Jaguar XJ Series 2
1973 to 1979 | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Jaguar XJ6 & XJ12 Jaguar XJ 3.4, XJ 4.2 & XJ 5.3 Daimler Sovereign Daimler Double-Six |
Production | 1973–1979 (1981) 91,227 produced |
Assembly | Coventry, England Cape Town, South Africa Nelson, New Zealand |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 4-door saloon |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 2.8 L XK I6 3.4 L XK I6 4.2 L XK I6 5.3 L Jaguar V12 engine |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 108.75 in (2,762 mm) (swb: only sold until 1974) 112.75 in (2,864 mm) (lwb until 1974: thereafter all sedans) |
Length | 194.75 in (4,947 mm) (lwb until 1974: thereafter all sedans) |
Width | 69.75 in (1,772 mm) |
Height | 54 in (1,372 mm) |
Kerb weight | 3,841 lb (1,742 kg) |
Commonly referred to as the "Series II", the XJ line was facelifted in Autumn 1973 for the 1974 model year. The 4.2 L I-6 XJ6 (most popular in the United Kingdom) and the 5.3 L V12 XJ12 were continued with an addition of a 3.4 L (3,442 cc or 210.0 cu in) version of the XK engine available from 1975.
The Series II models were known for their poor build quality, which was attributed to Jaguar being part of the British Leyland group along with massive labour union relations problems that plagued most of industrial England in the same time period, and to problems inherent in the design of certain Lucas-sourced components.
Initially the Series II was offered with two wheelbases, but at the 1974 London Motor Show Jaguar announced the withdrawal of the 'standard wheelbase' version: subsequent saloons/sedans all featured the extra 4 inches (10 cm) of passenger cabin length hitherto featured only on the 'long-wheelbase' model.By this time the first customer deliveries of the two-door coupe, which retained the shorter 'standard' wheelbase (and which had already been formally 'launched' more than a year earlier) were only months away.
Visually, Series II cars are differentiated from their predecessors by raised front bumpers to meet US crash safety regulations, which necessitated a smaller grille, complemented by a discrete additional inlet directly below the bumper. The interior received a substantial update, including simplified heating and a/c systems to address criticisms of the complex and not very effective Series I system.
In April 1975, the North American Series II got a slightly revised set of front bumpers which had rubber overriders covering the full length of the bumper with embedded turn signals at each end. In 1976, the North American cars also got the addition of electronic fuel injection in the place of Zenith-Stromberg carburettors.
In May 1977, it was announced that automatic transmission version of the twelve-cylinder cars would be fitted with a General Motors three-speed THM 400 transmission in place of the British built Borg-Warner units used hitherto.
The 1978 UK model range included the Jaguar XJ 3.4, XJ 4.2, XJ 5.3, Daimler Sovereign 4.2, Double-Six 5.3, Daimler Vanden Plas 4.2, Double-Six Vanden Plas 5.3.
In New Zealand, knock-down kits of the Series II were assembled locally by the New Zealand Motor Corporation (NZMC) at their Nelson plant. In the last year of production in New Zealand (1978), a special 'SuperJag' (XJ6-SLE) model was produced which featured half leather, half dralon wide pleat seats, vinyl roof, chrome steel wheels and air conditioning as standard. New Zealand produced models featured speedometers in km/h, and the black vinyl mats sewn onto the carpets in the front footwells featured the British Leyland 'L' logo.
Though worldwide production of the Series II ended in 1979, a number were produced in Cape Town, South Africa until 1981.
A total of 91,227 Series II models were produced, 14,226 of them with the V12 engine.
Related
Technical
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Engines
Years Type Capacity Horsepower 1973–1975 DOHC I-6 2,792 (171 cu. in.) 140 1975–1979 DOHC I-6 3,442 (210 cu. in.) 161 1973–1979 DOHC I-6 4,235 (258 cu. in.) 245/162-186 See Note 1973–1979 SOHC V12 5,343 (326 cu. in.) 265/244 See Note Note: HP varies depending on emission standards imposed on particular vehicles
Production count
Year XJ6 XJ12 1973 1488 168 1974 13526 4744 1975 11990 2239 1976 12157 3283 1977 9043 1913 1978 12138 3284 1979 1099 429 Total 61,441 16,060