Jaguar XJ6 4.0S

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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 4.0 AJ6 DOHC 24-valve engine produced 245bhp, giving the car a top speed of 138mph and a 0-60 time of 7.1 seconds with excellent fuel economy for its class.

Originally sold through Colliers of Sutton Coldfield, they looked after its wellbeing until 2001. The service book shows 8 stamps plus one service invoice to 85,750 in 2005, at which point it came into the hands of the owner who entrusted its care to his own personal mechanic.

He kept a full diary of every journey and service that was subsequently undertaken on the car, including the fitment of new rear dampers and new tyres at the time of purchase. Used principally for the long journey to and from Scotland for his annual golfing holiday, the total mileage has risen to 97,500 miles since purchase, adding just 1,200 miles per year.

Offered with the personalised registration number YPO 770, this 4.0-litre S model is MOTd until September 2015 and is being reluctantly offered for sale due to downsizing. Can these beautifully engineered machines get any better value than they are today? Surely not!