Highlights
- Rare example of left-hand drive XJS Celebration in Diamond Blue
- Exceptionally rare and sought-after manual gearbox car
- Exported to Belgium but returned to the UK in 1997
- Four-litre straight-six engine and five-speed manual box
- The km-calibrated odometer shows just under 77,000 miles
- Extensive retained paperwork and MOT until July 2026
The Appeal
It might be an exaggeration to say the XJS saved Jaguar, but it’s not an exaggeration to say this stunning grand tourer helped to turn the company’s fortunes around. The fact that it remained on sale for over two decades without major alterations attests to the excellence of its original design, while later examples are particularly sought after thanks to the many modifications brought in after Jaguar was taken over by Ford.
This particular XJS was one of the last models ever made, bearing the Celebration name in honour of Jaguar’s 60th birthday. The majority of these final, elevated cars were fitted with the usual automatic gearbox,. This 4L example is different - it is one of a handful fitted with the manual box, which gives the driver access to the XJS oft-overlooked sporting profile.
It is a left-hand drive model, it was initially exported to Belgium before returning home less than two years later. It was specified in silver with matching leather trim and carpets, interspersed with slashes of walnut wooden trim. Alloy wheels are all original and shod in Pirelli tyres, while the fabric roof appears to be in good order, and the owner states that the paintwork requires no remedial work to be carried out.
It is a left-hand drive model, it was initially exported to Belgium before returning home less than two years later. It was specified in silver with matching leather trim and carpets, interspersed with slashes of walnut wooden trim. Alloy wheels are all original and shod in Pirelli tyres, while the fabric roof appears to be in good order, and the owner states that the paintwork requires no remedial work to be carried out.
The cabin oozes class, with a half-timbered steering wheel mirroring the swathes of walnut extending across the dash, lower console and transmission tunnel. Other retained period features include an LCD trip computer and Jaguar-branded radio cassette player, while there’s an enduring novelty value in seeing a speedo calibrated to 260 – even if it is measuring kilometres rather than miles per hour. Other idiosyncrasies include a handbrake mounted by the door and those diminutive horn buttons, though these design elements add to the XJS’s character rather than detracting from it.
The History and Paperwork
- MOT certificate until the 11th of July 2026
- Only two owners from new; one for the last 29 years
- Original owner’s manual and servicing books retained
- Extensive MOT certificates, receipts and Belgian papers
- First nine years of service record stamps in the handbook
The Condition
- Contrasting fabric soft-top folds away neatly
- Exterior described as “absolutely immaculate”
- Manufacturer plaques retained across the engine bay
- Spare wheel, fire extinguisher and first aid kit mounted in the boot
- Owner says the car is “in totally original and unmarked condition”
The Mechanics
- Four-litre straight six engine and five-speed manual gearbox
- The engine and bay both appear to be in good condition
- Reportedly “totally original” mechanically
- Period tyre changing kit retained in fabric wallet
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