1990 Jaguar XJ Series 3 (1979-92) XJ6

This elegant and remarkably original motorcar has covered just 17, 000 miles from new – a figure fully supported by the extensive history file that accompanies the vehicle. For much of its life it was kept in dry storage and following recommissioning has gained an excellent MoT history, the latest of which was granted last month after fixing a loose connection on the twin tone horn! The rare Jade green metallic paint is that applied by the factory in 1990, and as a former Chair of one of the Jaguar Enthusiast Club regions for four years, my dedication to quality meant that I have recently spent more than £1, 000 having stone chips and some minor paint ‘spiders’ professionally remedied. The Parchment-coloured leather seats look barely sat on, and everything under the bonnet is ‘as it left the factory’. This XJ40 sports a period Jaguar radio-cassette player, factory electric sunroof and complete Jaguar toolkit in superb condition. The spare wheel has never been used, and even the registration plates are those supplied by the dealer who first sold the car; the 1990 bill of sale is amongst the hefty pile of receipts and MOT certificates on file. Although the five-spoke alloy wheels are not factory fit, the original steel ones and their tyres and plastic hubcaps form part of this sale, making it easy for a future owner to return that element of the car to standard specification should they wish. This very attractive executive saloon was the subject of a four-page article in Jaguar Driver magazine in 2020, and is now being sold complete with the aforementioned history file and an MOT valid to March 28, 2025. The body is close to show quality, and the 3. 2-litre engine, J-gate automatic transmission and interior is ‘excellent’. The driving experience is a silky-smooth ride coupled with surprisingly precise roadholding, and the tight feel all-round that you would expect from such a low-mileage car.

The all new XJ6 (code name XJ40) was launched in October 1986 in replacement for Jaguar’s ageing Series III cars. It proved to be a credible alternative to Mercedes-Benz’s S-Class and BMW’s 7-Series and was well received by the motoring press. The newcomer was initially available with a choice of two variants of the straight-six AJ6 powerplant - the 2. 9-litre SOHC unit or the 3. 6-litre DOHC engine. These were later enlarged to 3. 2 and 4. 0-litres respectively.