Lot Ended
Description
1989 Jaguar XJS V12 Convertible
Smart
interior; good hood; sensible mileage; ready for long distance
touring
Launched way back in 1975 to replace the ageing E-Type,
the Jaguar XJS Coupe was largely designed by Jaguar's legendary aerodynamicist,
Malcolm Sayer.
Low, lithe and elegant, 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 hit
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.
The long-awaited full convertible version of the Jaguar
XJS was finally introduced at the 1988 Geneva Motor Show, a full 13 years after
the coupe had been launched. Thoroughly re-engineered to compensate for the lack
of a tin-top, it featured a reinforced floorpan, frameless doors and
sophisticated electric hood complete with heated glass rear window. Underpinned
by the same all round independent coil-sprung suspension and power assisted rack
and pinion steering as its fixed head siblings, the soft-top came with anti-lock
brakes as standard. Despite the hefty price tag of £40,000 a waiting list was
quick to form.
Dating from January 1989, this XJS Convertible has
had six owners from new, the previous acquiring it in May
2004 to join a collection of classic cars. Always kept garaged and only lightly
used during his 16-year ownership, old MOTs show that it had covered just 3,200
miles during this period. Our vendor bought it only last year but due to Covid
restrictions, has simply not used it, covering only another 50 miles or
so. The odometer currently shows 97,600 miles which is nothing for this
unstressed V12. Although there is precious little history with the car, there
are invoices for new rear brake calipers and pads (including
handbrake) from July last year and a new battery in April 2019.
The rust-free bodywork appears very straight and sound
with good paint, the underside appearing equally clean and solid. The chromework
is also very presentable and the magnolia leather interior is particularly good,
as is the electric soft top which works as it should. In fact three months
before the last owner acquired the car it had been vandalised which led to it
being declared a Cat D insurance loss but the damage was only cosmetic (hood
slashed; seats slashed; steering lock broken) with no damage whatsoever to the
structure of the car and all was quickly put right.
Starting instantly as we moved it around for these photos,
it has an MOT until July 2021 with just a couple of minor advisories for slight
play in both front wheel bearings and ‘wipers don’t
cancel’.
Further information - toby.service@brightwells.com
* All charges are subject to VAT