Jaguar XJS V12 HE Coupe

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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 first hit the road 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 XJ-S 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 March 1985, this particular XJS was bought by the vendor in 1993 when it only had around 5,000 miles on the clock. A lifelong Jaguar fanatic, he has since added some 90,000 miles to this total and reports that the car has always been a pleasure to drive, has never missed a beat (except once – more of which later) and still feels capable of a genuine 150mph.

Finished in silver with a Burgundy hide interior, the car is said to be in excellent condition for its year with everything working as it should including the air conditioning. A new alternator and battery have recently been fitted and it rides on good Avon tyres and comes with two spare wheels. A replacement gearbox was fitted in 1999.

In 2002 a coolant hose split while the vendor was on his way from Pembrokeshire to Goodwood and by the time he noticed that the temperature gauge had gone up, some damage had already been done so he had the car recovered and delivered to RM Classic Restorations of Kent for a full engine strip down and overhaul when various ancillaries were also replaced. Since then the car has been running as well as ever and is due to be driven some 100 miles to the sale.

Currently taxed and due to have a fresh MOT before the sale, it is only reluctantly being sold due to the advancing years of its long-term owner who now only wishes that it goes to a good new home. The icing on the cake is the transferable JAG number plate which has been valued at £1,500 and is included in the sale.