1997 Jaguar Sovereign LWB

We are delighted to be able to offer for sale an XJ Sovereign, built during the last year of production. The spec is quite perfect as this is a long-wheelbase model with that all-important extra legroom for rear seat passengers.

Being a Sovereign, the equipment count is high and under the bonnet sits what we consider to be the best engine – the 249bhp 4.0-litre in line six. Mated to a smooth 4-speed automatic ZF gearbox, performance is brisk. Top speed is a heady 144mph according to official figures and should you be so inclined to bury the accelerator deep into the soft carpet, the big Jag should be able to sprint from rest to 60mph in just 7.8 seconds.

Of more importance is the calm and quiet cabin, more akin to a gentleman’s club than a car interior. Wood trim, leather seating, deep pile carpets – you get the idea.

Our seller bought the car around a year ago, but circumstances now dictate that he must sell his modest car collection, so this 70,000-mile XJ is now up for grabs.

We should mention at this point, that the car is registered as a Category D. This situation usually arises when the damage to a car has been assessed to be uneconomical to repair by the insurance company. This generally means the cost of repair is greater than 50% of the vehicle’s total value. The car in question may not have been badly damaged though.

In the case of this Jaguar, the damage occurred way back in 2011 and we suspect the then owner chose to keep the car and repair it, having been paid out by the insurance company. The service history would confirm that the car appears to have remained in the same ownership from before the damage occurred until very many years later.

Presented in a very smart metallic grey, the paintwork looks to be in fine fettle. There’s a deep lustre to the finish, commensurate with a car that has been regularly washed and polished and most likely garaged.

The trained eye will notice the longer rear doors, indicative that this is the much coveted long-wheelbase model.

You will notice a few stone chips here and there, to be expected on a car which has just this month turned 25. There is also a scratch on the front nearside door.

Panel gaps look neat and even, so whatever damage the Jag sustained, looks to have been properly repaired.

The chromework has buffed up nicely and there’s a sliding steel sunroof for that wind-in-the-hair experience.

The multispoke wheels look to be in fine order and each is shod with a Pirelli P4000 tyre. Matching, premium rubber is usually a good indication of careful and considered classic car ownership.

Swathes of oatmeal leather blanket the interior. The seats are in excellent order, with barely any creasing to be seen. The driver’s seat has just a little wear on the offside bolster, from where the seatbelt rubs. Hardly noticeable.

The front seats themselves are electrically adjustable and oh so comfortable. They are heated too which is a nice touch.

The rear compartment benefits from the long wheelbase, with a generous amount of legroom being most noticeable. If you regularly carry adults in the rear, this layout is a must.

The rear seats look almost unmarked and are almost as comfortable as those up front. You will also notice a button on the front passenger seat. This is so the lucky person luxuriating in the back can move it as far forward as possible, and then really spread out. Ideal perhaps as a wedding car, with acres of room for that ballooning dress.

We would mention that our seller had the headlining renewed, as the original was sagging. A common fault.

Equipment count in Sovereign models is suitably high, so expect to find such niceties as cruise control, all round electric windows, the aforementioned sunroof, headlamp washers and climate-controlled air conditioning. Our seller does report that even with a regas, the air con doesn’t blow cold, so some investigation will be required.

Carpets are all in good order, the driver’s side mat perhaps in need of a good steam clean.

The capacious boot houses a full size matching spare wheel, shod with a Pirelli P4000 tyre.

Our extensive photographs of the Jaguar’s underside will doubtless impress. We can see nothing that would in any way concern us. A little road dirt and not much more.

We can see the car was fully waxoiled in December 2017.

The engine compartment is a busy space, that 4.0-litre engine sitting proud. Remarkably clean and bearing all the hallmarks of proper maintenance. No obvious signs of any leaks either.

We are told the car starts on the button and delivers its considerable power smoothly, ably assisted by that lovely gearbox. Select ‘sport’ mode for an exhilarating drive!

The XJ comes complete with its full book pack containing amongst other things the driver’s handbook and separate manuals for the sounds and security systems. There is even an XJ customer handover video, should you have a suitable machine to watch it on.

Most important of course is the service book, which contains main dealer stamps for annual servicing up to 2004 and 55,897 miles, mostly by Royles of Wilmslow, Cheshire.

Royles continued to service the car, with invoices for work done to be seen in our picture section. With the car’s annual mileage diminishing, the work was not always done on an annual basis. Pause a while and have a read of the invoices for the full picture.

In March of this year our seller had new pads and discs fitted up front, as well as replacement pads to the rear.

The last MoT was carried out on 28th January 2021, the Jaguar passing with no advisories as it has done for many years before. Always a good sign that all is well.

This three owner XJ is of course a rare and desirable long-wheelbase model with space for all on board to spread out. Sovereign trim brings with it all the equipment you could possibly need and with power from a 4.0-litre engine, performance is brisk to say the least.

The car comes with plenty of history, almost all of it from Jaguar main dealers, at considerable expense.

All it needs is a caring new owner to carry on the good work, and it could be you!

We estimate it will sell for between £5,000 and £10,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.