1983 Jaguar XJ12 Sovereign

Standing in period-evocative gold livery, this wonderful survivor of Jaguar’s world-beating saloon is ready for a few more years of love and service. The car’s first few years might be a bit sketchy but, thanks to a photographic record and some very extensive handwritten notes about a serious mechanical refurbishment, we do know that it was partially restored in around 1996. It was then treasured for six years before the current owner bought the vehicle back in 2002.

He then used it sparingly but having now reached a (very sprightly) 80 years of age he thinks the time is right to pass it on to someone who will use it on a more regular basis; he’s covered fewer than 10,000 miles in the fifteen years he has owned it and the annual mileage has been shrinking even further in recent years.

This is a very good car whose structure, paintwork, mechanics and interior are all well above average, but which the usual passage of time has left it with some small areas of ‘room for improvement’

The restoration and respray of the gold coachwork was clearly done to a very high standard as it is still holding up well, a state of affairs that is probably at least partially due to the fact that it’s been properly looked after and carefully stored in a garage for the past decade and a half.

However, the respray is now twenty-one years old and is starting to show its age. The car could do with some attention in the near future in order to stave off bigger problems in the future: there is the start of some rust around the windscreen, headlamps and wing bottoms. The other problems are fairly minor and are the sort of stone chips, scratches and scuffs that any car picks up over the years. All locations are clearly photographed in the Gallery.

Some areas of the car - including the bottom of the wings, and the area around the headlamps - have been the subject of some DIY repairs at some point and could do with tidying up to bring them up to the same high standard as the rest of the car.

With the bad news out of the way, we can cheer you up by telling you that the car appears to be structurally sound, and shows no signs of serious rust or evidence of anyone having patched the car up with a cheap Halfords’ welder to coax it through another MOT. So, while the old girl does need a bit of TLC to keep her looking good, she shouldn’t need any serious (or expensive…) bodywork or underbody restoration. Views underneath from the sills in to the undersealed areas all look refreshingly sound.

The interior is as lovely as every other 1970-80s Jaguar, just in better condition. So, while the leather seats are gently creased they’re in fine condition and completely free of any rips, tears or holes.

The wooden veneer is in very good condition indeed, as are the wonderfully evocative - look at the beautiful labels on the dashboard-mounted air vents, for example! - switches and controls. There’s chrome a-plenty, and who wouldn’t love to snick that elegant wand of a gearstick into ‘Drive’ before threading your way along a winding country road using only fingertip pressure on the thin, mildly patinated steering wheel?

The cockpit electrics all work too, which aficionados of eighties British cars will recognise as being highly unusual. (Having said that, the Atari-style, uber-period trip computer does drain the battery if the car is left unused for a few weeks, but that’s only a small problem and one that a battery conditioner could resolve.)

The leather around the gear lever could do with being replaced, and the headlining properly sags. Other than that, it’s as lovely in there as anything we’ve seen in quite a while, which is saying something as we’re selling a Bentley Arnage at the moment….

The chap that commissioned the car’s restoration in the mid-nineties was clearly something of an obsessive. As an example, he spent a few happy hours cleaning and lubricating switches and relays to stave off future electrical problems, and made comprehensive and detailed notes of the work he carried out and the results of his labours; in other words, he’s exactly the sort of bloke you want to have fettled your secondhand Jaguar.

The current owner has continued the good work, treasuring it over the years and carrying out preventative maintenance in good time while sorting out the usual classic car niggles as they cropped up.

The iconic V12 starts and drives with the expected velvet cliché. There appear to be no leaks from the engine bay. One remarkable feature - there is not a spot of rust or similar in the engine bay or under the bonnet. Marvelous.

The car’s MOT history shows the sort of problems that any old Jaguar is going to have (handbrake efficiency seems to have been its Achilles’ heel) and while there are a few failures and advisories over the years (although nothing at all for the past three), there’s nothing on there that would concern us at all.

The car’s reassuringly low mileage of just over 89,000 miles appears to be supported by the MOT history too.

Please visit the ‘Records’ section of this listing to see the photographic record of the car’s restoration in 1996 along with a large number of receipts, invoices and notes detailing the work that has been carried out over the years, including handwritten guidance notes (19.5 litres of coolant anyone?) for the servicing garages and subsequent owners to use.

The MOT runs out in July 2018.

This lovely example of the classic Jaguar XJ would make a wonderful introduction to the marque; with the much-loved and hugely refined V12 engine under the bonnet, this really is the pinnacle of the breed.

Of course, like any old car, there are a few odd jobs to do on it but we haven’t seen anything that couldn’t be put right at reasonable cost, after which you’ll have a lovely example of an appreciating British saloon. It feels almost criminal to state that our estimate for this example of a beautiful car is only £2,750. 

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at Patina HQ in Abingdon; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.