1988 JAGUAR XJ40

With just 6,600 miles on the clock and two previous keepers, it won’t surprise you to hear that ‘H629 LJA’ won the category of Best Original and/or Unrestored Classic Car at the Silverstone Classic. 

It has also been featured in Jaguar World magazine and represents an unrepeatable opportunity to buy the very best example you’re ever likely to see.

Fresh from a recent service and still on only its third owner, it’s had no fewer than two Waxoyl treatments and probably hasn’t ever seen rain... 

What can we say other than this might well be the best preserved Jaguar XJ40 in the world – and note we say “preserved” and not “restored” because this one still features its original panels and factory shutlines.

The factory Signal Red paintwork is still glossy and almost unblemished too, and it’s amazing to see one that hasn’t faded in the way almost every red  classic you’ll come across will have.

Everything on it is still bright and vivid and all the little details that confirm the car’s provenance – like the Taggerts sticker in the rear window, the main dealer front and rear numberplates, and the April 2002 tax disc - are present and correct.

As for the window glass, lamp lenses, rubber window seals, and badges, they are not only the originals but they are also in a minty fresh condition. The chromework all sparkles, and the black rubber trim is still glossy and smooth.

The sunroof aligns in its aperture closely, seals perfectly, and opens and closes as it should.

The standard alloy wheels are, of course, unmarked and they’re fitted with a matching set of very good Dunlop SP Sport 300 TD tyres.

It doesn’t strike a single wrong note and we would encourage anyone who’s interested in bidding to make an appointment to pop along to see it so they can fully appreciate just how good it is. 

The combination of soft hide, chromed controls, and lashings of walnut veneer endow the XJ40  with the sort of unbridled luxury that you simply don’t see in cars of this class anymore.

What else can we say about the tan leather seats than they are gloriously sumptuous and every bit as good now as they were when they were first installed thirty-five years ago?

The upgraded walnut veneer trim that was fitted by Taggerts comes from the upmarket Daimler Sovereign and is in a similarly fine condition. The giveaway is the gold pinstripes on the dash and door cappings, something Harry insisted they added at the same time they fitted rubber door protectors and chrome surrounds to the taillights. 

(And he drove a hard bargain because he also had the £6,000 deposit the original buyer paid knocked off his final bill…)

The carpets are protected by Jaguar rubber mats, and they, like the headlining, door cards, and dashboard are a credit to the car’s previous owners.

The factory radio-cassette still has the cassette that acts as the owner’s manual, and the trip computer woks as it should, which isn’t something that can be taken for granted.

The instruments, which offer information of road speed, engine revs, distance covered, oil pressure, battery charge, fuel level, and coolant temperature, are as bright and vivid now as they’ve ever been, and they sit within an island of walnut veneer.

As for the boot, there is a small hole in the carpet. Apart from that it is as virginal as the rest of the cabin and plays host to the spare wheel and factory tool kit, which is almost certainly unused.

Lifting the carpet shows only well-painted and utterly solid metalwork, the struts hold the boot lid securely in place, and the rubber seal around the perimeter is plump and glossy.

Last serviced in August 2021 at 5,785 miles, the work included all new filters plus fresh oil in the engine, gearbox, and differential. A change of brake fluid too, plus a new V-belt.

As you can see, it starts, idles and revs as it should and shows good oil pressure and a healthy charge to the battery – and it does it all while making all of the right noises and none of the wrong.

We’ve been wary of putting too many miles on it so the test drive was short. However, Jaguar World drove it in 2022 and said, “it drives like a brand new car.”

That’s not surprising though because with the exceptions of the fluids, filters, drivebelt, and battery, it is exactly as it was when it left the Castle Bromwich factory in 1989. 

It’s a stunning piece of history and while a few of the fasteners are corroded, the new owner will want to think long and hard about whether to replace them or not; a car is only original once and it would be a shame to see this one changed in any way until it becomes unavoidable. Maybe you could ease them out, one by one, and polish them before replacing them? 

As for the underside, the two Waxoyl treatments – one when it was new and another three years later – alongside meticulous curation have preserved it beautifully. 

Supplied by Taggarts of Motherwell on the 8th November 1990, its first owner became seriously unwell shortly after ordering it and sadly died shortly afterwards before he could take delivery. 

It then languished in the showroom for a while, waiting for a buyer who could appreciate the Signal Red coachwork. It was eventually registered on the 6th November 1990 after a chap called Harry Gillespie bought it a year after it was built.

Clearly a man with exquisite taste in cars, while he made a few cosmetic changes to the car, substituting some standard parts for the upmarket Sovereign versions, he kept the base model’s four round headlamps instead of the oblong ones fitted to the top-of-the-range model, which may well make this example’s specification unique. 

We certainly love the look and the Signal Red paintwork; together, we think they give it a sporty look we don’t usually associate with the XJ40.

Harry used it only sparingly - and never in the rain. So obsessed was he with this that it is said he once waited for two hours under a bridge waiting for the shower to pass and the road to dry…

After keeping it in storage with the wheels removed, Harry eventually sold it in September 2015 to a Neil Wylie to raise funds for an E Type restoration, at which point it had just 3,500 miles on the odometer. 

Neil continued to use it only lightly, although he did show it and won the award we mentioned earlier. Chris Taylor, our seller, bought it in February 2020 and now, more than four years later, it still shows only 6,600 miles on the clock.

The XJ40’s MoT certificate is valid until September 2024 and it, like every single one on the online MoT record, was issued with no advisories. That’s a remarkable performance and one that goes to the very heart of how good this example is.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes a thick wad of expired MoT certificates, an old-style V5 registration document in addition to the current one, and two sets of keys. 

Brilliantly, it also contains the original engine bay inspection tags dated the 3rd October 1989 and there’s a copy of Jaguar World from March 2022 in which they feature this very car.

What can we say? If you missed out on the chance to buy an XJ40 when they were new, you’ve been granted a second chance – and how often does life give you second chances?

And this one comes cheaper than most because our best estimate is that this incredible opportunity will only cost you somewhere in the region of £12,000 - £15,000; throw a few more pounds at it and you’d have a potential concours winner, to boot.

Happy days, eh?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.