Jaguar XK8 Coupe

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Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1996, the new Jaguar XK8 replaced for the venerable XJS which had in-turn supplanted the iconic E-Type.

Designed by Geoff Lawson, who had also penned the stunning XJ220, it shared its platform with the Aston Martin DB7 to which it bore more than a passing resemblance. The first Jaguar ever with an eight-cylinder engine, its 4-litre V8 produced 290bhp and could waft the car to an electronically limited 155mph top speed. Later models had a much improved 4.2-litre V8 which added another few bhp, with better reliability and a significant uplift in torque to a stump-pulling 303lb/ft, thanks to its longer stroke. The new six-speed auto certainly made the most of this extra oomph.

This stunning two owner 26,300 mile example was ordered new through Lancasters in Sea Frost with Ivory leather upholstery. It was delivered with the rare and desirable 20” BBS Detroit alloys, a significant cost option at the time, but one which gives the car even more road presence (as if it didn't have enough to start with!).

The first owner kept it until 2005, by which time it had covered some 12,000 miles. The vendor, its second owner used it as his everyday car for a year or so, before relegating it to ‘special duties’, the mileage then creeping up by just a few thousand a year.

Serviced every year without fail, the book shows that PJ Evans and Stratstone looked after it until 2008, by which time the mileage was 25,723. Since 2009 the car has been serviced annually by specialist Karl Fisher in Cannock despite the car having done virtually no work over this period.

Due to carry a full 12 months MOT by the time of the sale, the vendor advises us that he has the documentation for the Trackstar Tracker system which will accompany the excellent service history. This is certainly one of the nicest XK8s we have seen.