Australian Classic Cars, April 2008 Review by Patrick Quinn Australian magazine
Circulation: unknown
If you are on the lookout for a specific classic car, you can find yourself bewildered by the amount of information available. For some marques, there are books galore to read and also the advice that members of clubs happily provide. It can be confusing and sometimes it's useful to have a reference source that cuts to the chase. That's why I like this smaller format 'Essential Buyer's Guides' from Veloce.
This month I had a close look at two new editions and, as a past owner, I was especially interested in the XJ6 guide. Each follows a similar format containing information on what it's like to live with the model in question, values, differing models and using the car in modern times. Each book divides the crucial inspection into two. First, the 15-minute evaluation that tells you whether to investigate further or to just walk away and second, a lengthy and thorough inspection in which you go over everything. It's clear that I bought my XJ6 with my heart and not my head. Each book then moves on to how you should buy the car, whether to restore or not, problems from lack of use and finally where to find parts and what clubs to join. Very useful little books, they make essential buying for owners, would be or otherwise.

With two E-type books to his credit, Peter Crespin has many years' experience working on his own Jaguars, which include classic and modern cars and a 1974 Series 2 Daimler used as a daily driver. A frequent contributor to various technical internet forums, Peter has four decades' experience of building and occasionally racing classic bikes and working on classic cars from his well-equipped workshop. A medical writer by profession, he turns his analytical talents to the task of sorting through the three series, four engine sizes and three body styles of the XJ Jaguars sold from 1968 to 1992.

Introduction & Foreword; Contents; 1. Is a Jaguar the right car for you?; 2. Cost considerations; 3. Living with a sporting sedan; 4. Relative values; 5. Before you view; 6. Inspection equipment; 7. Fifteen minute evaluation; 8. Key points; 9. Serious evaluation; 10. Auctions; 11. Paperwork; 12. What s it worth?; 13. Do you really want to restore?; 14. Paint problems; 15. Lack of use problems; 16. The E-type community; 17. Vital statistics; Index.