Lot details
Registration No: 785 FUW
Chassis No: SAJDKAL53AR688784
Mot Expiry: Nov 2011

Following numerous delays due to a mixture of problems at British Leyland and the fuel crisis, the MKII Jaguar XJ6 (or XJ40 to use its code name) and its Daimler counterparts were introduced in October 1986. The newcomer was the product of a £200,000 million investment and an astonishing 4,890,000 miles of testing in Arizona, Canada, Australia and around the Nardo test track, Italy - a record level of commitment for a Jaguar at that time. Notable developments included: a twenty-five percent reduction in the total number of body panels (which helped reduce weight and increase stiffness), a reduction in the drag factor from 0.849 to 0.762 and the introduction of the now familiar 'J-gate' gearchange, preventing the accidental selection of neutral or reverse. Also, the inclusion of a Vehicle Condition Monitor (VCM), whose dot-matrix screen would alert drivers of bulb failure, brake pad wear, doors that were open, coolant level etc - all told it featured thirty-four functions.
The MKII's comprehensive specification included: all-round independent suspension, power-assisted rack and pinion steering, four-wheel disc brakes and generous levels of sound deadening. While more evolutionary than revolutionary, the resulting car proved to be a credible alternative to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series and was generally well received by the contemporary motoring press.
At this stage the line up still didn't include a 12-cylinder option, however - the engine bay apparently being too narrow to house a unit of V configuration. Ford set about solving the problem when they took over Jaguar-Daimler in 1989 and the new 6-litre V12 cars (code name XJ181) finally came to market in 1993; the Daimler version of which was dubbed the Double Six, thereby reviving a famous Daimler model name of the vintage era. The engines were mated to the equally new GM 4L80E four-speed automatic transmission. The right-hand drive Double Six being sold was manufactured in November 1993. It sports Blue coachwork and Grey leather trim. It has remained in the same family since new covering just 26,300 miles and being passed from father to son. The vendor describes the coachwork as 'nigh-on perfect/concours' and the paintwork, engine, transmission and interior trim as 'excellent'. '785 FUW' is MOT'd into November 2011.