Model History

Design of the Jaguar XJS (codenamed XJ27) started around 1965, with the first production car being sold in 1975. Although the public assumed the XJS was a successor to the very popular E-Type, it was in fact intended to be different. It would be comfortable and luxurious – less of a sports car and more of a sports tourer. This allowed it to use the same suspension layout as the recently introduced Jaguar XJ6. Externally the Jaguar XJS was most noticeable for its “flying buttresses” that swept from the top of the rear roofline down to the rear of the wings. Some criticised this feature but it was actually a common design for sports cars of the period, such as Maserati and Ferrari. The buttresses also gave the large XJS an excellent drag coefficient, better than the E-Type and allowing the XJS easily to attain over 150mph.

The XJS’s engine was a fuel-injected version of the E-Type’s 5.3-litre V12, still considered one of the finest engines in the world today. It was thirsty though, and so in 1981 the HE engine was introduced. With a modified cylinder head design and a better ignition system, fuel consumption was improved by over 20%. Transmission was the robust and smooth GM400 3-speed automatic. The V12 auto remained in production for all 21 years of the Jaguar XJS production history.

Equipment

Jet Black paintwork, Brown leather upholstery, Electric folding mohair hood in black, Black mohair tonneau cover, Automatic transmission, Electric windows, Electric door mirrors, Power steering, Red and silver pinstripes, Blaupunkt Bremen head unit with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, Lockable rear storage compartment, Spare wheel with vinyl cover, Jaguar toolkit, Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate.

Exterior

This handsome XJS underwent a comprehensive restoration in 2014 at the highly regarded KWE workshops in Berkshire. The brief set out by the owner at the time was to create a “better than new” XJS capable of long continental journeys with total reliability and comfort for many years into the future. The restoration is well documented with photos and a file full of eye-wateringly expensive receipts. The car has been driven and thoroughly enjoyed since then but, having also been treated to a full cavity wax at KWE, the underside still presents in good order.

VIEWINGS WELCOME BY APPOINTMENT ONLY /// ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AND VIDEOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Interior

In addition to the exterior refurbishment the interior of the car was also fully re-trimmed. The attractive brown leather is almost unmarked throughout, still presenting to a very high standard with no signs of major wear. The complementing door cards and armrest are also beautifully presented with only a couple of very minor nicks in the leather on the driver’s door pull to report. Glancing from the doors and across the dash you’ll find glossy walnut trim that further extends to the centre console, again all pristine. A few nice touches over standard include the stainless cupholders and handbrake grip, USB charger sockets, and the desirable Blaupunkt Bremen stereo with USB and Bluetooth connectivity. In the boot you’ll find the spare wheel still in its vinyl covering along with the original XJS tool kit. 

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

The car’s 5.3-litre V12 was treated to a full KWE engine rebuild in 2014 at 133k miles. The XJS has been in regular use since then and any snagging issues following on from the restoration have been addressed accordingly. The current owner has since spent in excess of £25k on additional maintenance and repairs with both KWE and Clarke’s Restorations.

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES

The XJS sits on its original cross-spoke alloy wheels, all in perfect unmarked condition. They are shod in Falken tyres all round, each one with plenty of tread left. The brakes have also been checked and remain in fine operational condition, bringing the car to a halt quickly and in a straight line.

History File

This handsome V12 Convertible was first registered in August 1989. It was supplied new by Guy Salmon Jaguar to a Mr Kirkpatrick of Lightwater and has now seen 9 additional keepers. A comprehensive restoration and full engine rebuild were carried out by KWE Engineering at 133k miles; the odometer currently reads 140,275 miles.

During KWE’s restoration process the car underwent a detailed scrutiny of all systems and nothing was spared. It was fully upgraded with more reliable electrical systems, improved sound deadening, Harvey Bailey front and rear chassis stiffeners to reduce scuttle shake, improved brake fluids, brighter headlights for safer driving at night, cavity wax injection, improved engine cooling, and improved engine component heat management. A stainless steel exhaust system wrapped in woven Kevlar to prevent heat ingress into the cabin was also fitted, and various sections of wiring in the engine bay were wrapped in heat resistant silicone tubing to prevent damage from the notoriously hot engine compartment. Cosmetically, the car was stripped and fully repainted in the original solid black colour. A bespoke hand-stitched leather interior was also fitted along with a new mohair hood.

Within the accompanying History File the lucky new owner will find the original Jaguar document wallet and manuals, the stamped service booklet, a thick raft of invoices, old MOTs, a Jaguar Heritage certificate confirming the car’s original build details, and a CD documenting its 2014 restoration. The recorded service history is as follows:

12/09/1989 at 1,238 miles – Guy Salmon Jaguar
26/02/1990 at 7,905 miles – Guy Salmon Jaguar
23/07/1990 at 15,025 miles – Guy Salmon Jaguar
04/03/1991 at 22,962 miles – Guy Salmon Jaguar
04/09/1991 at 30,080 miles – Guy Salmon Jaguar
07/04/1992 at 37,613 miles – Paladin Jaguar
15/09/1992 at 46,168 miles – Paladin Jaguar
18/02/1993 at 54,464 miles – Paladin Jaguar
04/08/1993 at 61,439 miles – Paladin Jaguar
04/07/1994 at 70,453 miles – Grange Jaguar
17/01/1995 at 75,816 miles – Grange Jaguar
14/09/1995 at 83,381 miles – Stratstone Jaguar
24/04/1996 at 90,530 miles – Jaguar Repair Centre Ltd. (Specialist)
01/08/1997 at 99,465 miles – CMC Motor Engineering (Specialist)
11/05/1998 at 106,506 miles – CMC Motor Engineering (Specialist)
08/05/2000 at 121,296 miles – CMC Motor Engineering (Specialist)
14/06/2012 at 132,678 miles – Sergants Garage Ltd.
26/09/2014 at 133,392 miles – KWE Engineering Ltd. (Specialist) – engine rebuild completed
06/01/2020 at 137,387 miles – KWE Engineering Ltd. (Specialist)
21/09/2021 at 138,135 miles – KWE Engineering Ltd. (Specialist)

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