certainly not the XJ6. More like the XKE, TR4, Spitfire, GT6, MGA, early MGs. British racing green, wood dash. Driving eastbound on a late spring day on the Merritt Pkwy in Connecticutt would be sublime.
XKE or E'Type as it was known here was every schoolboy's dream. Thanks for commenting
@@Classicandsportscar1 🙂
Actually perfection instead of the Merritt Pkwy would be much of the rural countryside and quaint villages in all of Great Britain, assuming I could get relaxed with driving on the left.
Of all of the cars I have owned in my 80 years, my 1988 XJ40 Daimler stands alone. It was perhaps not quite as beautiful as the earlier XJ6 but inside it was totally sumptuous with its polished wood dash, picnic tables for the rear seats and soft beige leather upholstery. I used to take it out every week on country roads just for the sheer pleasure of driving such a thoroughbred vehicle.
It's wonderful to read such stories about these classic Jaguars and Daimlers. I'm glad you have such fond memories of your XJ40 Daimler. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Magnificent. And thank you for this brilliant video. Greatly appreciate the care with which you made it.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nothing has a better-ride handling combination. That's combination not compromise as neither is compromised. Peace, tranquility and speed in one wonderful machine. Apart from that, has there ever been a more beautiful big sedan?
Well said!
I could say the same about my 2000 S Type 3.0. We took it on a track day and it behaved impeccably. At the national speed limit, you can hardly tell that you are moving, with hardly any engine noise or road rumble. A great car.
Different era, but it was an excellent performing car.
That’s probably more Ford than real Jaguar I’m afraid
J'adore votre voiture et la façon dont vous en parlez.
Merci beaucoup :-)
Pure class. My uncle had a Mark X. I worked for a guy who had had twenty odd Jaguars. He treated himself to a nearly new long wheelbase Bentley, it was fantastic, yet within a year he returned to Jaguar. He felt they were where the perfect combination of luxury and practicality. Love you car.
That's a great way to put it. The sweet spot. Thank you for watching and commenting.
I owned an 85 XJS v12 HE for 11 years. 100 mph with zero wind noise a slight hum of the transmission. Nothing else like it.
I am glad you had that Jaguar V12 experience. Thank you for watching and commenting.
I was lucky enough in the 90s to be doing well enough to buy myself a series 3 XJ 6. I chose the 4.2 straight six as I expected to do most of any work that might be on the car myself and a v 12 is a very tight fit in the engine bay and a bit intimidating unless you really know what you are doing. I ended up owning 5 different models including a Daimler and a very rare 5 speed manual which took me 2 years find in good "unabused" condition. I also had a beautiful Silver Birch standard XJ6 at the same time as I just could not bring myself to sell any of them so I kept all 3. I used to drive From South wales to London a few times a month which was just over 200 miles and loved the trip which had become a bit of chore in the other cars I had owned before. As an old Biker I hated being stuck in traffic jams but when I had the Jags It didn't bother me at all. Every one else was in a traffic jam...I was in a Jag. I never did much serious work on any of them even though I drove them "Enthusiastically" shall we say. I once did the London run door to door in 1 hour 46 minutes. This was in the dead of night so wasn't in the least dangerous. Life was glorious before effing speed cams. I can only fault them in 1 way. The mirrors whistle slightly at over 130 mph.
You've brought back some of my memories here! Thanks for your comment
@@Classicandsportscar1 Your welcome. Writing the comment brought back lots of great memories for me too.
What an excellent video - you can hear the car (just) with no shouty presentation, arm waving or crap music. I had a few Jaguars including a V12 XJ-S 30+ years ago and it's sad what happened to them. To me, Jaguar ended with Browns Lane. Jaguar's USP was beautiful cars for a derisory amount of money compared to the German stuff. Tata threw that away. The last real Jaguar for me was the X308 XJR.
Thank you!
Ever since I first saw a jaguar xj6 back in the late 70s as a young kid, it was the one car i always wanted. Ive owned many cars during my life, Fords, vauxhalls, toyotas, Nissans, Range Rovers, Volvos, BMW , Mercedes, Lexus, Hondas etc.........some good cars, some not.......! I said, to myself .........I want a Jaguar XJ6 series 3. Took me a long time to find a good one, finally bought a great example this year. Its absolutely beautiful........I feel im back in time, it has class and fab looks........beats any modern toad faced rubbish on the road in character and charm........ proper gentleman's express.........love it!
I am very happy you finally got to own your childhood dream car, and it was as good as you imagined all those years ago. Thank you for watching and commenting.
I own one; a dream.
It seems your reply has started a witty comment format. Thank you for watching and commenting. Glad you also have a nice example, so you can enjoy it fully.
I have owned six of these, including a Series 1, and five Series 3s. My current is a V12, 1988. Idendical to the one in this video, I think the colour is called Crimson. Everything said here, i can corroborate. Surprisingly reliable, and a pure joy to pilot. Really enjoyed your review. Thanks.
Six? Now, that's dedication! I'm glad you have found 'the one' in your latest glorious V12. Thank you for watching and commenting. Happy 'wafting'.
👍
I bought myself a 1988 Jaguar XJ 6 in 1996 just to see if it would really present me with a wonderful driving experience as a European luxury car, and I must say that my car lived up to all of the horror stories I had ignored while researching to buy one. The self-leveling suspension stopped working at 43k miles and I replaced it with a conventional suspension that Ford developed for my specific car when they purchased Jaguar. That set me back $4k dollars. After that big expense I sold the car AS-IS to a mechanic for $8k despite the car going into 'limp-mode' if driven over 7 miles, and would have to be towed. The mechanic that bought it from me called me and said that he had the car towed 80 miles to the Jaguar dealer in Phoenix, where he was presented with a final bill of almost $8k in parts and labor!
The car road like a dream and was a great car until it wasn't lolol. Unfortunately British cars may look great on the dealer lot, but they break down so quickly that you can't keep the damn things on the road, so - why bother owning one?
Your personal specimen is quite nice and since you live and breathe cars I'm sure you have no trouble keeping them on the road.
Thanks for your comment. I was there right at the launch of XJ40 in October 1986. In my view they were not comparable with the last of the Series IIIs. However, by 1990 model year they were much improved.
Great presentation! My face is green with envy.
Thanks for your comment
I wholeheartedly agree - it’s still a beautiful car today. However, my money would go on an early XJS - I absolutely adore those!
The XJS is another beautiful Jaguar. We currently have 3 for sale on our website you might enjoy browsing. One of our XJS cars (3.6 Manual) is a former 'Factory Promotion Car' and was used by Jaguar themselves for display and promotional work, and was driven by their Team Racing Driver Martin Brundle as his Company Car. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Elegance personified. My perfect daily combined with the xj13 as my weekend joy that when not being driven is on a turntable in my living room.
There are many Jaguars worthy of a living room turntable - the XJ13 is definitely one of them. 👍 Thank you for watching and commenting
Fantastic review, i've always adored these cars since a teenager driving in a Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas. Beatiful cars that so stood out at time from their boxy rivals.
Thank you for watching and commenting. Yes, the design was very clean and elegant. Low and wide. Very modern and still looks great today. Hard to believe the shape is so old now.
BRILLIANT, thank you for sharing such a BRILLIANT VIDEO . love the v12 and really appreciate the Daimler variant
I understand what you mean about feel. I daily drive a modern car and love the auto lights and screen wipers with their infinite variable speed, I appriciate the radar cruise control and the radio controls on the wheel. But I get a buzz from my MGTF 160 2002 that has none of those. I had owned a double six and I remember it was a fondness for its effortless cruise. Unfortunately here in Australia we didn't have the service support and knowledge to keep the car running. Thanks for the video and the memories.
Thank you!
Wow! I normally abhor clickbait titles, but I was not expecting this to be your preferred model. I was expecting an S-Class (W116 and / or W126). As a lover of these cars, not only was I surprised but also fascinated by the little bits I missed.....I had no idea I've been closing the bonnet / hood incorrectly! And instruction on proper closure from none other than the great Sir John Egan! As a car enthusiast, I've always familiar with even some of the most obscure makes, my perception of Daimler from US shores was that it was an upmarket model fully equipped, and the 420 limousine, along with the "Docker Daimlers" of the 1950s, and the royal preference. It wasn't until scratching the surface how I learned that the Mark II Jaguar and the Daimler 250 are rather different vehicles, and how the Daimler's V8 was designed by BSA. The Jaguar gets all the glory outside the motoring enthusiasts, but the Daimler is for the cognescenti. Thanks for posting this (and drawing me in with the old "Best Car Ever Made" ploy. Normally I'd pass over such a claim, but coming from such an expert, I had to watch this presentation.)
Thank you for this detailed comment. Yes, we were cautious about the perception of click-bait, but because we knew we were delivering on the question, we felt necessary to go with it. This IS a question I am asked a lot - especially as our showroom on a typical day will have Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, Porsche... I framed it as a question because of course there is no BEST car - we can only say our favourites. I'm glad we did because not only do more people get to see this beautiful Daimler, but we get to enjoy seeing the comments and how passionate people are toward this era of Jaguar and Daimler. For the drone footage, our camera guy got to drive the Daimler with me on the Drone camera, and later he said "It's a perfect car".
Great video and great stories! 🔥❤️🌟
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it 👍
If I could buy a 2000 Lexus LS400 brand new I would do it in a heartbeat. I would take out a loan. This car is it for me. Top notch build quality by any metric
We all have our favourites, and I'm glad this video has provoked such passionate responses. I did see a Lexus LS400 at a recent car show. They have aged wonderfully... and, oddly, now seems SMALL. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Wonderful video, thankyou. My friend bought a 1985 XJ a couple of years ago and I wasn’t sure what the fuss was about until I drove it. I thought it would feel big and difficult to drive on our narrow bumpy roads around here but it was a very enjoyable experience. This video sums it up perfectly.
This makes me very happy to read. I'm glad you experienced an XJ and that this video reflects your own experience. Thank you for watching and commenting.
@@Classicandsportscar1 you’re welcome. Thank you for the great content.👍
“that was a railway crossing …”!……..beautiful ……….What a beautiful classic …..!
Glad you liked that. We did not plan to use the crossing in our video, but the idea came to me as I was driving because this is how the Daimler makes you think and feel - nothing is a problem. Thank you for watching and commenting.
@@Classicandsportscar1
I came across your channel and was instantly struck by the Daimler its a beautiful car in every way , they dont build them like that any more . Your content is very entertaining and informative , i subscribed about 2 minutes into this video!
I have a very dear old 2004 SL55 which i have owned since 2006… ( only 30k on the clock) all manner of Porsches have come and gone but the old V8 SL is the one that i will be buried in ( or at least own until then !)some cars just get under your skin!
Wonderful car. Not many better road cars have been made. I was out for the day in my E type yesterday and after driving modern cars, you forget how great the ride is. Really comfortable and the E is narrow. Perfect for our country roads.
Ah yes. The E-Type is a special thing, too. I saw a purple(ish) E-Type yesterday in Helmsley. Never gets boring. thank you for watching and commenitng.
Saw George and thought the car would be the E-Type.
When I was much, much younger, my friends dad bought his E-Type.
We all gawped in awe as it was being delivered. We weren’t allowed anywhere near it. 😂🤣
Back in 1961 The E'type was a sensation
Us poor Americans didn’t get the series III XJ12. I got one from Canada where the marketed it as the “Jaguar Vanden Plas” but it’s a Daimler Double Six in all but the badge. Same sculpted rear seats, inset gauges, but a Jaguar grill. The side molding isn’t there either. It’s on the lift for a transmission rebuild now. They say these cars are unreliable, but the only broken part on mine is that General Motors transmission.
I'm impressed! Reading this comment, it seems you HAD TO have that Double Six! I'm happy yours has lived up to your expectations. Thank you for watching and commenting.
The XJ, or eXperimental Jaguar was a game changer when launched in ‘68 and even well regarded towards the end of its long life. With the switch away from large sedans and ICE engines we will never see it’s like again but even the aluminium X350 and last of the line X351 may well be sought after some day.
Thank you for watching and commenting. I'm watching your video now and laughing at the "Rover SD1 is the same colour as a 1970s bathroom suite" :D
@@Classicandsportscar1 Thanks, I also remember the humorous Grundy Mack adverts in the Yorkshire papers which were legendary!! If you have a few in the archives I'd love to see them again!
Most beautiful saloon car ever made. Had 86 series 3 in cranberry red metallic but now going to buy last of series 3 Double six. It is love
Whatever happened to "soft, supple suspension"? In the bid to corner ever faster, most modern cars ride harshly - especially compared to this beautiful Daimler!
So pleased you're making videos, as it's always a pleasure to visit your wonderful showroom.
Thank you very much! I do prefer the softer supple ride.
I ran a series of XJ-S, XJ12, XJ6, XJ40, on huge mileages (Edinburgh to Marrakech...) and know them very well. On the 2.88 diff that the HE's had, 6.5k rpm is nearly 70mph in 1st gear and 2nd is good for 120mph. The early cars are absolute tigers, but power tailed off dramatically after about '87. Ride and handling is exceptional if they are looked after - there's a lot of rubber bushings and 6 shock absorbers. I moved on eventually because of issues with minor but irritating functions - door handles, air conditioning, etc. Mechanically they were unbreakable and cheap to run (XJ40 self levelling suspension excepted).
I ran Mercedes S Class saloons and coupes too-they drove like a pickup by comparison.
But Rolls/Bentley had them equalled if not beaten from 1985 on with the Turbo R.
Great comment - thanks!
Many years ago I owned the top of the top of the range Series 1 Daimler Double-six Vanden Plas. It was the days of the carburettor and the fuel consumption was truly prodigious, made worse by still only having the tank capacity of the 3.4 Jag. A beautiful machine however, and a privilege to own.
I'm glad you have good memories of a Daimler Double Six. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Such a brilliant video I had to watch it twice. I have a 2001 3.2 V8, the only Jaguar I’ve ever owned, but the most comfortable car I’ve ever owned. My ambition is a last of the line Daimler Double Six. Even the name is so elegant. Thank you for posting this, I shall remember to close the bonnet properly when I get it !
Thank you for your kind encouragement!
Ahhh Jaguars... I love them, had a few of them. And I also have never driven cars that rode better than those Jags. Out of my price range these days, luckily the memories linger on! Thank you.
I'm happy you have such fond memories of your Jaguars. When you get a good one, and it sounds like you did... it is a pure pleasure. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Certainly one of the loveliest.
Glad you enjoyed our Daimler video. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Had the first 1969 XJ. Bought it with a blown motor. Being in South Africa, importing part for a rebuild, was impossible expensive. Instead, installed a complete rebuild 350 Chevy V8. Kept the 4 speed with electric overdrive. What a marvelous drive it was. Mechanicaly never had any issues. The Lucas electrical system was the cars biggest problem. Things would just stop working for no reason. Got a compleat wiring harness fitted, most electrical compnents was replace by more reliable Bosh brand. All in i spend double the money i payed for the car. Had it for a couple of years. I can honestly say, i have never driven a car, even up to to day, that had so mutch grace, pace, excellent driving experiance, no matter how good or bad the road. The biggest suprize was the outstanding fuel consumtion 40 miles to the galon, with the V8. Should have kept it, but rust ultimately took its toll.
Jag with a Chevy motor - interesting!
Excellent review of a fabulous car - thank you 🙏🏼
Thank you very much - appreciated!
I make a point of avoiding cars with low profile tyres as they destroy ride comfort. I recall the Peugeot 504 as being the " poor man's XJ6 " in terms of ride refinement. Oddly enough the modern car that keeps getting praise for its excellent ride is...the Dacia Duster. I only had occasional rides in XJ6s but they are wonderful in their way. My dad got to drive a friends XJ12 briefly and came back very impressed. It wasn't on his shopping list though.
The Jaguar XJ12 is another legendary Jaguar. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Take a second look at the tyres on this car. What was classified as “low profile” back in the 80s has the profile of an all-terrain tyre of today - plenty of sidewalk to soak up the bumps!
In 1981 - six months out of high school - I worked as a car jockey/lot attendant at a Calgary Jaguar-Rover-Triumph dealership that also sold MGs, Saabs and (later) Fiats. Got to drive all of these cars including the E-types (both 6 and V12), the XJS, the TR8s and a pair of TVR Tasmins.
The XJ6 and SJ12 were very smooth, plush and comfortable luxury cars in the $33 to $35K price range (the XJS in '81 sold in Canada for a then-nosebleed-inducing $37,500), and with handling that seemed to be pure freaking sorcery considering the land yacht comfort levels.
But so many of these cars seemed to spend so much time in the shop under warranty maintenance/tuning/diagnostic-type repairs it left me with serious doubts about ever wanting one if I were ever able to afford the purchase price.
It seems in England these cars are reliable, but in North America, not so much. Better maintenance practices in their UK domestic market maybe? It's not uncommon now to see these older Jags in reasonably nice condition being advertised here in Canada for under $10K and even as little as $5K. A few have even been converted to 350-cubic-inch (5.7Liter) Chevy V8s. Blasphemy? Or simply a case of owners reluctant to junks such an otherwise fine car, yet unable to afford the replacement costs/maintenance headaches of the original 4.2L and 5.3L engine?
Its an interesting comment. Thanks
My decision to buy a late 91 series 3 from Japan with just over delivery mileage was vindicated as its my daily drive and magnificent motoring at its finest ! Biased you may think but after several disastrous BMW 7 series , I took delivery of my Daimler double six c/w Dayton chrome wheels and all who travel in it are amazed at the silence , the luxury and the je ne sais quois that other cars do not simply have . I was never happy with the later 40 nor its successors and thankfully there are a number of series 3's being repatriated at this moment . Technology (if thats what you call it) has moved on but not in the way that makes cars better to travel in than the mighty series 3.
Was always happy with the 4.2 for the aforementioned reasons. Lovely lovely cars.
Over 42 years in the classic car trade myself and for me the XJ range of cars were certainly one of the finest cars produced. In terms of style, ride and handling they were top draw. Jaguar/Daimler had the ride/handling compromise mastered to a fine art, they can still show modern executive cars a thing or two in that department. By the way on your photo clips at the beginning, XDF 1X a Jaguar 3.4 five speed manual came from my sales stable circa 12 years ago. I also supplied Warner with a Daimler Double Six for the film Men in Black International. I usually have a few XJ's around me, at present a lovely early XJ-S Pre HE.
Thanks very much for posting. Very interesting!
86 4.2 loved it , Only problem had the computer go down , Didn't know they had one , My Jag specialist arrived with a box of little black boxes , kept trying one until it worked , He charges 150$ kiwi & said a few years ago it would have cost 4K to replace , Drove the car for 7 years never missed a beat & sold it for what i bought it for , Makes my newish Hyundai feel like a cheap toy .
Good year 1986 for the 4.2 XJ6 and Sovereigns
Lovely car. A reliable dealer told be nothing beats an xj6 for driving and riding in. (not necessarily the v12)
Wise words indeed. If you ever get the chance to drive one, you will not be disappointed. Thank you for watching and commenting.
There are a bunch of companies that sell kits to convert Jags to Chevy V8 power. The original company, which apparently no longer exists was called "Jags That Run". That probably says it all. I've driven and riden in several of these beautiful cars and they are a dream to drive when they are in the mood yet I recall the difference between slamming the door on a Jag and on any German car. The Jags just do not have the sense of quality in the fit and finish. My wife's Lexus does have that sense of quality and actually is a better car, even better than the Germans.
Still the Jags are beautiful, better looking than the others and better to drive (when they are in the mood)!
Dad had a Mk1 a Mk2 and a Mk3, nothing like them. Still beautiful.
Indeed so - thanks for your comment
V12 is the best. I’ve never driven a Daimler V12 , but I took a test ride in a BMW E38 2001 750i V12 around in Gothenburg Sweden in 2004 and that was a magnificent experience. Excellent ride , silky smooth rocket.
12 cylinders = turbine-like smoothness
Brilliant!!!!
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it!
Very good review.i used to have a 1986 daimler double six.beautiful cars,however,i actually prefer the xj40s to the series 3.i have had lots of xj40s,2 series 3s,x300s,x308s but my absolute favorite is my present x350 super v8.fantastic car,super quick and good on fuel to.your right about the ride tho,even with air suspension they dont glide along as well as the older ones unfortunatley.
Thank you for watching and commenting. I'm glad you experienced and appreciate the Daimler Double Six... and I'm even more glad that you found a car you actually prefer. These things are subjective, of course - there is no #1 greatest car - only the car we love most. What matters is that we find the one for us.
Since my very first trip to England in 1973, I have always been in love with the design of the XJ, although I prefer some generations to others. I had the opportunity to buy a Daimler Double Six Van Den Plas in the mid 80s but it didn’t materialise. I could not afford the running cost at that time (especially the foule cost) because I was just at the beginning of my career. But the XJ was still in my heart. Finally, I got the possibility to acquire a beautiful 2004 vintage X350 Super V8 at a very reasonable price (17,500€) a couple of years ago with only 50,000 km from new. I must say this is my favourite car among the 30 cars I owned (including Mercedes Benz 300SEL, 280E, 500SEC, 560SEC, BMW 7.30i and others). It is still the spirit of the design of the 1st XJ, it is definitely reliable, the interior is superb and the comfort and performance is stunning. I intend to keep it for as long as I can drive and we can get petrol! My dream of 40 years ago became a reality and I have not seen a more desirable car in my existence. I’ll try to keep my Maserati GrandCabrio and my 560SEC too but if I can only keep one, it certainly is this Jaguar! I live in Paris and plan a trip to Scotland next Spring where I enjoyed being a sailing instructor when student.
Very nice!..I do have to make an observation though about your apparent preference to sit very close to the steering wheel in contrast to my usual position..
Maybe its my advancing years!
I knew how to close the bonnet of an XJ6 properly which I had in the mid 70's thank you. But the one thing I still don't know is the difference in these cars, apart from the straight 6 and a V12 engines. I did not know that William Lyons who loved his series 1 XJ6 thought more of the engine than the rest of the car. I just don't get how important a V8 or V12 is to a car when where I can only legally do approx 60mph on our roads. I now have two older Jaguars and one is a 1996 XJ6 and I get a lot of use and enjoyment out of that car and it's classic comfort etc. I have driven a V12. But at 60mph I don't give a dam because I can't hear or feel the engine in my car. It just rolls along like a Rolls Royce which William Lyons, if you knew anything about the man, wanted to produce that kind of luxury car quality in his cars. Sure the power was important when I lived in England in the 60's and I could do 100mph on a motorway. The XJ6 came on the market in 1968, which was one year after the speed limits had been placed on the British motorways. No wonder William Lyons never bothered to pass on his series 1 for anything else. It had everything a gentleman motorist could wish for and use practically. So who can tell me what is the difference at 60mph. In my original XJ6 I could at times hear the clock tick over the engine and the V12's of others of I drove did not impress me more. Perhaps the answer is that I have always bought the best of a bunch over power and been very satisfied with the complete car. I have seen others cars. They all look good on photos and on film. Don't ever buy a car this way.
Peter Crespin's book may help: Jaguar/Daimler XJ6, XJ12 & Sovereign: The Essential Buyer's Guide
Lucas, prince of darkness.
Twin headlights - more of a warm glow
I’m a Benz and Carrera super enthusiast and addicted man. 😂 However. This car is gorgeous, and has a certain I don’t know what as the French say that Benz and German cars in general don’t have. Thanks for the awesome video.
Mercedes do indeed make wonderful cars. I have a Benz as my daily, in fact. Thank you for watching and commenting.
@@Classicandsportscar1 my pleasure. Same here.
Having owned every rendition of Jaguars from a series 1 Etype in 1971 then a 4.2 Etype then onto many series 3 XJ's 2 XJS V12's to my last 2004 XJR THEY ARE SIMPLY THE BEST! Retired in my 70's now I have to make do with a Mazda3. sob sob
Ahh but I imagine you have some great memories of those cars!
Hi from Sydney, Australia. I agree, a series 1 long wheelbase XJ or a series 3, is better than almost every other car but one its older brother the 4.2 mk10 or 420G. I rate a 4.2 mk10/420G even higher having owned a 4.2 mk10, a '74 series 1 LWB XJ6L and now a '67 420G.
In October 1979 I bought a late constructed 1974 rare long wheelbase series 1 XJ6 prior first owner was the owner of the French construction company that built the natural gas pipelines across Australia for the Federal government. He basically had built for him a high output bronze head 6cylinder Jaguar VanDen Plas. he told me he wanted it as a real Jaguar, not a car with "Daimler stickers" on it and triple SU ultra-high output bronze head 6-cylinder cars had more punch than an off the shelf V12. I owned it 33 years, it was spectacular, painted in dark claret with natural undyed leather (bone color) I took it from 18,200 miles up to 190,000 miles over those years and it gave no grief at all. It never broke down, was never towed, flawless. My first Jaguar was a 1965 4.2litre mk10 also a high output bronze head car, it was in an accident, was repaired but had issues, so I bought the XJ6 LWB, however I rate the mk10 4.2's or later BMC named versions 420G's higher, more heavy duty and some of the design cost cuts to make the xj's more affordable are not present eg, the unlined bolt on front mudguards with muck and then rust traps behind the headlights, and unless removed cleaned out and checked, the little dust panel at the cabin end of both mudguards whereas the mk10/420G's have a fully lined steel shell with nowhere for muck to collect and create rust, same at the rear end. I sold my beloved XJ6L in 2012 after I had the opportunity to buy a 1 owner 1967 420G with a history file and a mere 50.025 miles on it in 45 years. In the last decade I have added almost 40,000miles to my "new" 420G, I bought it also because it is a high output bronze head car which give no head gasket grief like the alloy head cars. Decades ago I bought a set of 6 of the special gas shocks Koni had made to improve handling on MK10's they were outrageously expensive when I was going to Uni' so I kept them when I sold the 1965 mk10 years before and re fitted its oil/hydraulic Girling ones. When I bought the 1967 420G I test fitted the Koni's and they were still perfect. After fitting an electronic distributor retuned and tested on a dyno, its putting out 325 horsepower well more than a standard V12 and in a mk10/420G the overall feel is even more of a gentleman's club on wheels and even more of a hand made car complete with multiple wooden picnic tables, more cabin space and way larger boot capacity in a car just 6 inches longer. In 1971 my mum ordered and paid for a brand new 420G the price was $17000 it was finished at Browns lane in December 1971, it was first registered new in Feb 1972. A new XJ6 was $9500, orders being taken for the new for 1972 $11,700 XJ12. So when all were new back years ago the bigger more luxurious, more elaborate 420G was an extra 50% more expensive than a new XJ v12.
Consider this, the Jaguar mk10/420g body shell has the highest scoring structural integrity of any body shell EVER crash tested by the US NTSB, even more so than the 1960's W100 Mercedes 600. This adds to its gentle cosseting ambience.
RE the handling by comparison to a Merc .
For years I owned a little early colonial home at Bathurst NSW, due north of Bathurst by an hour or so is the Mudgee wine district in spring/summer months with daylight saving Georgina & myself would drive up to Mudgee, buy wine then take the direct route back from Mudgee to Sydney where in 60miles it would join the Gt Western Highway. However ten miles before rejoining the Gt Western Hwy there were terrible S bends to pull out of a valley floor. In the early darkness I could see a car overtaking the others in a queue just before the bends, I thought what an idiot as the uphill side on the bends was dual lanes and he could have just waited a couple of seconds and done it safely. I had entered the multi s bends before he caught up to me and the Jaguar was loving the bends, its rear IRS is like no other superior to many modern cars too. When the speedster came level it was saw it was Merc 450SE when he attempted to hammer past me he found himself heading to the bushes and dirt on the wrong side of the road, as the stupid Mercedes swing axles are treacherous when a Merc so equipped is driven by a fool as only a small section of tyre is on the road. With camber change and suspension drop & squat switching quickly from side to side in sharp s bends the Merc had come completely unstuck and if you do what he did, jump on the brakes it then becomes a whole lot worse as the nose dives down and light tail end of the Merc raises and lifts up leaving only half or less of the tread on the road, whereas the Jaguars IRS keeps total tyre grip totally all the time with the grip of a leech in human flesh, the Jaguar simply will not let go, infinitely superior.
Thank you for your comment!
The big G a special car
My father had one… no end of trouble!
A friend bought two, one for spare parts.
Broken for spares - ouch!
Certainly no argument from me. The XJ of that era was a truly stunning car.
The XJ of that era is indeed a stunner. They seem to look great in most colours too - always a sign of great design. Thank you for watching and commenting.
I can fully understand your point and do share it fully. As an owner of a series 1 six with overdrive I love the combination of comfort, agility and torquey engine and even the six sounds completely relaxed under full steam. XJ40 and X300 don‘t feel the same but have their own advantages and the X308 is a joy to drive but doesn‘t feel as docile to drive as a series 3. For me it all started with ten years being driven around in a then brand new V12 series 3 for two weeks and later on I was looking after a friends Series 3 for several weeks and found it „peak Jaguar“ but never bought one as I wanted more economic daily drivers. But even that is a core feature of the V12 that when used daily rarely makes any trouble but sitting around as a sunshine holiday car most of the time they become troublemakers.. So always buy a well used driver 😉
Thank you for this detailed account. I'm glad you had that glorious Jaguar V12 experience. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Loved your review. I have a 1976 Series II, originally a 5.3, but that engine expired in 1993 at 132,000 miles and was replaced with a JTR Chevy 5.7 V8 and TH350 trans. It was already lumped when I bought it, but out here in West Texas there is simply no one within 300 or so miles that offers Jaguar service either as a main dealer or independent shop, and the owner in 1993 when the V12 expired was quoted $10,000 to have that engine rebuilt, so the ~ $2,000 for the JTR conversion won out. The Chevy 5.7 and TH350 trans weigh ~ 700 lbs. less than the Jag 5.3 and TH400 trans, so even with the same 290 horsepower its quite lively. The 5.7 is now getting tired after 30 years, I'll probably replace it with a roller lifter 5 Liter Chevy V8 with a modern combination of aftermarket parts.
Many Thanks!
My "knowledge" of Jaguars is limited to admiring their styling (before they all started looking like used bars of soap). Which is to say that I've only driven one - an XK-E (which I didn't buy). I've never even taken a ride in any other Jaguar.
If you like the refinement of certain Jaguar automobiles, I'd like to suggest (if you ever have a chance) that you drive the 1955 Imperial (by Chrysler).
Your story about the wealthy business woman reminds me of something that happened to my mother (a piano teacher, not wealthy). In 1956, my dad had purchased a 4-door 1955 Chrysler New Yorker with the Hemi engine. In 1959, we moved to Boulder Colorado. Shortly thereafter, my mother was stopped by a Boulder policeman who said she was driving 70 mph in a 35 mph zone.
Mom said she insisted that wasn't possible because she had been at a dead stop at a stoplight only three blocks away.
To which the policeman responded, "Lady, you probably don't realize it but your car can reach 75 mph from a dead stop in three blocks!"
Very good!
This sedan has to be hands down The Best and Sexiest styled sedan of the whole 20th century.
Well said!
I think we all should wtite letters to sir Jim Radcliffe of ineos, to now build a fully carbon duplicate of the series 3. He's done a brilliant job with his grenadier, now he could do the same with these. Similar to Tim robbins character in "the shaw shank redemption" we should all write him at least one letter a week, till the mattets closed. The world needs these cars. I'm off to get a book of stamps😊
We certainly need them!
@@Classicandsportscar1 I could look at them for ever
It's an interesting question. What constitutes 'best'? I had an S3 XJ6, a 1980 model with all the desperate faults which came with it. In spite of that, it was a dream come true and so effortless. Nothing could match it. I couldn't stretch to the running costs of a V12. Sadly.
Once XJ40 was launched the Series III continued in production, but only with the V12. Quality was a problem until the early eighties. Any car with a stainless steel treadplate in the doorway is post 1986 model year. The quality was great by then.
@@Classicandsportscar1 I should've waited!
Beautiful review!
Sometimes people ask me, what does Daimler 'kinda' stand for..I tell them U can compare it with BMW, and the Alpina Brand.
More focus on comfort, combined with full options Luxury, while having the same power feeling.
Back in the Days, my Girlfriend's Dad, drove a Daimler Double Six.
His other Car was a BMW M5 E28
2 Bombshells
Love the 3 Series XJ, was fascinated by Jaguar since I sat in a MK II as a Youngster, promised myself, this would be the Brand , I would buy, and drive..
Still facing all the facts, in Luxury and Joy, in the XJ territories, I chose the X308 supercharged Daimler.
Then later I find out, the X300/X308 series were the most extreme among all XJ, because of their low height.
1 Series XJ are 1,34 M
2/3 Series, and XJ40 are 1,37M
and the X300/X308 have a Height of just 1,31M
And we all know, every mm a Car is lower, this will improve its handling.
Thank you!
That is a beautiful car. My favorite Benz is the Cosworth 2.3 16 valve.
Quite a high performance saloon back then and sought after now.
Another advantage being that to achieve this level of luxury today we would need to spend upwards of £60k and having signed the paperwork, and before actually sitting in the car, we'd have blown 20% of our money in VAT plus an additional 15% on resale figures. A well preserved and maintained classic will, or should return something close to its purchase price or, if bought at the right time, produce a profit. And anyway, whoever stares at a Tesla parked in the street and thinks. 'WOW' ?
Here, here! Well said :-)
Thanking you for an admirable accolade 👍
You're welcome! Thanks
I love these old cars and I always have, ever since childhood. I gravitated to BMWs when I became reasonably financially secure and I am on my fifth now, a G30 530d SE Model (not the teeth-rattling M-Sport suspension version), Walnut interior trimmings, with regular tyres (not the almost wooden-feeling Run Flats) and I imagine I experience something like the luxuriousness of these old classics when I drive.
Tell me about it, G20 M340i 2020 on Pirelli run flats, goes and grips for sure, luxury car? not really.
I still dream about the 1975 Peugeot 504GL 2.0 litre saloon I had in the early 80's, now that was a special car.
Top of the list for car to drive before I die, you guessed it XJ 6/12 . The modern XE and XF weren't so bad but no estate/ 6 cylinder petrol new.
It was in the mid eighties that luxury car suspension was firmed up. It has been the fashion ever since. BMW established the trend. Jaguar seemed to have the balance between comfort and performance right on this model IMO
I worked in Germany on and off for a few years in the mid 90's . Got to know a German fella who used an XJ40 as his daily driver. I asked him why he'd chose the Jag over Merc. He replied " you don't see Jaguar Taxis "
British through and through: A Lancaster bomber in a dinner suit!
That’s a great way to describe it! Thank you for watching and commenting
My late Father had an ‘87 double six HE & lovely
A man of fine taste then. Warm regards and thank you for sharing this personal account.
Utterly magnificent.
They are indeed!
Fabulous video! I would love to see you compare the XJ-12/Double Six to the XJ-8 Vanden Plas (X-350 ). Cheers!
Interesting suggestion. We do not have a XJ-8 in stock at the moment, but if we did, that would indeed make a great video. Thank you for watching and commenting
Personal *COMFORT* was at its height in luxury cars of the past. I owned a 1989 Maserati 228 & a 1990 Maserati Spyder. Don't get the Sport Package in the Spyder, which I don't think was even available in the 228. In any case the *seats especially* in these two cars made them long-distance luxury cruisers which to my knowledge have no equal today. You could drive a thousand miles and step out feeling as if you'd had a massage.
Thanks Matt. You are right in saying "Personal COMFORT was at its height in luxury cars of the past"
Nice vid, thanks. I do like you're driving position. I have the same, arms bent & in control. It does make me wonder why there are many younger people having the F1 type driving position? Do they think it's 'sic' to drive in a position where they can't possibly see where they are going & if they crash they will have their heads lopped off by the seatbelt? All the best......
I'm glad you enjoyed the video (and driving style!), thank you.
I had a Series 3 Jaguar V12 HE in BRG. It had been owned by a very successful businessman; and maintained regardless of expense. A Peach. Apart from my current XJR, it was the best car I ever owned. At 120k miles it was becoming uneconomic to maintain. I had it for 10 years (as I do all my Jaguars). A real gas guzzler. Super smooth. 90mph in second ! I miss her even today. The only issue I ever had was with distributor. My main dealer struggled with it. I called browns Lane Service Department.' If they cannot fix it, we will. Somehow, the Main Dealer fixed it. Occasionally I would 'stretch her legs' on the M69. She was my Waggers. As you booted her the LSD would kick it and the tail end would waggle putting all that torque dowm. Magic Carpet Ride ? YES, Yes, and YES.
Thank you! Great comment
Proper motor cars these. Just a shame they rusted, I had a 1984 4.2 Sovereign that was rusting at the door bottoms and on the screen valances. The very late models under Ford were built to order and properly prepared, those are are the ones to have.
The 4.2 Sovereign is a wonderful car. Glad you like the video and thank you for commenting.
Define best. For me that must include reliability which rules out any Jaguar product and would make a 2011 Camry the best car ever made.
"BEST" is of course subjective. In the video, I prefer to speak about my "favourite". As these things are subjective, I do not expect or even want people to agree, though it has been fun to see so many people passionately speak about their Daimler / Jaguar experiences. We recently made a video about the BMW 635 CSi - many people could call that the best - with good reason! It looks great, goes great, and is very well made. Is it BETTER than the Daimler Double Six? For many, yes - for many, no. The car scene would be very dull if we all agreed :-)
brilliant
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
Nice!
Thank you for watching and commenting. Short but sweet :-)
The best looking luxury saloon cars ever made with class leading ride/handling and a lovely (if thirsty) V12. The only weak link is the 3 speed automatic gearbox which rather blunts the performance of that brilliant V12 and makes for poor MPG. Harry Metcalf (Harry's Garage) has a mildy modified V12 Coupe with a manual gearbox which apparently transforms the character of the car.
Interesting point - I'll have to watch the Harry's Garage with the coupe. Thank you for watching and commenting.
I had a manual Series 3 V12 TWR, the car everybody always says would be an improvement over the original with the so-called “slush box”. I now own a superb original Series 3 V12 and can tell you which is by far the better car; it’s not the manual TWR. All people seem to want to do is thrash about. It’s always talk of 0-60 times etc. The XJ was not engineered for that stuff. Nobody would expect Concorde to take off and land in the sea, but people expect that an XJ should/needs to go round an F1 track and set records. The majority are missing the point, by a country mile.
Maybe you should try a Lexus LS V8?
I did see an LS 400 at a recent car show. It's interesting to notice how small that car now seems by today's 'standards'. I'm old enough to remember when that car was huge. Not my cup of tea, but I understand it was a very good car.
I don’t own one. A nightmare !
I hope I understand this witty reply correct. In either case, it made me laugh :D
@@Classicandsportscar1 you do! I’d love a Daimler Vanden Plas
If its good enough for Arthur Daley it's good enough for me. 😂
Of course! I'd almost forgotten Arthur Daley drove a Daimler Sovereign. A man of fine taste! Thank you for watching and commenting.
They are the best cars in the world ... in my opinion 🙂
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I always thought that the top speed was 153mph ???? ..(even in the '70s)
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The great part about them was the A/C how the air seemed to "hit a plate" ... then stop ... and then get pushed out the air vents even colder !!!
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I can never understand how anybody will pay £70,000 for some BMW 4x4 diesel-turbo-sport pack- and X pack- mag wheels with ultra low tyres ................. and they can't even go over a speed ramp with their head wobbling off their shoulders or bending a wheel costing £7,000 !!!!
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And they'll walk straight past one of those for around £10,000 ...and get it serviced for another £2,000 and when the door is closed you're in a different world 🙂
I seem to remember the factory claimed 145MPH for the Series III V12. Thanks for your comment
I think it would be just as safe to close the hood by dropping it into place from a safe height... a foot from above. Thus no handprints on the paint. As an ex - graphic and stripe installer I call out the inferior stripe install: it should be on the outer side of the body line, accenting the car's lines.
They are counterbalanced so won't close by dropping.
Series 2 or 3? I like the s2 styling more
The 63 split window is the best car in the world.
That was indeed a very beautiful car. Thank you for watching and commenting.
I could not agree less with you. I had a -93 Daimler Double Six and it was possible one of the worst cars I ever owned. But perhaps quaily dropped a lot in between -85-93? The body style was a bit more to the square side on mine (the less disirable one). I bought it new and from the start it was plauged with endless quality problems mostly affliated with the elelcrical system. The Jaguar/Daimler dealer could never get it right despite endless hours spent on it. After a many years I gave up on it and parked it the barn (like we do in the Swedish countryside). I think it was 12-13 years old then. Anyways there it sat until about two years ago when I finally got around to put it up for sale. A mechanic bought it and it ended up as spare parts for a renovation of a custumers Jaguar (the more desirabe bodytype). At least mine had a pristine white leather interior and a V12 something the customer wanted for his Jag and I'm sure some other parts got used as well. Thus a happy ending to a sad story.
Thanks Jonas. Yours was a totally different car, based on the XJ40. The final year for Series III models was 1992
@@Classicandsportscar1 Well that explains it then. I suppose they decided to cut some corners on the new model to save money. Perhaps the company where bleeding by then?