Jaguar XJ6 3.2S Saloon

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Introduced in 1986, the XJ40 range was the most intensively researched car that Jaguar had ever launched and over £200m was invested in its production.

Test models clocked up 1.24 million miles in Arizona summer heat testing, 1.1 million miles in Canada winter testing, 1.8 million miles in Australia heat and dust testing, in addition to 750,000 miles on the high-speed Nardo circuit in Italy plus numerous other gruelling tests.

All this hard work paid off and the car proved exceptionally reliable in use. Initially two engine sizes were available, from an economical 2.9-litre to a more pokey 3.6-litre AJ6 unit, both being replaced by larger 3.2-litre and 4.0-litre engines following the Ford take-over in 1990. All models now had improved door handles with high security locks and the dashboard was substantially improved with analogue gauges and a small digital read-out at the bottom showing odometer, computer functions and fault codes.

The four-speed automatic gearbox was operated through a ‘J-Gate’ selector designed to allow the manual selection of forward gears without accidentally selecting neutral or reverse, a feature which has carried over to more recent Jaguar models.

From 1993 Sport versions were offered, the 3.2S and 4.0S, which featured rosewood interior trim (in place of walnut), body-coloured door mirrors and radiator grill vanes and twin coachlines. Wider-profile tires were fitted, mounted on five-spoke alloy wheels. The 3.2S AJ6 DOHC engine produced 219bhp, giving the car a top speed of 139mph and a 0-60 time of 8.5 seconds with excellent fuel economy for its class.

This particular 3.2S is one of the last 1,000 examples made and was first registered in February 1995 (production of the XJ40 officially ended in June 1994). Finished in British Racing Green and trimmed in attractive Magnolia hide with red piping and red carpets, it presents very nicely indeed.

It has only covered 81,560 miles to date, backed up by an almost unbroken run of 17 old MOTs back to 1998, and had just one owner from 1998 until earlier this year. Clearly a much-cherished machine, it is said to have an exceptionally clean interior sporting full leather, correct rosewood trim, Jaguar over-rugs and a very good headlining. It also rides on the correct five-spoke alloys.

Although the service book is sadly no longer present, most of the other handbooks are present in the original wallet, along with a few bills for routine maintenance, the original radio code card, and a factory alarm fob in working condition. The car is said to run and drive well with an MOT until March 2015.

A long under-rated model, the XJ40 is only just beginning to be appreciated by collectors and this last-of-the-line example is the perfect introduction to the model which signalled Jaguar's new direction at the turn of the 1990s.