Highlights
- Manual gearbox XJS
- Brand-new MOT
- Good history file
- Superb interior
THE APPEAL
By the mid-1990s, the Jaguar XJS was a wonderful anachronism. A grand tourer and luxury coupé from a bygone era that may have oozed class, but was woefully out of date.
Introduced in 1975 to a backdrop of the Bay City Rollers, three-day weeks, flared trousers and a hideous lack of investment, the British Leyland era XJ-S was a curious car that was never the E-Type replacement it was touted to be. But it was also incredibly cool in its own right and by the Nineties sold on its looks and presence rather than its technological brilliance.
Yet in 1994, near the end of its life, the XJS was made more efficient than ever with the introduction of Jaguar’s AJ16 engine – a revised version of the AJ6 developed for the XJ saloon. It gave the XJS touring MPG in the high 20s and has gone on to be regarded as one of the most reliable Jaguar engines ever, making the late 4.0-litre one of the most desirable XJS variants going. This one even more so, as it’s an ultra-rare manual model.
The facelifted 4.0-litre was arguably the best iteration of the XJS, faster than the original
V12 and more efficient than any other variant. It has a lot to recommend it
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- Full UK V5C
- New MOT valid through until September 2024
- Comprehensive history file
- Supplied new by Startstone of Berkeley Street, London
- Original green Jaguar book pack
- Majority of old MOTs
- Previous blue V5
- Jaguar document wallet
- Fully stamped service book to 75,890 miles in 2021
- Jaguar Heritage Certificate
- Rust proofing certificate
- Two sets of keys
THE INTERIOR
- Oatmeal leather
- Immaculate seats, carpets and trim
- Minimal wear to seat bolsters
- Original ‘rotunda’ dials
- Original tool kit and spare wheel carpet
- Trip computer
- Air conditioning
- Excellent wood veneers
- Cruise control
- Electric windows
- Original Jaguar radio-cassette player in full working order
- Dealer floor mats
- Twin airbags
THE EXTERIOR
- Smart Ice Blue metallic
- Good factory alloys with quality tyres – only minor marks to rims
- Mostly very good paintwork with a few minor imperfections, including a small mark and paint crack on boot lid
- Seemingly solid underneath and comprehensively rust-proofed
- Good sills
- Aftermarket grille and quad headlamp conversion
- Minor marks on mirror caps
- Aftermarket Jaguar ‘Leaper’ on bonnet
THE MECHANICS
- 4.0-litre straight-six
- 5-spd manual transmission
- Starts and runs well
- New front and rear brake pads and handbrake shoes
- New springs and shock absorbers
- No warning lights on dash
- Vendor reports that the car drives with no known faults
- Brand new MOT with no advisories
SUMMARY
This is a lovely example of one of the rarest imaginable configurations for an XJS – a terrific car with a nice history file, presented in very smart condition and with a very smart interior that hides its 28 years of use beautifully.
Smart XJSs are highly prized, and this one is a really nice example, as well as being a manual transmission 4.0-litre, offering the optimal combination of performance and sensible running costs. A rare and appealing beast.
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check, to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.
