XJ12/DD6 Series III: colour

[Oilleak]

i know the question can only be answered with "Pick the car/colour you like most", but still:

I am up for a post 1988 model XJ12/DD6 Series III.

Would you chose a Daimler over a Jag, or it is over the top/too chinzy?
Navy (non-metallic, "Westminster") blue, or gunmetal grey (metallic)?

Please be gentle with a newbie, thank you.

[Simpo Two]

Navy Daimler. But I'd want metallic.

[V12 Migaloo]

When buying these beauties, I would go for the very very very best condition, colour to me would be secondary, but 2 cars being equal I would go for blue with magnolia or grey leather, either Sovereign or Daimler, the Daimler is no way chintzy.... but IMHO does not really add that much more luxury. Looking forward to seeing what you choose! With regards to condition, I would get it on a ramp and judge the condition of the car by the underneath... fresh bodywork can always make a car look good BUT see the real condition underneath.

[Oilleak]

Thank you, migaloo, but that all goes without saying. I am going to buy at the upper end of the market, from reputable dealers etc.

I am just thinking about the design now and wonder whether the chinzy Daimler with its fluted this and that and script-like logo looks too much like a 1980s chocolate truffle advert - or not.

Also navy blue looks "regal" but gunmetal more Bond-ish (who never had a S3).

So, just a nice problem to have.

Pics, anyone?

[V12 Migaloo]

Neither blue nor Grey, but mine anyway....

[Simpo Two]

Grey/gunmetal is a popular colour now but doesn't look authentic 1988 to me.

[a8hex]

If you go for the Daimler version then you can go the whole hog and get the VDP.



Sorry, the brochure is a really awkward shape and won't go in the scanner.

[deadslow]

Simpo Two said:

Grey/gunmetal is a popular colour now but doesn't look authentic 1988 to me.

when I had a cobalt blue 87 XJ, my pal had a grey V12 (dorchester grey, I think). I preferred his car.

[Oilleak]

Dorchester grey and westminster blue - typical early 1990s colours for Jags.

They did away with any VDP stuff in the final years and offered a DD6 and V12 Sovereign as the only variants from 1988 onwards (according to Jag-Lovers' archive of brochures).

[Oilleak]

For those of you who had to decide between the two variants, what made you go for/against a Daimler instead of a Jag?

[a8hex]

Oilleak said:

Dorchester grey and westminster blue - typical early 1990s colours for Jags.

They did away with any VDP stuff in the final years and offered a DD6 and V12 Sovereign as the only variants from 1988 onwards (according to Jag-Lovers' archive of brochures).

Sorry, I'm sure my brochure was somewhat earlier than that. It was amongst his papers, dating from when he'd got his last one.

[Jaguar steve]

V12 Migaloo said:

When buying these beauties, I would go for the very very very best condition

...Is the right answer.

My S3 was a Racing Green non-metallic poverty spec one with cloth seats and a manual gearbox, chosen over much better equipped XJ6 and 12s for exactly that reason.

It had low miles and came with a massive service history and as a bonus was a much better drive than the soggy 3 speed autos most Series cars had fitted.

I owned that one for about 10 years without any drama at all

[Oilleak]

That goes without saying. I am going to buy at the top end of the market, ideally from a dealer with a good reputation.

But let's take that now as given.

[deadslow]

do you prefer the chrome strips down the sides on the DD6? Or not, then Jag V12.

[Oilleak]

Them, and the fluted front and read...I have some mixed feelings about them.

A plain XJ12 (maybe even without coachline) in dorchester grey...or a blingy-bling Daimler, in regal royal navy blue or even metallic red.

[Piersman2]

My first Jaguar back in about 1988 was a series III in Dorchester grey with grey interior. Lovely colour and I still remember how well that looked compared to the blue/burgundy alternatives that were mainly available as alternatives.

As to Jaguar vs Daimler... prefer Jaguar but would take a Daimler if a good one was available, it's the same car but i always preferred the smooth grill and boot plinth of the Jag, and for me Jaguar was always the better known marque. Far easire for people to know what you had if you said a Jag rather than a Daimler.

[ClaphamGT3]

Simpo Two said:

Grey/gunmetal is a popular colour now but doesn't look authentic 1988 to me.

Huge numbers of XJ6/12/S models in the late eighties were gunmetal grey. Cobalt blue, sage green and either Cranberry or Bordeaux red were also very popular. The solid yellow/red/white and metallic silver/squadron blue were early eighties colours

[V12 Migaloo]

Have you considered looking at the JEC and JDC and see what cars the members are selling...perhaps put a post in the relevant models forum page?? these are usually coveted, although you can see some right wrong-uns as well.. Also their is a Jag s[pares day up at Stanleigh in October, I think I'm right in saying that their are always a few good cars for sale there. Regarding top end dealers, I went to one in surrey who had a XJC V12 for sale, last year at £42,000, in white. He described it "In excellent condition" and it was anything but.

[V12 Migaloo]

Jaguar steve said:

It had low miles and came with a massive service history and as a bonus was a much better drive than the soggy 3 speed autos most Series cars had fitted.

I owned that one for about 10 years without any drama at all

When my car was still serviced by Jaguar, the main dealer lent us a 4.2 manual with cloth seats and I actually preferred it to, at the time, my XJ. The difference in weight between the both was amazing, it was really chuckable and the acceleration felt miles ahead.. I believe Steve that your car was possibly the sweet spot of the range...

[Jaguar steve]

V12 Migaloo said:

Jaguar steve said:

It had low miles and came with a massive service history and as a bonus was a much better drive than the soggy 3 speed autos most Series cars had fitted.

I owned that one for about 10 years without any drama at all

When my car was still serviced by Jaguar, the main dealer lent us a 4.2 manual with cloth seats and I actually preferred it to, at the time, my XJ. The difference in weight between the both was amazing, it was really chuckable and the acceleration felt miles ahead.. I believe Steve that your car was possibly the sweet spot of the range...

Mine was the 3.4 which was so much smoother than any of the 4.2l Series two and threes and AJ6 engine cars I drove when I was working as a Spanner Monkey.

I'd actually choose cloth seats over leather any day and a few engine tweaks and uprated shocks livened mine to the point where it'd comfortably outrun and out handle a 4.2 auto - which isn't really saying that much by modern standards of course but back then it was respectable enough for a lardy old barge.