2007 Jaguar Sovereign 4.2 Supercharged

‘E140 JEF’ is an X356 Jaguar Sovereign with a difference – because this is a Japan-market car that was reimported in 2020 and then professionally fitted out to full UK-spec, which means the seller got all the benefits of a car for whom salt was an unknown for most of its life allied to standard rates of insurance.

It’s ULEZ/CAZ-compliant too, and costs just £360 a year to tax – and it’s not like it’s a poverty-spec car either because it’s the full-fat, 400bhp, 4.2-litre, V8 long-wheelbase version that’s as quick as it is comfortable.

This British Racing Green example has also got a full service history for the 40,000 miles it’s covered since being repatriated.

The seller is handling the sale on behalf of a customer of his, and the owner couldn’t have picked a better man to handle it because his firm specializes in importing, converting, and servicing Jaguars from Japan, so the owner can rest assured that his beloved car is in safe hands.

Our seller put the Jaguar through his workshop, and they detailed the body, refurbished the wheels, fitted new tyres, cleaned and fed the leather, and installed a couple of suspension arms (see the invoice attached in the documents gallery).

Still not convinced you should bid?

How about the fact it’s being offered with no reserve, so it’s going to sell from the very first bid.

Ah, now we’ve caught your attention, haven’t we?

Presented in the iconic shade of British Racing Green (colour code HGD), a recent machine-polish and ceramic coating have left it looking sensational. It’s an iconic colour anyway, and it isn’t surprising it’s become a classic given how well the subtle metallic green suits the XJ’s flowing lines.

Being aluminium you don’t have to worry about rust in the same way as you did on the older steel Jaguars, and there are no dents drinks, or scratches either, just ripple-free flanks and a healthy shine to the paintwork.

Mind you, that shine builds on fresh paint and repairs that were carried out in March 2024 to the nearside front wing and the corner of the bonnet. The nearside rear quarter panel, the bumper mirror case, and boot lid also received paint and repairs in October 2023, and the offside front wing and door were attended to in May 2021.

The 20-inch Callisto alloy wheels have been recently refurbished too, and they’re looking as good here as they always do. Open in design, their five widely-spaced spokes allow you to enjoy the discreet Jaguar-branded brake calipers that lurk behind.

They’re also fitted with new tyres, with 255/35ZR20 PowerTrac EcoSport X77 being fitted on all four corners. All are date-stamped 2024 and all have excellent tread on them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

There’s minimal chromework on these cars, but what was fitted in Coventry is perfectly judged. The brightwork here is also in good shape with no serious pitting, rust, or other flaws, merely a light bloom developing on some of the pieces of trim.

As for the trademark mesh chrome radiator grille, it’s every bit as good as a car with a pedigree like this deserves, as are the badges, lamp lenses, and the double-glazed windows.

Other treats include Xenon headlamps with powerwash, front and rear parking sensors, and powerfold door mirrors.

As for faults, there is a crack in the windscreen, which’ll need sorting out sooner rather than later. The brake calipers aren’t finished to the same standard as the rest of the car either, and given they’re so visible we can see the car’s next owner will probably want to get them refurbished at some point.

There’s also a mark on the nearside corner of the rear bumper, and the rubber seal on the driver’s door has perished.

Nothing too worrisome then.
 

The Barley ruched leather interior is piped in Mocha. There are Mocha seatbelts too, plus a carpet of the same colour that’s protected by four neatly bound overmats. (Plus, yet another mat in the driver’s footwell. You can’t be too careful, can you?)

There’s acres of walnut veneer trim too, including a heated and electrically adjustable steering wheel and a matching gearknob (sadly, not heated…).

And yet, despite the absence of a heated gearknob (do such things even exists?), as you’d expect of a long-wheelbase car whose emphasis is placed firmly on comfort, the interior appointments are lavish.

Those in the rear can enjoy electrically adjustable reclining seats that are also heated. There’s a control panel for the climate control too, as well as controls for the media system. Protection from the sun comes courtesy of an electrically-deployable rear blind, with manually operated blinds covering the side windows.

There are picnic tables back there too, plus double-glazed glass all round and more legroom than even an NBA player could utilize.  

Not that the driver and passenger have been neglected because their suite of goodies includes 16-way electrically adjustable and heated front seats. The Jaguar also has cruise control with a speed limiter, satellite navigation, and automatic lights and wipers.

A new Barley headlining has also been fitted only recently.

The boot is vast. Vast and beautifully trimmed, which is about all you can ask of a boot really, isn’t it? The factory hazard warning triangle is still fitted to the underside of the boot lid too, with the space-saver spare wheel and tool kit lying under a false floor.

The battery is tucked away under there too, as is the compressor for the suspension, the DVD player for the sat-nav and the CD multichanger.

Cosmetic issues are few. Two of the buttons on the centre console have gone sticky, and the steering wheel has developed some fine cracks along its rim.
 

The 4.2-litre supercharged V8 engine bursts into life with a subdued roar that’s entirely in keeping with the Jaguar’s role of moving four people about the place as quickly and comfortably as possible while making no fuss whatsoever. Like a supercharged Jeeves, if you will.

The seller tells us that it drives “very well, with no warning lights on the dashboard.”

The engine bay is very clean indeed, with glossy black plastic covers, shiny green metalwork, a good soundproofing mat on the underside of the bonnet, and no obvious leaks.

As you’d expect given its provenance, the underside is very good indeed. Of course, aluminium doesn’t rust in the same way as steel does anyway but the suspension components, brackets, and fasteners can if they’re exposed to salty roads and yet these look surprisingly fresh and unsullied.

Not perfect of course as it’s been here for the past five years but it is far, far better than the equivalent UK car would be at the same age and mileage.

There are also a few scratches and scuffs, including a couple of places where the underside trim has been broken. 
 

The Jaguar’s MoT certificate is valid until February 2026, it did pick up an advisory for an oil leak from the rear, however that has been repaired.

The Sovereign comes with two remote-control keys, the book pack and wallet, and a service history for the 40,000 miles it’s covered on British roads, which is in a continuation service history booklet and recorded as follows:

•    07.03.2022 and 60,657 miles – service by West Shore of Llandudno
•    07.03.2023 and 69,244 miles – service by West Shore of Llandudno
•    29.02.2024 and 77,506 miles – service by West Shore of Llandudno including a new ignition switch and door lock
•    06.02.2025 and 83,269 miles – service by LCR Motors of Llandudno including a new airflow meter and two front suspension arms

It’s also had its differential serviced not long ago. New brake pads in July 2023 too, plus a new waterpump and belt in January of the same year.

As we mentioned earlier, it’s also ULEZ/CAZ-compliant, and with the factory fitted alarm immobiliser with no modifications shouldn’t cost any more to insure than a UK-market car, and costs just £360 a year to tax. Dial in minimal depreciation from hereon in and you’ve got cheap motoring AND access to 400bhp via that sublime 4.2-litre supercharged V8 engine.
 

Professionally converted, there’s nothing to distinguish this fantastic Jaguar Sovereign from a car that’s been driven in its home country for the past 18 years – apart from the lack of rust.

After five enjoyable years the owner has decided to hang up his driving gloves, sending it straight back to the chap who converted it for him back in 2020.

That’s confidence in both your car and our seller, isn’t it – but then we know him well and he’s a lovely chap whose word is his bond.

As for what we think it’ll fetch, we estimate the final tally will probably be somewhere between £10,000 and £13,000 – but as it is being offered with no reserve, it’s going to go to a new home after the very first bid.

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