There’s that old saying of loving a car for its beauty but hating the thing for its dodgy mechanics. I’ve always thought the Jaguar XJS of the 1980s was a superb looking car and a great choice for a grand tourer, if not for the fact that its British heritage made for less-than-stellar reliability. This 1983 example on eBay addresses that issue with an engine swap in the form of a small-block Chevy mill, and it says to be a running and driving example for only $2,800. While the seller says it’s in overall good condition, it will need to be trailered – so that leaves some questions as to the extent of this Jag’s needs. With the classic good looks of the XJS combined with reliable SBC power, this appears to be one example of British engineering anyone can turn a wrench on.
1983 is the nadir for XJS’s in terms of reliability. It was the first year of fuel injection, and the Bosch unit in 1983 turned out to be a one year wonder. Parts for the system are unobtanium, and information for diagnosis is rarer still. An engine swap is the only way to go with this one, although I thing a big block is a better choice.