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Jaguar XJ8

Jaguar XJ8Jaguar XJ8Jaguar XJ8Jaguar XJ8Jaguar XJ8
Jaguar XJ8Jaguar XJ8Jaguar XJ8Jaguar XJ8Jaguar XJ8
Jaguar XJ8Jaguar XJ8Jaguar XJ8Jaguar XJ8Jaguar XJ8
Lot number 49
Hammer value N/S (est. £2,500 - £3,000)
Description Jaguar XJ8
Registration TAZ 2161
Year 1997
Engine size 3,248 cc
Chassis No. SAJJALG3CR823476
Engine No. AC971107160

THIS CAR IS A 1997 MODEL, NOT 2003 AS PREVIOUSLY STATED.

After much wrangling, the Jaguar board of directors finally sanctioned an £80 million investment for a replacement for the XJ6 in 1981. By the time of launch in October 1986, the spend had totalled over £200 million but the company had undergone a revolution in the way it designed, developed and produced cars which was to stand them in good stead for the future.

The new car used a completely new architecture and managed to include the latest in production engineering technology. It was able to compete with BMW and Mercedes head-on in terms of refinement, reliability and performance.

By 1995 the car was starting to look a little “square” but by this time had earnt its fine reputation for reliability and build quality. The X300 arrived based on the same centre architecture as the older model, with new front and rear styling, emphasising the more traditional Jaguars, no doubt due to the public comments upon the launch of its pre-decessor. In any event it certainly hit the spot, with strong sales, particularly in Jaguar’s important export markets. By 1997 the range had been updated yet again (code number X308) with the addition of the highly regarded V8 engine which ran until 2003.

Purchased new by the National Grimley Bank in Northern Ireland (hence the TAZ number plate), this 2003 example has the 240bhp 3.2-litre V8 and has recently had a full engine service, including new timing chains and a waterpump undertaken by the North Wales Jaguar Centre. The vendor purchased the car from a dealer in London who had acquired the car directly from the bank.  It is MOT’d until July 2012 and the car is in exceptional condition throughout having covered 114,000 miles, a walk in the park for these supremely engineered machines. These cars are absolutely lovely to drive or be driven in and represent huge value in the current market - why settle for anything less? 

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