Description
Up for sale is my Jaguar XJS pre production build vehicle this remarkable vehicle was built on the 31st January 1975 and is chassis number 19 off the production line, the first 20 cars only were built on this date some months before full production started.
The car was passed to the Jaguar publicity and press department and registered in May 1975 on the very rare suffix N as these cars were not released until September 1975 they would all have a P suffix at sale and this car just like the XJ6 before it being chassis number 19 was used by Jaguar cars for the original launch brochure of 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, being one of the earliest production cars it retains many early features making it an exceptionally significant example of Jaguars early XJS and the purist of the breed.
Jaguar took this car to the South of France in 1975 for the backdrop to the photos used in the brochure where some were taken of the car wearing French style number plates in various locations in France, many pictures were taken and some not used in the brochure but thanks to Jaguar heritage i have all these pictures.
After press duties were completed the car was then used as a demonstrator by some Jaguar dealers due to shortages at the time, one such was Sturgess Jaguar and the son of the owner remembered the car as hid dad used it to take him to Mallory park one weekend in 1975 and he sent me an email about this and he was delighted the car had survived.
The car was sold by Jaguar in 1977 to David Harvey father of racing driver Tim Harvey and David even used the car as clerk of the course at Silverstone in 1978 i have a lovely picture of this,
once David had finished with the car it went through a few owners and later on in around 1989 was taken of the road this was the tax disc date in the window, someone must have known what a special car this was and at around this time or later a structural restoration began.
Pictures show all new floors, inner and outer sills full rear qtr panels inner wheel arch repairs both new front wings and much more but after this the restoration seemed to stop and the car went into long term storage.
In 2004 an advert appeared in classic car weekly reading
RARE PRE PRODUCTION JAGUAR XJS CHASSIS NO 19 ACTUAL BROCHURE CAR, i still have this cutting i called the seller but it had sold almost straight away but luckily i was able to purchase it from the buyer and i have owned it over 20 years.
It has taken 12 years to complete the cars restoration and became a labour of love and some 10 years on it is still excellent today.
The engine was rebuilt all new bearings piston rings oil pump valves and seals timing chain every gasket and seal was replaced, injectors overhauled and correct ferrule pipes fitted new starter motor and alternator and upgraded RE-OPUS ignition but concealed in original case for originality and reliability.
Front and rear axles were removed stripped cleaned painted and rebuilt using all new parts discs, pads new calipers brake pipes and hoses, wheel bearing, stub axles shock absorbers coil springs handbrake cable and everything in between.
The body was taken back to bare metal and was entrusted to a local classic car painter who painted it in its original Signal Red body colour with the famous and elegant and oh so 70s matt black boot panel.
The original Kent alloys were diamond cut and inserts coloured correct for the early cars.
The black leather Interior is original and not restored and looks amazing, a new headliner and side panels were also fitted,
these early cars used a Flock style material for the floor carpet and floor mats this took an age to source in black but was worth it as it is correct for this year of car.
Door cards were remade and original material reused.
This car even wears the correct style and brand new headlights with internal beam patterns behind the glass not part of glass as later cars had.
recently i have replaced both center exhaust boxes with genuine Brithis Leyland originals and also replaced both rears.
The car starts and drives very well indeed you can see why they were praised for their ride quality back in the day and feels just as good today the engine pulls strongly and is turbine smooth, the transmission is the correct 3 speed model 12 and works well.
Driving this car puts a smile on my face every time and always gets noticed wherever it goes the distinctive styling of this car has come of age and it is finally being appreciated for what it stood for, and as values for the E type have started to slow for the XJS they are starting to rise and good early cars are getting noticed and as always with classic cars they are as the maker intended.
This XJS has enjoyed considerable media attention over time
from its appearance in the original launch brochure in 1975/ 1978 it has also featured in Jaguar drivers magazine in 1976 1977 and 1979 also in Brian Longs excellent JAGUAR XJ-S book pictured wearing the number plate JVC810P the car was photographed with this plate a few times by Jaguar cars as the car was launched in September 1975 the number plate would have been changed to a P suffix a picture of this is in the Jaguar Heritage magazine November 2004 also used on the front cover of Jaguar Enthusiast issue 485 may 2025 and there is even a British Leyland card with the car on for the kids of the time to collect
a 2 part feature about this vehicles time with me published in Jaguar enthusiast club annual magazine September and October 2026.
The car has some early features some noticeable some not and they are as follows.
The coolant pipe under bonnet from header tank to top of radiator is straight on later cars it was shaped around amplifier.
Bonnet safety lock are straight on the bonnet on later cars these are angled.
where the safety latch locks on to body this bracket is welded in to position on later cars it is riveted.
Both door lock mechanisms are as the E type spring clips to adjust later cars used threaded rods.
all control switches appear the same but on this car the bulb holder is very small and loom is also different.
Dashboard panel has different mounting positions to a 76 car
Both front seats bolt direct and on top of cross member on later cars they sit on a pedestal on top of cross member
door edge trims go half way up to pillar trim and are capped off with chrome caps on later cars caps were deleted and trim goes all around aperture as one piece.
front seat side adjuster has a domed chrome lever this is flatted off on later cars.
The car also has no outer door mirrors from new which in initial road test was criticised and so all production cars after had outer mirrors fitted.
Looking at these early cars from the excellent XJS books out there probably about 5 press cars were taken from the first 20 cars produced 2 white and 3 red both white cars JVC 484N and JVC 485N have long since gone of the 3 red cars this is what i know, JVC480N chassis no 10 is in the united kingdom but in a very sorry state but hopefully will be restored, JVC481N chassis number 12 is in Australia and again needs lots of work but has not been seen in years, then there is this car which as the picture will tell you is in amazing condition and ready for the next custodian to show this vehicle and talk about its amazing history to the next generation of Jaguar lovers, i have put a video on you tube showing this great car in detail just search JAGUAR XJS PRE HE and up she pops, also on there Harry Metcalfe from Harrys garage owned a 1980 model and he wished it was a 70s xjs and he took his car on the same route this car took back in 1975 which for me was lovely to watch and one day i hoped to do the same thing but maybe that could be for the next owner.
I have over 400 pictures of the work completed one folder full of emails correspondence from the jaguar world a file full of receipts and a service pack with stamps in going back to 1988,
I would prefer to sell this car before the November auction at the NEC classic car show so please call or email. come have a look and have a coffee and talk XJS the old fashioned way.
using the button below the details below Keri
