Back in 1979, a chap by the name of Mike Sharman started work at Jaguar Cars Ltd as an engineering apprentice

As an engineer, he was often challenged to come up with new ideas and in 1981 he had a vision of his own – to create an XJS hatchback that would retain the classic profile of the original coupe, but with added practicality. 

There were already companies adding tailgates to XJSs, the most notable one being the Lynx Eventer – but that was more of a shooting brake body style with an estate car style rear end. 

Mike wanted to create something more harmonious and more in keeping with the original XJS styling, so he created a number of sketches to show how it could be done.

Then, life took over. Mike got tied up with career, family and motor sport, but the dream of creating an XJS hatch never left him and in 2009 he finally decided to create one. He bought a really smart 1993 XJS 4.0 Celebration as a basis, being sure to get as good an example as he could afford, and he set about turning it into a hatchback with an engineer’s mindset. 

Now’s your chance to own it.

First registered as L971 JVV, the XJS was originally supplied by Marshall Jaguar of Kempston and was used as a company director’s company car, racking most of its 119,000 miles in the first five years of its life. Since then, it has been enthusiast owned and maintained, and has been meticulously serviced with stacks and stacks of bills to back up its provenance.

In 2009, it was acquired by Mike Sharman from a classic car dealer in the Midlands and was taken back to Mike’s Coventry home to start its new chapter.  

Mike set out his plans in a document, including project waypoints and targets like any professional engineer. He also sat down and worked out measurements of various parts, the correct angles for the boot lid conversion, the length of tailgate strut required and what materials he’d need for the load bay.

Over the next two years, with the assistance of respected specialists GB Trim and  James Sidwell and Co – a classic Jaguar restoration company – he set about the conversion sourcing parts from other cars and getting other components bespoke-built for the ultimate quality in his conversion. Mike’s vision was to make the XJS looks as good as if it had come from the factory – and he did. 

It was acquired by the vendor, who bought it from Mike in 2016, but a combination of a lack of space and advancing years have made him decide to scale down his car collection, meaning the XJS has to go.

The history file with this car is phenomenal – even before the conversion, it was clearly well loved and the service book is stamped all the way from pre-delivery inspection to 116,971 miles, less than 2,500 miles ago. 

It has recently had over £2,000 spent on new tyres and service maintenance to ensure it remains as well kept as it has been used to all of its life. 

As well as the service book, there’s a huge folder of receipts, a handbook, some old tax discs and a Jaguar wallet, whilst in addition there is a photo album featuring a complete record of the hatchback conversion from the initial purchase of the car to the project being completed. 

The registration number – 30 OXJ – is included in the sale and the car has an MOT test until September 2022.

At first glance, the XJS looks just like any other – but that was Mike’s original vision. From the front and in profile you can’t tell that it’s a conversion at all. 

At the rear, it takes a few seconds to notice as unlike other conversions it retains its original Jaguar tail lamps, badges and bumper. 

The tailgate is a work of art. Crafted from scratch, it uses the rear window from an MGB GT and is tapered to match the curvature of the XJS’s distinctive rear pillars. It even incorporates a high-level brake light. If Jaguar had created a lift-back GT from the XJS, you can’t help but think it may have enjoyed some success. 

The bodywork is extremely well presented with a deep shine and very few imperfections of any note. There are a couple of tiny marks, but nothing that stands out or detracts from its exceptional appearance. 

It sits on 18-inch XJR alloy wheels, which are shod with nearly new tyres all-round, but is also supplied with its original 16-ich alloys so the new owner can choose their favourites.

The interior of any XJS is special but this one is even more so, especially at the rear. 

The luggage area is trimmed in colour-matched carpet, plastic and leather to the rest of the car and was built to order on Mike’s behalf, the absolute key being getting the measurements and materials absolutely correct, right down to the stainless steel luggage runners to protect the carpets. 

The seats were retrimmed at the same time as the conversion, in oatmeal leather, as the original seats had cloth inserts and weren’t in keeping with Mike’s prestigious vision, while the rear seats are split in the middle, allowing them to be folded down completely to increase rear luggage capacity. It’s a clever system, entirely of Mike’s own design. 

Otherwise, the rest of the cabin is also superb with all of the major controls working as they should, and excellent wood veneers.

The AJ6 engine has a displacement of 3980cc and develops 240bhp. It's a lively unit that really suits the XJS’s character.

The engine starts easily and settles to a very distinct sounding idle which is typical of the Jaguar straight-six - a kind of muted burble that's almost waiting to be prodded from its slumber. Open it up and it sounds utterly glorious and exceptionally smooth, helped in no small part by an aftermarket stainless steel exhaust. 

Power is fed to the rear wheels via the notoriously tough four-speed ZF automatic gearbox.

We were able to drive the car on a 10-mile test route and can confirm that it is a really good example, with taut handling, responsive steering and good brakes, and that the rear body conversion does nothing to affect the car’s torsional stiffness. It really does feel like a factory standard car.

Where do we start? This is a fascinating car, revised and developed by an automotive engineer to become the Jaguar that never was. It’s finished to an exceptional standard, looks sensational and is in terrific condition. 

Its Kingfisher Blue paint (which has a very green hue to it) looks absolutely glorious in the sunshine and it’s a car that’s a guaranteed talking point wherever it goes. The workmanship and hours that went into this car will never be fully reflected in the price, but they certainly deserve to be recognised.