Jaguar XJ6 3.2 Executive

Launched in 1968, the Jaguar XJ6 still ranks as one of the most significant cars ever made. 

It's astonishing standards of handling, comfort and silence, coupled with the traditional Jaguar attributes of performance and value for money, immediately made every other car on the road look over-priced and old-fashioned.

The car was revised several times over the following years but, so beautifully proportioned was the original design, that it was still recognisably the same car over three decades later. After some issues over build quality in the late '70s and over styling in the late '80s, the XJ6 once again regained its old magic in 1995 with the launch of the X300 - considered by many to be the best looking and best made of all the XJ6s.

Under the masterful eye of chief stylist Geoff Lawson (who also penned the dramatic XJ220 and the retro-cool S-Type), the slabby styling of the XJ40 was binned in favour of a return to the muscular curves and quad headlamps that had traditionally defined the big cat's appeal. Powered by the superb AJ16 engine and underpinned by vast improvements in build quality thanks to the deep pockets of new owner Ford, the X300 was a great success. In 3.2-litre form it had 219bhp and a top speed of 140mph with up to 30mpg possible if driven sensibly.

First registered in March 1997, this 3.2 Executive has had just three owners from new, the second of whom owned it for 14 years (November 1997 to April 2011). With only around 85,000 miles under its wheels to date, the car is said to be sound and solid and to drive very well but would benefit from some cosmetic TLC here and there.

With an MOT until April 2014 it is due to be driven over 100 miles to the sale and would be an ideal car to cruise around in this summer, with scope for improvement if desired.