The engine bay of the XJ40 was originally carefully designed to prevent British Leyland from fitting the Rover V8. It therefore needed substantial remodelling when Jaguar later decided to install the 6.0-litre V12 engine right at the end of the model’s production life. With only 3,799 examples built over two years, the development cost of £35 million equated to more than £9,000 per car at the time.
 
The V12 was therefore offered with a hefty premium over the standard XJ40. For customers wanting to go even further with personalisation, Jaguar launched the Insignia programme in 1992, run by Special Vehicle Operations. This allowed buyers to configure their XJ40 to suit their tastes, with specific trims, tailored equipment and a higher level of presentation. Only 319 buyers chose this option, and the vendor states that barely 50 of them would have opted for the V12.
 
The car presented here is exactly one of these rare machines. Built in 1994, it’s finished in a smart dark green shade with grey leather upholstery. It retains the Insignia badges fitted to the front wings and appears to benefit from many of the specifications unique to this trim, including a special design for the rear bench and inset walnut veneers. Well kept, it shows just 140,000 km on the clock. According to the seller, it starts, drives and is a pleasure to live with.
 
Today, the XJ40 is attracting growing interest from collectors. This vehicle represents the opportunity to buy what is surely the most exclusive—and one of the rarest—versions of this elegant British saloon.
 

BEFORE YOU BUY 

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic standard terms and conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following: 

✓ The seller of this vehicle is registered as a professional seller. And you are covered by the Car & Classic standard terms and conditions. 

✓ We require non-refundable fees to be paid if you are the successful winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted. Please refer to our FAQ and terms and conditions for the specific fee rates. 

✓ This vehicle is “sold as seen”, on a “as is, where is” basis, and without any warranty. The photos and descriptions are provided for guidance only and it is customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle before purchase for your own peace of mind. 

✓ VAT is included in the buyer’s deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final offer price or bid price, as specified in the listing. 

✓ We want to ensure everything runs smoothly for you as well, and that’s why cars and motorcycles registered in the UK and listed on Car & Classic are subject to an HPI check to verify that they do not have any insurance database markers for damage or theft, and that they are not subject to any financial charge/lien—so you can bid with confidence. 

✓ Buyers are responsible for collection or delivery of the vehicle. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes. If you’d like, we can recommend a third-party shipping company that can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email auctions@carandclassic.com.