Jaguar XJS V12 Coupe

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 The Jaguar XJS 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 XJS 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 XJS 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 February 1992, this particular XJS has had just four owners from new, the vendor acquiring it via Brightwells five years ago. It has covered only 51,000 miles and comes with a huge service history comprising 24 stamps to date, the last only a handful of miles ago, and all at main agents or specialists. This gives an average service interval of just 2,125 miles, pretty obsessive by any standards.

Aside from routine servicing, in 2008 it was treated to a new steering rack, starter motor and battery at Steels of Hereford and the front suspension bushes have also been replaced. In 2009 Motorsport Ross fitted new rear discs and pads and new handbrake pads. More recently it has been treated to new front calipers, discs and pads, the air con system has been fully overhauled and the differential rebuilt.

A desirable ‘facelift’ model, it looks stunning in silver grey with a black leather interior and is in superb condition throughout. Professionally waxoiled, always garaged and used in fine weather only, it comes with all its original handbooks and an MOT until June 2015.

Only reluctantly being sold due to the demands of a growing family, the vendor believes that you would be hard pressed to find a better example. A long under-valued model, this low mileage cracker could prove a shrewd investment at the sensible guide price suggested.