Jaguar XJS Cabriolet

Celebrating its 38th anniversary this year, the Jaguar XJS is at last achieving the full classic status that it so richly deserves. 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.

Powered by what is widely regarded as the finest V12 engine ever made, it mixed effortless performance with superb refinement and reliability. Rated at 295bhp and 320lbft of torque in its later guises, it was capable of over 150mph and 0-60mph in less than eight seconds.

Launched in 1983, the XJ-SC cabriolet was a versatile design that combined lift-out targa panels with a folding rear hood and is now a much rarer car than the full convertible that succeeded it in 1988. Fitted with the new 3.6-litre AJ6 six-cylinder engine mated to a manual 5-speed Getrag 265 gearbox as standard, the new configuration was plenty powerful enough and offered significantly better fuel consumption and long term reliability.

This 1987 example has been owned by the vendor for 12 years. He advises us that it has a Jaguar service history to 75,000 miles and has had work done to the wheel-arches which are now fitted with chrome accents. The passenger foot well was replaced in 2007, sills in 2011 and the seats removed and re-dyed Biscuit during his ownership. The total mileage now registers just under 146,000 miles and it has just flown though its MOT.

Fitted with a Piranha central locking system, microwave alarm and a JVC stereo, it is described as running and driving well. Used predominantly for local runs on sunny days, the vendor adds that his Labrador will be very sorry to see it go as he loves riding around on the rear deck behind the front seats with the hood folded. So you had better check that whoever is bidding against you hasn't got a suspiciously hairy paw in the air...