Jaguar XJS V12 Coupe

The Jaguar XJS had a mountain to climb from the day it was launched – it had to replace the impossibly glamorous E-Type which had so captured the public's imagination when it first appeared in 1961. Somehow the XJS failed to stir emotions in the same way when it was launched in April 1975. However, time has been kind to the car and it now looks more handsome with every passing year.

Largely designed by Jaguar's legendary aerodynamicist, Malcolm Sayer, it slipped through the air far more efficiently than the E-Type and was a paragon of stability and silence at speed. Based on a shortened XJ saloon floorpan, it weighed over 100kg less than an XJ12 and in early manual form could sprint to 60 in 6.7 seconds and top 153mph. In 1981 the XJS received the new HE (High Efficiency) engine with Michael May-designed Fireball heads which improved fuel economy by 20 per cent and upped the top speed to 155mph, making it the fastest automatic car in the world.

First registered in June 1988, this particular XJS V12 Coupe has had just four owners from new (the third of whom kept it for 18 years) and has been kept garaged for all its life to date. A superbly preserved example, it looks particularly fine in Alpine Green with a Doeskin hide interior.

Now with some 94,000 miles under its wheels, it comes with an excellent service history comprising 20 service stamps up to 2006 (at 80,897 miles, most at Jaguar main agents) plus bills for regular maintenance since, the last service being less than 3,000 miles ago. It has recently been treated to a full gearbox service, a new stainless steel exhaust, new Pirelli P4000 tyres all round, a new battery, reconditioned Salisbury 4HU differential, new ABS unit, reconditioned and modernised air conditioning system and a new headlining.

Paint and chromework are excellent while the interior is also in fine condition and has benefitted, almost from new, from an instrument conversion from the rather dated ‘fruit machine’ dials to the more traditional (and legible) Jaguar XJ12 type. With an MOT until June 2012 the car is said to drive superbly with a wonderfully quiet engine, drivetrain and suspension. It comes with all its original handbooks, the aforementioned service history, two sets of keys, a Kenwood CD player, an alarm/immobiliser and a full original tool kit. The icing on the cake is a distinctive XJ number plate.

Altogether a most superior example of this sybaritic cruiser that is guaranteed to make its new owner feel good every time they slip behind the wheel. Good examples of the XJS are now few and far between and we can’t help feeling that they won’t stay at this bargain basement price for much longer…