2003 Jaguar XJ Limousine by Eagle

This is a 2003 Jaguar XJ8 3.2-litre Limousine by Eagle Specialist Vehicles.

The eagle-eye among you (no pun intended) will have spotted that this car is about the length of the Queen Mary and has different post codes for the boot and bonnet badges.

The nature and colour of the vehicle may have led you to the (correct) conclusion that this car has seen service as limousine transport for family members at funerals.

It is in very good all-round condition – inside, outside and underneath – and has the very modest figure of 77,196 miles on the odometer.

We have driven the car and can attest to its ability to start, run, drive and stop exactly as you would hope and want of your Jaguar XJ8 custom-coachwork limousine.

It also has handling characteristics and dynamics that are far more in keeping with a standard Jaguar XJ8 than you might expect to find on a vehicle that runs to several paragraphs on what3words. 
 

We significantly improved our daily step-count figures just by walking around the car a few times.

In fact, one of our team got slightly out of breath wandering around the inside.

It really is a whole lot of Jaguar.

Thankfully, it sits squarely on its axles, suits its unlikely proportions remarkably well, and has a low, sleek stance that’s entirely in keeping with both the marque and the model.

The bodywork is reassuringly devoid of any dinks, dents or dimples, and the consistent shut-lines and panel gaps are a testament to the skills of both the original manufacturer and the folks at Eagle.

The black paintwork has also held up well, although there are various light-swirly scratches here and there – most of which would no doubt surrender if threatened with an effective polishing machine in the hands of a purposeful operative.

There are one or two light scuffs and scratches in the usual places, but even entirely standard stone and paint chips are rather more noticeable for their absence than their presence.

We noticed some scuffs and scrapes on the nearside corner of the front bumper above the side indicator, but they’ve been touched-up with black paint sufficiently well to render them invisible to all but the closest scrutiny.

With the exception of the o/s/r example, the wheels have some bubbling under the paint and a few nicks and scrapes here and there.

The matching HILO Green Plus tyres appear to have plenty of useful life left in them.

The car’s lights, lenses, badging and all other exterior fixtures and fittings are broadly beyond reproach and in fine fettle. 
 

The interior of this car has all the quality hallmarks we’ve come to know and appreciate in Jaguar’s XJs – there’s just more of them.

Obviously, the main departure from the norm is the extra row of seats in the middle, effectively making this an 8-seater when fully loaded.

With the exception of a few deep creases and scuffs to the outer bolsters on the driver’s seat, the cream leather upholstery is in excellent condition even for the car’s low mileage, let alone its age.

The seats - front, middle and back - are comfortable and supportive.

The brown carpets and mats are following the same script in terms of quality and preservation.

So, too, is the headlining, which has done a good job of resisting a tendency to sag often found in XJs with rather less challenging proportions. Again, we take that as a reflection of the build quality achieved by Eagle.

The door cards appear to be taut, intact and free of any damage.

Impressively, every bit of wood veneer on the door cappings, centre console, dashboard and elsewhere is free of any splits, cracks, fading or de-lacquering that we can see.

The capacious boot, which contains a space-saver spare wheel, CD changer, fire extinguisher, warning triangle and some tools, is above any criticism.

To the best of our knowledge, and that of the vendor, all switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials and instruments do as they’re told in a timely and obedient fashion. 
 

That the car has been carefully curated throughout its long life is evident in the clean, dry, tidy and orderly engine bay, and undersides that look to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity.

Nothing we’ve seen has given us any cause to tut, frown or otherwise question the car’s honesty or character.

This car comes with a full set of books, manuals and guides.

Although there are only a couple of stamps in the service book, it’s important to know that the car’s formative years were spent in the employment of Co-op Funeralcare.

They operate a large fleet of vehicles and keep them optimally maintained and serviced on an in-house fleet basis – hence no invoices or bills.

After its time with the Co-op, the car went on to work for Odette Funeral Director Ltd of Calne, Wiltshire, and there are numerous bills, invoices and receipts attesting to routine servicing, maintenance and repair work carried out during that period and right up until its current ownership.

The car had a new battery in September 2024 and was last serviced by marque specialist Mike Allen Services of Swindon in June 2024.

It comes with a V5C UK registration document and an MoT certificate that’s valid until 30th January 2026. 
 

Not every ‘stretched’ vehicle we’ve seen has filled us with confidence in its structural or engineering integrity.

This creation, courtesy of coachbuilders Eagle Specialist Vehicles, is superbly engineered and built to what appear to be exemplary standards.

It really is very good indeed, as evidenced by the tight, rattle-free drive it offers, the absence of any corrosion anywhere that we can see, and the very high-quality materials and finish on the interior.

It is ready and able to tackle any challenge suitable for a limo of these proportions, whether that be more funeral work, a quick respray and reinvention as a wedding car, or just re-tasking to be whatever you want and need it to be for all manner of event, promotion or sponsorship opportunities.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £3,000 - £5,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.