• Outstanding spec with very high levels of equipment
• Comprehensive mechanical overhaul with many thousands spent
• Beautifully presented inside and out
The Background
The E-Type was a tough act to follow. A cultural icon, beloved of many, revered upon a diamond pedestal as a symbol of great British grit and elegance, there was always bound to be a bit of tip-toeing when the XJ-S appeared in 1975. But Jaguar’s follow-up act was a marvellously conceived and superbly executed concept; an ultra-modern revolution to fly in the face of the softly-softly evolution that had led inexorably to the Series III E-Type.
Designed as a GT rather than an out-and-out sports car, the XJ-S employed a shortened version of the then-new XJ6 platform and imbued it with huge fuel tanks and a mighty 5.3-litre V12. With long-legged gearing and light power steering, it was tailor-made for cruising down to the Riviera and back, and the styling – while initially controversial – weathered extremely well, with the model remaining in production for twenty years. It ultimately outsold the E-Type.
The lusty V12 remained the only engine option until 1983, spawning the V12 HE (‘High Efficiency’) variant in ’81, which added both economy and power. And when this HE-spec engine was paired with the wind-in-the-hair thrills of the convertible variant, the buying public was treated to the model you see here: power, luxury, style, dependability, practicality… a heady mix of ingredients that’s ensured its position in the pantheon of all-time greats.
Take a look at the milometer and you’ll see a surprisingly small number: yes, that figure of 48,000 miles is genuine, and there’s a robust history to back it up.
This car was specced extremely well from new, opting for the tasteful combination of Old English White coachwork with dark blue leather interior, and the car has evidently been looked after meticulously and lovingly throughout its life.
With just four former keepers in its thirty-three year existence, the history shows proper servicing as well as enthusiastic usage – for example, the XJ-S took part in the London-to-Brighton Jaguar Run in 2012 and 2013, and it’s always a good sign to know that a car has been enthusiast-owned.
With exemplary original spec and outstanding condition, this is a thoroughly desirable and low-mileage example of a sought-after and appreciating classic.
This XJ-S comes with a large and impressive file of paperwork, including all of the original manuals in their correct Jaguar wallet. The service book tells us that the car was originally supplied by Evans Halshaw in Birmingham, and there are main dealer service stamps right through to 1998, with a further stamp from a Jaguar specialist in 2003 – at which time the dial was showing 42,208 miles.
We can see that it’s always been MOT’d and kept on the road rather than ever being laid up, and there’s a sizeable quantity of receipts and invoices detailing all the work that’s been done on the car over the years.
Most significant is an invoice from the independent specialist Wyn Thomas in 2011, when over £7,600 was spent on the XJ-S; this work included a thorough engine overhaul, removal and overhaul of the power steering rack, new shock absorbers, full brake overhaul, removal and refurbishment of the rear subframe and axle, as well as a new air-con compressor and much more besides.
Most recently, an invoice from April 2021 shows that almost £800 was spent on a full service and MOT as well as draining down and repairing the power-steering system. Interestingly, there’s also a letter dated 20th May 1988 which outlines this car’s status as a demonstrator vehicle for Evans Halshaw, which helps to explain the car’s impeccable spec.
This is a beautifully presented interior, as you’d expect of a car that’s covered so few miles in its life. The leather trim is superb with very little age-related wear, and the seats tilt correctly to allow access to the storage area behind – which has a lockable cubby as well as the desirable optional wind-break (a must for long-distance touring).
The carpets are excellent, as are the doorcards, and the dash-top is free from cracks, marks or sun damage. The wood trim is all pleasantly presented with no signs of lacquer peel. All of the gauges are correctly functional, and there are no warning lights illuminated.
The car is fitted with its factory-original Jaguar radio-cassette, and also benefits from a trip computer, air-conditioning, cruise control, heated and electrically adjustable seats, and an electric soft-top.
All is as it should be inside the boot, with great carpets, a matching spare alloy wheel, and the original jack in its correct matching bag.
Old English White suits this car so well, and the bodywork is very attractively presented throughout. We find no trace of scratches, dents, dings or visible corrosion, and all of the panel gaps are straight and even. The light lenses and window glass are in good condition, and all of the correct trim and badging is present and correct.
The wheels are in beautiful order with no marks or kerbing, and wear a set of quality Pirelli P600 tyres with plenty of tread.
The soft-top has recently been replaced, and as such is in as-new condition. It raises and lowers correctly with the electrical operation, and there’s also a fitted tonneau for when the roof is lowered.
With such a comprehensive mechanical overhaul having been carried out fewer than 3000 miles ago, you’d expect everything here to be mechanically correct, and it absolutely is.
The creamy-smooth V12 fires up willingly, idles well, purrs around town and roars when provoked, just as it should, and the slick automatic transmission is equally excellent.
The car rides with the comfort and pleasantness that’s such a trademark of these machines, and with the shock absorbers having been replaced all around as well as the brakes fully overhauled, this is a very happy little chassis. Everything’s working correctly, and it truly is a joy to drive.
If you’re in the market for an XJ-S (or even if you’re not), this car ought to be right at the top of your wish-list. It just has so much going for it: having originally been a dealer demonstrator, it’s got absolutely all of the optional bells and whistles you could wish for, and the colour combination works so well on the drop-top too.
The mileage is remarkably low, the history file is outstanding, and a large amount of money has been invested to ensure that everything within the Jaguar’s heart is operating as it should be. The result of all of this is one of the most desirable examples of the XJ-S on the market today; fresh, complete, wonderful to drive, with show-winning potential. An outstanding Jaguar.
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1988 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Convertible
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