Jaguar XJS 3.6

The Jaguar XJ-S 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 XJ-S 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. From 1983 the V12 5.3 litre was supplemented by the fuel efficient AJ6 3.6 litre straight-six. Identifiable by the power bulge in the bonnet, this model was initially only available with the 5-speed Getrag 265 gearbox and was a welcome addition to the range, maintaining a healthy performance with a considerably smaller appetite for fuel.

This example dates from 1985 and has covered 98,000 miles from new. Painted in Jaguar red with black leather upholstery, it has clearly been well loved, with a great many accessories fitted. These include a twin headlight conversion, front and rear spoiler, side skirts, a boot rack, chrome wheel arches and a Jaguar mascot on the bonnet. Reported to drive very well, it will be driven to the sale, is MOTd until July 2012 and looks like a lot car for little money.