Jaguar XJS 3.6 Coupe

So it was that in 1983, the XJS became Jaguar’s first model to receive their new 3.6-litre AJ6 engine, a very smooth and potent unit that was not far short of the V12 in terms of outright performance and in a different league when it came to economy.

 

This change opened up the car to a whole new group of enthusiasts no longer scared away by heavy fuel consumption and high servicing costs of the V12 and it proved very popular.

 

"It is the 24-valve engine's flexibility that impresses most," wrote Autocar. "Such is its low-down pulling power that, in town and urban conditions, one rarely needs more than 2,000rpm to keep up with the traffic flow." More revvy and eager than the 225bhp 4-litre AJ6, the 223bhp 3.6 is preferred by many enthusiasts, especially when mated to the rare manual gearbox option which transforms the XJS from a cruiser to a proper sportscar: 0-60 in just 7.1 seconds with a top speed of 139mph and up to 36mpg economy.

 

First registered in May 1987, this desirable 5-speed manual XJS has covered just 110,500 miles from new with a stamped service book up to 66,000 miles in February 1997. The vendor acquired the car from Brightwells in 2015 and has used it sparingly but enjoyably since.

 

The car had had a new clutch kit from SNG Barratt costing over £180 and a set of matching Pirelli P4000 tyres prior to his ownership. Since purchase in 2015 our vendor treated the car to a thorough brake overhaul. Other documentation on file includes the V5C, service book showing regular stamps up to 1997, a file of invoices from both main dealer and specialists plus owner’s manual and wad of old MOTs.