Highlights

Facelift coupe with the durable and more economical 4litre AJ6 engine
Desirable colour combination of Regency Red over biscuit
Low mileage and low owner car
Long MOT to April 2024
Very usable, solid car with scope to cosmetically improve

The Appeal

Jaguar’s XJS is one of motoring’s greatest GT cars, a long, lithe sports car with distinctive lines. It evolved through two major updates, both a response to crisis. In the late '70s sales had dwindled to nothing, so the car was taken upmarket and sales kicked off. Then in the early 90s Jaguar’s proposed replacement was canned and the car’s life had to be extended.

This resulted in the facelifted car of 1991, which gained the firm’s superlative AJ6 4litre straight six engine plus clever cosmetic modifications, interior improvements, better quality and, importantly, a galvanised body.

This is one of the cars to benefit from those changes. Smartly finished in Regency Red over biscuit it also appears to have the desirable Sport Pack fitted. With low mileage and low owners and a recent service and MOT it looks a very usable, very rewarding weekend cruiser or daily driver.

The History and Paperwork

First registered 5th August 1991
Full set of original handbooks and service book with leatherbound wallet
Old MOTs
Old workshop job cards from the vendor’s mechanic
Full Jaguar main dealer service history with 12 stamps to 63,267 miles on 16th February 2010
1 set of keys including alarm fob
Car was acquired from a deceased estate
Some service history lost by the previous owner
MOT to 27th April 2024 with minor advisories subsequently rectified by seller

Serviced by the seller’s workshop:

22nd June 2022 at 83,801 miles
20th April 2023 at 92,231 miles

£908 spent in April 2023 at an independent Jaguar specialist to replace:
Crank sensor
Fuel filter
Throttle housing

The XJS was facelifted in 1991 due to delays introducing its replacement. The changes involved galvanising the bodies and changing the rear lights, rear window, bonnet and side window profiles. Later facelift cars got revised plastic bumpers but early ones, like this one, retained the original chrome bumpers of the 1980s mid-period cars.

Inside the interiors were overhauled with new wood-trimmed dials, improved quality switchgear and more luxury fittings.

The seller acquired this car from a deceased estate in June 2022. It had been in storage and so was recommissioned by his workshop. He used it as part of his business running guided classic car driving tours and it has been maintained by the same workshop and by a local independent Jaguar specialist.

The Interior

Well preserved and original interior with high facelift specification
Biscuit leather interior in good condition
Small area of wear on the driver’s seat bolster and light creasing to front seats
Electrically operated from seats with optional seat heaters
Four seater configuration with virtually unused rear seats
Wood veneers in good condition, some light fade on ski slope centre console
Switchgear complete and in good conditions and all operational
Dashboard in good, unmarked condition
Headlining replaced in 2022 but some light marks visible
Door cards complete with good trim and fittings and complete, unmarked veneers
Front and rear seatbelts
Central locking
Original Jaguar factory fitted radio with radio code
Carpets in good condition with factory overmats
Boot area tidy with some light marks visible on carpets
Boot spare wheel cover and jack roll present
Spare wheel shows flat spot

The majority of the fixtures and fittings of this 1991 XJS may be shared with its 1975 cousin but buyers of those early cars would find little familiar here. Jaguar continuously added luxury to the car throughout its life, most obviously adding wood veneers and lighter trim options. Facelift cars like this one also got better quality switchgear and even more luxury features such as electric seats.

This car is classically finished in biscuit leather and is in very good, presentable and original condition. We are told that all of the electric items work correctly, including the factory fitted radio which also has its radio code.

There is some wear to the driver’s seat bolster and the veneer on the central ski slope has faded, although is not cracked.

It is a luxurious and cosseting place to be and perfectly suits the relaxed and comfortable air of this capable GT car.

The Exterior

Regency Red metallic bodywork with factory pinstriping
Facelift cars like this one received galvanised bodies
Facelift model with revised rear lights, revised bonnet and altered side profile
Frameless front doors
Lattice-style factory fitted alloy wheels with some light marks
Original square headlamps with clear lenses
Appears to be fitted with the factory Sport Pack which lowers the suspension
Two new front tyres recently fitted
Very solid bodywork with only small bubble of corrosion visible on one panel
Both sides repainted below the pinstripe
Chromework generally very good but with area of pitting on rear bumper

This car appears to be finished in the popular shade of Regency Red metallic and retains its hand-applied factory pinstriping. The lower stance indicates that it may be fitted with the desirable Sports Pack and the owner confirms that it is more planted on the road than the other XJS models he has owned.

The paintwork appears to be original although both sides of the car below the pinstripe look to have been repainted. There are some light signs of use around the car including chips on the door edges and a scratch on the roof. There is also a small bubble of corrosion on one panel.

The arches, door bottoms and sills, common XJS weak points, appear solid and likely reflect that this car is one of the first to have been galvanised by Jaguar.

The chrome is generally good although there is an area of pitting on the rear bumper, but not unsightly. The glasswork is complete and in good condition, particularly the correct factory fitted square headlamps which can be difficult to replace.

The car sits on its factory supplied lattice style alloy wheels which are in presentable condition but with some marks visible.

The underside appears very solid with no obvious issues visible and there were no structural advisories on the last MOT.

The Mechanics

3,980cc Jaguar AJ6 straight six fuel injected engine developing around 210bhp
4spd ZF automatic gearbox with Sport setting
Recently serviced
Throttle housing, crank sensor and fuel filter recently replaced

The 1991 facelift of the XJS also saw the car receive its most significant mechanical changes since the car’s launch. The AJ6 straight six engine was increased to 4litre, a change that Jaguar had to carefully implement because the newly enlarged engine was nearly as quick and almost as smooth as the firm’s superb V12 motor. The AJ6 engine is favoured by enthusiasts for its durability and reliability.

The improved car also got a 4spd ZF gearbox to replace the earlier 3spd unit, which usefully improved its agility and high speed cruising ability.

This low owner car was only serviced by Jaguar main dealers up to 2010 and 63,000 miles. Between 2010 and 2022 the service history has unfortunately been lost - the car was acquired from a deceased estate. It was checked over and serviced by the seller’s own workshop mechanic when he acquired it in June 2022. It was serviced on purchase and then again at 92,000 miles in April 2023.

The car has been regularly used since recommissioning in June 2022 and the seller reports that it has been very reliable. Most of the maintenance work since June 2022 has been undertaken by the seller’s workshop except some work to the crank sensor and throttle housing in April 2023, which was undertaken by a local independent Jaguar specialist.

Summary

Jaguar’s long lived XJS evolved over its life but the facelift of 1991 introduced the most significant changes. With the powerful and economical 4litre engine, quality improvements, galvanising and more luxury, these cars are particularly sought after by collectors.

This early facelift car is a low mileage, low owner car that has been used regularly and proved to be very reliable. With long MOT and a recent service it looks to be a highly usable and rewarding GT experience.

Notice to bidders

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.

UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.

A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.

All bidding, buying and offers are subject to our Terms and Conditions.