I delete almost all my blurred shots. They’re not deliberate; they happen by accident as I’m scrabbling to pull my phone out of my pocket, swipe unlock the screen, find the camera button, and press it. This one somehow worked.
It’s a short wheelbase 1968-73 Series 1 XJ. They sold heaps more of these than the LWB version back then. Here the shorter cabin and deep chin conspire with lens distortion and blur to pull the car forward.
Despite the SWB’s dominant sales, Jaguar canned it on the 1973-79 Series 2 soon after launch. Not that the LWB is unpretty. The S2 XJ makes the most sense in terms of aesthetic cohesion; the shallower front bumper lines up with the rear unit in profile. And they’re still chromey.
1979-92 Series 3. I can’t forgive the bumpers. Don’t like the revised roofline either.
But on CC and in the rest of the world these have their many devotees, including the owner of this one. His is the most-used classic Jag I see in my parts.
If you squint, the buttress-less roof profile on this XJS cabrio makes it look like a Zagato tintop variant.
Hi-gloss S2 E-type slinking through a tram superstop.
Nice rear, but for that light panel.
Another piece of blurrendipity. Mk V.
This XK150 was caught exiting a busy roundabout at dusk. With multiple sets of headlights behind and alongside, things were illuminated just right.
Damn, those Jag XJ sedans and XKE roadsters are beautiful. “GRACE, space, and pace.”
Jaguar’s a true piece of Automotive art.
I look at Jaguar’s Pre 2003 models as rolling beautiful art. The distinctive curves, the elegant chrome, the distinctive unique British interiors. The chrome leaping cat hood ornament added charm and prestige (which sadly is no longer used 🙁
The feline like front fascia and rear quarter (especially 1985 models and prior). The XJS Coupe is iconic, which is why it ran from the mid 70’s all the way to the mid 90’s. The entire time the XJS never really aged to me. It had the same Aura as the BMW Shark nose 1977-1989, and M-Benz SL from 1972-1989. These cars never really changed-just updated periodically, but they did not need to. and the XKE beauty, don’t even get me started.
Sadly we no longer see cars like this today that have genuine character like the early Jaguars.
That E-type coupe…Just perfection, right down to the color.
Beautiful but tempermental and troublesome. Best admired from afar.
Sweet looking cars. I’ve always liked the styling of these old-school Jaguars.
pre 1974 … gorgeous. todays F type is nice. but god damn that depreciation on those things. unless i’m leasing i just couldn’t fathom that much of a loss so quickly.
Nice Series II XJ6, but wow, a MkV! Even as a blur, you can see that distinctive and beautiful C pillar shape. Love it.
There’s clearly certain similarities to your home town and mine, in terms of lots of old cars on the streets. the difference is that you have lots of old Jags and we have lots of old Corollas.
Old XJ6s are quite rare hereabouts. They just never attracted much of a devoted long-term following, but perhaps that’s changing. They deserve better than how many end up here: with a Chevy implant, and then inevitable demise.
Splendid shots, each and every one.
Paul Neidermeyer
That is changing, and has already changed…
I disagree, the XJ6 has a huge loyal fan base (it’s one of my favorite cars of all time). Check out “Top Gear” vids on these cars. Most people I know cherish the 70’s and prior Jags and even the 80’s Jaguars as some of the most desired and beautiful classic cars on the planet. Yeah Yeah I know the maintenance can be iffy on certain years-but still.
My dream is to one day own an XJ6, either a 1985 XJ6 VP with the “Pot hole” alloy wheels”, I will even take a 1992 Sorveign VP edition model.
Old Jags are not really that prevalent down here.
Old Corollas are, and being said that… AE8X & AE9X are already getting thin on the ground, with AE10X selling for peanuts. The landscape changes according to the state.
I really prefer the pepperpot alloy wheels on the Series 3 XJ6 over the US-market pseudo-5-spoke wheels (I’m pretty sure they weren’t available on US-market cars). The wheels on XJ6’s (and XJ-S’s of the same vintage) were one of the only flaws in the car’s appearance, in my opinion.
For whatever reason, I think those pepperpot wheels work more harmoniously with the car’s overall design.
Eric703
I 100% agree, I was so angry at American consumers that did not opt for the more modern (special edition) version of the 1984-1985 Jaguar XJ6 V6.
I saw in a magazine where a 1985 XJ (VP), came in an Navy blue color, with tan interior. The XJ had the pepperpot wheels, body colored matched front and rear bumpers, and body colored side mirrors, with blackout trim to replace some chrome bits (not all though), with a slightly revised more aggressive front air dam (or spoiler) with integrated front foglamps. standing still the Jaguar looked aggressive and ready to leap out at you like a Jaguar.
To date I have never seen this version of the Jaguar in any other car magazine, auto vid, blog etc. It’s super super rare..
These small but tasteful major changes made the car look so much more modern-yet still beautifully classic at the same time. I mean how could Jaguar not make this model standard, and why so few if any American consumers choose this design of the outgoing XJ6 versus the standard too “Chromey” version.
It totally blows my mind. To date I have never seen the Jaguar as I described above in real life on the street (I think it might have been Euro Sport Specs I guess). Only in picture. I tell you man if you saw it, you would think it was the most stunning harmonious example of the XJ of this era. The car looked incredible smooth and fluid, less busy. Had more of a youthful presence that younger folks would enjoy-while still looking ultra expensive. So odd they never pushed this version to the public. It probably only cost slightly more than the “chrome” versions.
Which makes it even more sad that people did not choose this version. To give you a idea. It was on the same level as the BMW 6-series. Compare the 1985 BMW 635csi to the 1989 BMW L6. Same car, but the 1989 version with the deep newer aggressive front spoiler, wheels, body colored side mirrors, revised front and rear body colored bumpers. Made the 89 BMW 6 look modern yet classic at the same time. Jaguar tried to do the same.
Lovely on-the-road series, especially love the pic of the XK150 in the night time traffic..
Ah yes, the lovely, lithe, graceful Jaguar XJ6 Series one 4 door saloon….Also: “Excitement, frustration and heartburn”.
I briefly (about 6 months) owned (or did it own ME?) a Jaguar XJ6 sedan/saloon. GORGEOUS car, British racing green exterior, camel leather interior, wood dashboard full of needles & numbers gauges and toggle switches.
And the manual choke that my Mother never could remember to pull out or push in.
And the dual fuel tanks that had to be filled, one at a time.
And the (in)famous Lucas electronics, AKA “The Prince Of Darkness”; that blew EVERY fuse in the car when my parents hastily tried to roll up all 4 electric windows and switch on the A/C, all at the same time, in a sudden tropical downpour…which left the windows and sunroof half open, drenching their wedding clothes and the car’s interior…
The tail-panel shot of the Series 2 E-type perfectly illustrates one of MANY reasons why the Series 1 is MUCH better looking.
Not that I’d turn down a Series 2 if one landed in my driveway…..
Nice, Jags are some of the best styled cars ever Old Lyons sure knew what would sell, The numbers of them still circulating here is quite amazing, but dead ones are easy to spot laying around in paddocks, my Doctor has a Jaguar remanufacturing facility near Hastings but most of his recreations are exported or cars only imported temporarily to be rebuilt.
So much awesome “blurrendipity” here, Don. Great shots and post.
Thanks for the great photos.Nothing like seeing a Jaguar in the wild. One thing most automotive fans will agree on is that Jaguar has built some beautiful cars. At least these cars are accessible from a financial aspect. Buy yourself a Classic today. No matter what happens it will always look great in the driveway!