Hello,

I am planning on building a Jag based kit car (Autotune's Aristocat
XK120 look-alike), and I would very much appreciate some advice with
respect to the questions below with respect to sourcing the donor. I
specifically need a XJ6 S1, 11, or 111 pre-1986 model, as I understand
that from '86 it really became the XJ40 and was quite a different
animal:

1) Would the panel recommmend the carburettor version or PI? When was
the change-over made please? What are the maintenance issues with the
PI? Was the PI much more powerful?

2) I'm obviously not that bothered about body condition (although I do
want to drive it around for a bit to satisfy myself as to its
reliability) - what should I be looking for on these models that is
expensive to fix? Which year is the best of the bunch?

3) What is spare parts availability like please - I am assuming I
would pay through the nose, but I'd like to feel comfortable that
parts are available.

4) Apparently, some models have recessed instruments - can you please
tell me which models had this feature?

5)  I would like a vehicle with manual + o/d box, but naturally these
are rarer - which other manual boxes would fit with no problems - 420G
for example? Maybe a Mk11 box, but I suspect the ratios will be too
low??

6) What is the hot oil pressure please?

7) Will these run on unleaded without conversion?

8) Finally (thanks for bearing with me if you get this far), is the
Haynes book any good, or do you have any recommendations please?

Any other information that I might find useful would very much be
appreciated, and if anyone in England has such a vehicle that they
think I may be interested in, please let me know.

Thanks very much for listening,

Paul.