Under Ford ownership, Jaguar launched a full-size luxury saloon in 1994. Codenamed the X300, the XJ was the first of its kind produced entirely under Ford ownership, and was considered an evolution of the outgoing XJ40 generation. The design of the X300 placed emphasis on improved build quality, better reliability, and a return to traditional Jaguar styling.

The Daimler name was applied to the highest trim level of the X300 cars, and featured all the chrome brightwork found on the Sovereign models, plus chromed door mirrors and door handles, and a fluted radiator grille surround. The Daimler range consisted of two models, the 4-litre Six and the V12 Double Six. 

K 60 LTR is in fantastic condition throughout, and has clearly been cherished throughout its life.   

First registered in October 1996, K 60 LTR is one of only 1230 LWB examples of the Daimler Double-Six version of the X300. It was specified with so many extras that the new price was in the region of £65,000. 

The vendor acquired the car in July 2019 and is the seventh owner, according to the V5, and while he doesn’t know much of the car’s previous history it’s clear that it has been carefully stored and looked after by each successive owner. Sadly the vendor has lost the use of a storage facility where he keeps the car, and has reluctantly decided to sell rather than keep it outside in the winter months. 

The car comes with a folder of previous MoTs and invoices, all the original manuals and handbooks in their folder, an original brochure and facsimiles of previous V5s. The service record shows regular servicing and this, combined with the previous MoT certificates, suggests that the indicated mileage is genuine. The current MoT expires in January 2023.  

Renowned as a luxury saloon, the interior of the Double-Six is a comfortable and well-appointed place that oozes opulence and quality. This one is probably as well-preserved an example as you will find – the cream leather seats are all but unmarked, with only a very slight scuff visible on the rear bench seat (which was an expensive optional extra!). The walnut dash, centre-console and door tops are all immaculate. The door panels look much as they must have done when new, while the smart chrome kick-plates have barely a mark on them. The wood-and-leather steering wheel (another expensive extra) looks fantastic and is a delight to hold. 

The car is full of nice touches that all add to the quality feel, right down to the heated rear seats and the walnut-veneer tray tables, that fold down from the rears of the front seats. There’s only one obvious non-original feature – a small LCD clock on the dashboard that the vendor installed because the original clock had a fault. 

The footwells all have their original fluffy rugs, and beneath these the carpets are in excellent condition. There’s a neat blind that unrolls across the inside of the rear window.

In the boot, there is one of the only faults we can find with the car – a small area on the boot liner that looks to have been affected by glue or something similar. There’s a CD changer in the boot, and under the floorboard is a sound spare wheel, the original jack and wheelbrace that all look unused.  

 

The Double-Six’s deliberately retro styling has stood the test of time, and it still looks a high-quality, luxury car.  

The exterior of K 60 LTR is every bit as good as the interior, with no marks or blemishes visible in the ‘Spindrift’ white paintwork. The badges and brightwork are all unmarked, as are the windows and windscreen. Three of the four wheels look excellent, while that on the rear offside has some minor damage to the rim.    

Jaguar’s V12 engine was first installed in the Series 3 E-type in 1972, and for the 6-litre HE version used in the X300 series it was stroked in 1992 to produce 5993cc, making it one of the most powerful Jaguar engines to date. This example starts readily and has a healthy engine note. Gear changes are smooth and quiet. The vendor assures us that the car drives beautifully and has never missed a beat under his tenure. 

Under the bonnet, there’s further evidence of the car’s cherished lifestyle; everything is clean and tidy. Remarkably, the original tools and fuses are still in their under-bonnet box, with the cellophane wrapper only partially torn – apparently to use the screwdriver, the only tool that can have been used without further disturbance to the wrapping. 

Underneath the car, everything is similarly clean and tidy and there is no evidence of leaks or corrosion.  

Specced with so many expensive extras when new, this would have been an extravagant purchase for the original owner and he or she, and successive owners, have clearly striven (and paid) to keep the car in outstanding condition. 

It’s hard to believe there are better examples of the X300-series Double-Six out there, considering that only 1230 were made. It looks fantastic, and the condition of the both the exterior and the luxurious interior belie even its modest mileage. If you’re after a high-end performance saloon that offers a stylish and comfortable driving environment, this is the one to buy.