1989 Jaguar XJS V12 HE Auto *Sold £10,000*

Description

• “Immaculate Example“ 
• Please review the additional images that were added to the lot gallery on 8^th September
• Only 51k warranted miles 
• Stunning Westminster Blue 
• Full Service History 
• Serviced and MOT’d yearly 
• 1,200 miles travelled since 2005 
• Owned by same family since April 1996 to present (27 years) 

When a car remains in production almost unaltered for 22 years, it genuinely is a classic car.  

With the last E-types rolling off the production line in 1974 Jaguar needed a worthy successor. As early as 1968 Jaguar was thinking ahead. It designated the initial project a codename; XJ21. This morphed in to the XJ 27/28 and after many internal discussions Jaguar finally settled on XJS. 

On the 10 September 1975 Jaguar revealed the XJS to the world.  The car was aimed squarely at the Mercedes SL customers and to help lure customers away from the German marque, it was priced at nearly £2,000 less on launch.  

In V12 5.3 litre form, the Jaguar XJS is a true supercar, with performance of 155mph and 0-60 in 7.3 seconds. As models developed, Jaguar made subtle changes making the XJS even better. Journalists delighted their readers with tales of travelling at 100 mph in near total silence. The public couldn’t get enough of the Jaguar XJS either. 

This particular example has come to market from a deceased estate and is being offered by the vendors daughter.   

Originally purchased from Henley’s Jaguar in Hendon, London NW9. It was acquired by a retired ex Fire Chief who rewarded a working life with this wonderful example of Jaguar’s top marquee model. In 1993, the current owner also reached retirement from a life of engineering around the world with his last posting being in Arabia.   

He had the same dream of treating himself to a luxurious “Sunday Car” and so, he started his search. Shortly into that search, a family friend shared that this super example was about to sold by the ex-fire chief. One look and our vendor was smitten; within days it was nestled safely in his garage. 

Already owning a daily runaround, and with his wife’s car also available, this became the car for “Special Occasions“.  Brad, our vendor’s son explains that it was the source of many discussions between mum and dad as his mum, although she loved the car, could not quite understand the expense of having a third car that only came out of the garage a handful of times a year. 

The costs of taxing, servicing and keeping up with the yearly MOT paled into insignificance when Dad did pull the XJS out of the garage and drive it.

The Jaguar XJS was his reward and special toy so was never going to be sold.  Brad went on to explain that the XJS didn’t even come out when they drove to watch the Golf at Loch Lomond, an annual event that cannot be dismissed as anything other than a “Special Occasion“. Brad shared with a slight chuckle that he “had to take my own daily driver” such was his dad’s urge to cosset the Jaguar XJS as much as possible. 

You are probably getting a picture of how special this car is, well keep reading as the rest of this description will confirm that this really is likely to be the best available Jaguar XJS in the current market. 

Supplied with the V5, with the current owner being our vendor. Brad shared that the XJS was originally put in his dad’s name but he believes “because dad thought it would be easier to insure” was then transferred into his mum’s name (our vendor), which remains on the V5.

The document pack comes with approximately 28 previous MOT certificates, with the most recent expiring in May 2024. The service book is fully stamped, and all the operating manuals and green plastic sleeves are present. 

*It is worthy to note that the number plate seen in the images will be removed from the XJS by the time the auction has ended – our vendor has already applied to the DVLA to transfer it to a retention certificate and the XJS will revert back to it’s original registration, F269 PYV.*

Exterior 

Well, what can we say about these stunning cars. Extremely good looking in its resplendent Westminster Blue paintwork and original Jaguar Lattice wheels. 

What we can say is this section is going to be a short read as there really isn’t anything to report on this immaculate bodywork, it really is that good. Our vendor’s late husband literally only pulled it out of the garage to clean and polish it before the annual service and MOT – plus the one or two times a year it was used for a special occasion.   

The paintwork is as good now as it was when he purchased it, the brightwork can also only be described as “immaculate” and all the glass is original and perfect.  The underneath is just as clean and tidy, like we said there genuinely is nothing to report.   

Those that have read our descriptions in the past will be aware that when a car presents in such good condition, we tend to start grilling the vendor and scrutinise the images for any negatives, but as you have guessed Brad could not share any as it really is that good. 

Well, the only one he could think of is that it’s a shame that it is not the car for him; it would have been lovely to keep it in the family, but it is something he can’t justify keeping personally and to boot, he has nowhere to keep it.  

Interior 

If you have ever owned, or at least sat in, an XJS you will be used the feel and sense of luxury that was intended when Jaguar developed the “XJ21.” They knew it had to be special to compete with its contemporaries, so they didn’t hold back. Fitting sumptuous leather seats with an impressive array of electrics within the car, you were transported from A to B in the lap of luxury. 

As you can see from the images in the gallery we are, again, going to struggle to point out any issues with the inside as well. It is not too much of a stretch to say it presents like new.  The sumptuous rear seats look like they have never been sat on, the front seats……  Well, with 51740 miles on the odometer you know they have been sat on, but you would be forgiven for thinking it was much, much less, such is the quality and condition.  

The door pads are just as well-kept, the carpets look as new, the mats are in great condition and the roof lining was recently professionally replaced. It just presents like a car that is used for less than 100 miles a year. 

The walnut trim has no signs of fading or cracks, thanks to being garaged for virtually all its life. All the switches have kept their colour with no fading or wear, and they all work as they should. 

Mechanicals 

The V12 is a legendary engine and despite what people say, it is a remarkably reliable piece of engineering. With less than 52k on the odometer you could argue that it has barely been run in. 

As expected, it presents beautifully when lifting the bonnet. Turn the key and it fires up immediately, in fact Brad shared that it had been a while since the passing of his father and selling the Jaguar XJS was not only a very big family decision it was also not at the top of the family’s priority list. 

Either way when the decision was made to renew the MOT and find the XJS a new custodian he popped down to the garage and turned the key, as expected it fired first time. It also flew through the MOT, in fact do an MOT history check and you will find that since they were first listed online in 2005 it has never actually failed or even had an advisory. Impressive indeed. 

There is a very good reason that it has never failed an MOT in its lifetime, that very good reason being that our vendor’s son in law, Shaun Turner owns Descars in Doncaster. An independent car and classic car service centre. As you would expect, the task of looking after such a treasured toy was kept in the family and Descars have looked after the car since it was purchased. They serviced and checked everything yearly prior to the MOT and have shared that Shaun would be happy to take any calls from potential bidders, should they want any confirmation of the full service history or have any questions about the Jaguar XJS. You really can’t say fairer than that. 

The original Jaguar Lattice wheels are perfect and are wearing very good matching 235/60 R15 Pirelli P600s. The previously mentioned spare matches and is believed to also wear the same tyre, note our vendor has not taken the spare wheel cover off to confirm that and believes it has probably never been on the car. 

If you have got to this part of the description, you probably don’t need us to say that the Jaguar XJS drives perfectly with no unusual knocks or noises as the above will lend to that exact conclusion – it does just that! 

Our view 

A rare opportunity to own a Jaguar XJS v12 that is presented exceptionally barring a few blemishes in the paintwork (please satisfy yourself by viewing the image gallery), has less than 52k miles on the odometer, has a full service history and two previous owners before being purchased by the family. What else can be said about these immensely powerful machines apart from we do not actually believe that there will be a better example currently on the market at present. If you want one better, be prepared to wait a long time. 

With prices climbing by the day, we know that these are more and more sought after. This one has a very sensible reserve so we are expecting the auction to be a little frantic, either way the winning bidder will be extremely pleased on collection. 

Please note that there is no anti-sniping functionality so to ensure that you don’t miss out, there’s a facility to allow you to place your maximum bid for a lot. When you do, the system will bid up automatically on your behalf.

Vehicle Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN3 – it’s the responsibility of the winning bidder to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendor.

Would like to arrange a viewing or have a question about this Jaguar XJS? Please contact us at team@evoke-classics.com and we will speak to the vendor on your behalf.

Guide Prices?

We’re different. But you know that. And we’re always honest. In a sector where no two classics are same, how does anyone put a ‘guide’.

Well, everyone knows the broad value of classic, let’s all be honest. So we don’t need to tell you what you already know, do we.

The ‘market’ decides and the old cliché that ‘it’s worth what someone wants to pay’ is no less true. So why kid everyone!

But, because we are different, if it really does matter to you, that’s fine, we want you to be happy. Just drop us a line at team@evoke-classics.com and one of us will be delighted to ring you back and discuss, it’s what we do.

Tedious but it’s vital you read this, please.

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