Very rare 6litre V12 XJ40 and one of the last built and registered
Low mileage car with good interior
Structurally sound with scope for cosmetic improvements or drive ‘as is’
Recently recommissioned after 10 years in dry storage
MOT failure but with relatively simple list of faults
The Appeal
Jaguar’s superlative V12 engine is one of the world’s greatest motors, an ultra smooth unit that proved so good it remained in production for over 25 years. In 1993 Jaguar redesigned the XJ40 to take the 6litre version of this lovely engine, creating the XJ81 model that was available for 12 months only.
This 1995 XJ40 V12 is technically known as a XJ81 and must be one of the last registered as production ended in June 1994. It has just been lightly recommissioned after around 10 years in dry storage. It is solid with a good interior but could do with cosmetic tidying.
The Vendor has helpfully recently MOT’d the car to show the list of work that this car will need before it goes back on the road – it is relatively minor and non-structural. V12 XJ81s are exceptionally rare and with XJ40 prices on the rise this looks like a good opportunity to buy one and invest in improving it.
The History And Paperwork
First road registered on 2nd June 1995
MOT records indicate the car was off the road and stored between 2013 and March 2013
On the MOT test in March 2023 the car failed on two tyres, with advisories for suspension and brake components
VIN records at Jaguar Heritage confirm this as one of the last XJ40s built before production ended
The Interior
Grey leather piped with charcoal in in good condition
Generally good veneers with only slight deterioration and damage
Electric front seats and cruise control
Steel electric sunroof untested
Good carpets throughout
Untested factory Jaguar sound system with boot mounted CD changer
The XJ40 interior cleverly combined traditional Jaguar touch points like acres of leather and wood veneer with modern technology, of which the array of buttons surrounding the steering column are the most obvious example.
The interior of this V12 is in remarkable condition, likely reflecting the low mileage and recent dry storage. The evidence of age is limited: the wood veneers on the doors and dashboard are beginning to delaminate in the corners and the veneer on the central ashtray is badly cracked. Second hand ashtray units are widely available. The central ski slope veneer is in very good condition, just some slight deterioration being visible to the right of the gear selector.
The grey leather seats are piped with contrasting charcoal and generally in very good condition, the rear seat appearing almost unused. This seat does have a couple of light marks on the base – that may respond to cleaning – and the driver’s seat inevitable has some creases, discolouration and wear on the side bolster. There is some mildew on the passenger seat headrest.
The photographs do not show the headlining. As this can be a weakness of these XJ40s, albeit one that is easily and cheaply remedied, it may be worth checking with the Vendor.
The carpets in the cabin are very good. The boot carpet is complete but heavily soiled.
We were unable to check the electrics for the sunroof so this may be something to verify with the Vendor.
The Exterior
Light blue metallic paintwork appears original
Attractive 16inch Jaguar alloy wheels in generally good condition
Trim and badging complete and generally undamaged
Car appears to sit level across its body indicating rear suspension is working correctly
The design of the XJ40 was finalised in the 1970s but not put into production until 1986. Smoothing out and simplifying the original XJ silhouette has certainly stood the test of time and likely explains why the XJ40, once so overlooked by enthusiasts, is enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment.
The light blue paintwork of this V12 appears original and complements the shape nicely, the big 16inch Jaguar alloys helping to give it a purposeful stance. The bodywork is generally solid and presentable but with some localised damage and deterioration around the car.
XJ40s have a reputation for rust, particular around the rear arches and lower front wings. This car has deteriorated in those areas but not significantly.
On the offside of the car the base of the A pillar has begun to bubble. There is a scratch on the front wheel arch and the base of the wing where it meets the sill has begun to deteriorate. This area also appears to show a previous repair and localised respray involving filler.
There is rust at the base of the driver’s door and on the black window surround on the passenger door. The rear wing has rusted at the base of the rear arch and there is a dent in this wing.
The boot panel above the number plate has corroded and the rear bumper is misaligned on the nearside.
Also on the nearside there rust on the dogleg at the base of the rear wing, on the bottom of the other side of this arch and a scratch on the rear passenger door. The front wing appears poorly aligned and there is rust at the base where it meets the sill.
At the front the bonnet appears to have a small number of yellow paint marks on the nearside. The plastic spoiler trim is misshapen and the nearside headlights show deterioration around the edges. The offside headlamp washer is missing.
The sunroof panel has deteriorated across the front edge.
The attractive Jaguar alloys appear to be in generally good condition. The centre cap is missing from the offside rear and two of the other centre caps show misting of the Jaguar emblem and scuffs on their edges. The offside rear is also lightly kerbed.
The car sits on what appear to be old tyres, two of which are cracked and were advisories on the last MOT.
The photographs of the underside indicate that the car is solid and appears to have been recently wax oiled. The MOT in March did not indicate any structural advisories.
The Mechanics
6litre V12 Jaguar engine generating 314bhp
4spd General Motors automatic gearbox with classic Jaguar J-gate option
No service or maintenance history available at time of listing
The silky V12 engine was specifically designed to deliver a smoother Jaguar experience than the American V8s that the firm was competing against. The original 5.3litre capacity was extended in the late 1980s to create the 6litre version which developed 314bhp.
To help the XJ40 compete in American the car was redesigned to accommodate this engine in 1993. The new model was called the XJ81 and available for just one year before production ended, with just 1,500 believed built. Although the XJ40’s successor, the X300, did offer a V12 variant it was only available in the USA. All of which makes this XJ12 a very rare car indeed.
We were unable to check the service or maintenance history for this car but the low mileage appears to be correct based on MOT records. The car was off the road between the last MOT in 2013 and the latest MOT in March 2023. We understand that it was lightly recommissioned before this test.
The Jaguar V12 is a remarkably durable engine but a complex one and there is very good parts supply from the wealth of Jaguar specialists. It is an engine that benefits from regular maintenance so the buyer may wish to factor in service and maintenance work to the purchase.
Summary
Interest in Jaguar’s svelte XJ40 is growing with values rising accordingly. The rare V12 version, with its superlative 6litre motor, must surely be the pinnacle of XJ40 ownership, with just 1,500 XJ81 V12 variants over 12 months.
This low mileage XJ12 would benefit from cosmetic attention but appears solid with only minor MOT work required to put it back on the road. Whether as a rolling project or base for a light restoration it could be a good investment and will surely be an interesting talking point at any Jaguar enthusiasts meet.
Notice to bidders
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