1991 Jaguar XJ6 3.2 (XJ40)

If you were to take a guess as to where ‘J537 LMW’ has spent most of its life, few of us would plump for the UK.

And yes, it was Japan, a country where above-average curation and salt-free roads conspire to conserve older British classics in a way you simply don’t see in cars that have stayed in the country they were built.

Finished in the sublime combination of Dorchester Grey Metallic with a Dove Grey leather and Cheviot tweed interior, this 3.6-litre XJ6 has covered just 24,000 miles from new (the odometer is in kilometres) and has had just one previous keeper since coming home.

The seller is a member of the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club and a committed Europhile, spending three and a half years restoring a Jaguar MKII to tour in. Sadly, surgery left him unable to drive a manual car, so he bought  this absolute corker of an automatic back in 2020.

As an enthusiast he was attracted not only to its condition, but its originality. In fact, it’s so good that fellow members of the JEC advised him to mothball it but he pushed ahead with his plan to use it properly.

He’s since racked up around 11,000 miles in the past three years but despite this it remains in a stunning condition, partly because he hibernates it between October and April.

Honest enough to admit that it isn’t concours, he’s also experienced enough to rate it as being “very close”, so if you ARE looking for something to mothball, your time has come.

Dorchester Grey Metallic is the sort of colour chosen by those who feel no need to shout. Wonderfully discreet, a subtle pinstripe adds interest, and the combination makes the same sort of impression as a Savile Row suit, which can only be a good thing.

The panels themselves are both straight and beautifully aligned. Sporting excellent shutlines and ripple-free flanks, they’re also remarkably free of rust. While we would never claim that any car is completely free of the stuff, this comes very, very close.

There are no scuffs to the bumpers or door mirrors either, something that, when taken in conjunction with the condition of the 16-inch alloy wheels, suggests it’s been driven with an unusual degree of care over the past 33 years.      

The Falken tyres, all of which are matching 225/60R16 ZIEX ZE310s, were fitted in May 2021, so still have oodles of tread left 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.

The chromework, including the somewhat fragile bumper trims and the imposing radiator grille, is all excellent.

The window glazing, badges, and lamp lenses are all ship-shape and undamaged, as is the black rubber trim, which is glossy and free of sun damage.

Heck, even things like the screws holding the side repeater lenses on are bright and free of corrosion.

Oh, and the side window still has its ‘Jaguar Japan’ sticker.

If you’re looking for a project you can pick up for a song and refurbish, this isn’t the car for you.

The combination of Dove Grey leather and Cheviot tweed is as fetching as it is practical. Much warmer and grippier than the all-leather cabins we’re used to seeing, we commend whoever chose this specification because it is sublime.

Of course, there’s also plenty of (very good) wood trim - and while we’re talking about your expectations, as you’d expect of a car with this mileage and history, everything in here is in great shape.

Including the eight-way electrically adjustable front seats, which are not only as supportive, comfortable, and showing no visible signs of wear, but also have reading lamps built into their headrests for those sitting in the back.

That’s very cool.

The headlining was new in 2020, so it’s in the same great shape as the carpets, door cards, and dashboard. The lettering on the instruments and controls is still so bright and vibrant that the only light rubbing we can see is to the indicator stalk.

The owner went to the trouble of sourcing a UK-spec Jaguar headunit to replace the Japan-spec one that was fitted when he bought it. He now gets to enjoy being able to tune into British and European radio stations, which is crucial given the car’s inter-continental role.

Extras that have been fitted include one original Japanese road flare, two cupholders in the rear on the transmission tunnel, and three charging points in the passenger footwell.

Oh, and while the digital odometer still reads in kilometres, the speedometer face has been replaced with the correct UK-spec miles-per-hour one.

As for the boot, it isn’t only beautifully presented, it is also home to a complete tool kit, a full-size spare wheel, and a jack.

If you’re of a fastidious nature, then the somewhat saggy pockets on the rear of the front seats might offend but everyone else will be thrilled with the condition of the cabin and won’t feel the need to change a thing.

As for the state of the toys and electronics, we’re told that everything works as it should, which is all you can really ask for, isn’t it?

In the seller’s own words: “Once all the road salt had disappeared and April [2021] arrived she was transported to Stephen Heywood, Jaguar Specialists in Rochdale, for an MOT, full service, inspection and to have all the fluids changed.

“Steve's report highlighted a noisy rear shock absorber, so both were renewed. Since that time, she has returned to Steve each year for her MOT and service, which has paid off as she hasn’t had any advisories since.

“On our very first weekend the engine cut out, although she restarted immediately and never flinched again. Seeking advice, I discovered the likely cause would be the fuel pump, fuel pump relay, and/or the crank position sensor.

“I ordered a new sensor, along with the uprated mounting known as an 'Andy' bracket, and a new fuel pump relay. The sensor looked okay, but I fitted the Andy Bracket along with the new Jaguar sensor. However, when it came to the relay it was clear that the base terminals and the female base connections were heavily corroded. The wires had to be cut back and elongated with a new base and connections fitted to accept the new fuel pump relay. The  problem has never arisen since but to be on the safe side I have also replaced the fuel pump, again with a Jaguar product not a cheaper alternative.

“The final item I needed to address to satisfy my need for a reliable and comfortable cruiser for our European trips was the air-conditioning. Polar Air Mobile Services replaced every seal and hose before recharging it and we’ve since enjoyed several trips into a very hot France with the comfort of reliably working air-con.”

The rear dampers were also replaced in 2021, as were the bushes, spring insulators, and the steering hose. May 2022 saw a new oil cooler fitted.

As you can see, it starts perfectly and revs with an almost uncanny silence and evenness. The straight-six is a smooth engine anyway, but this one is especially so – and has an especially attractive exhaust note, to boot.

The seller reports that the oil pressure is 60psi on start-up, settling to 50psi when it’s running. It also charges at the 14.2 volts you’d expect, and he tells us that the coolant temperature gets to “N within a couple of miles and stays there.”

While the engine bay is clean and original, it’s the underside that is the star of the show. Strong, solid and free of structural rot and corrosion, even the fasteners are free of surface rust.

The exhaust is a Jaguar-branded item too, even if there is a messy repair to join the silencer to the pipe.

There’s also enough underseal to protect the floorpan but not enough to hide any nasties, making this one of the cleanest bottoms we’ve seen in a while.  

The XJ6’s MoT certificate is valid until April 2025, and it was issued, like three of the previous four, with no advisories. The aberration was for the tyres, which had perished and were replaced.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car, and the XJ6 comes with two keys.

The history file includes the book pack, some UK invoices, and a wealth of paperwork from Japan.

You might be forgiven for wondering why such a passionate owner is selling it. He says there are three reasons: he doesn’t keep his cars forever anyway (“there are too many experiences to enjoy out there and time stops for no man!); he enjoys rebuilding and maintaining his classics himself, and this is just a bit too technologically advanced for him to be able to do so; and he’s got a couple of major surgeries planned for this year, which will write off 2024 and, perhaps, 2025.

As for the car itself, like so many, we struggled to see the appeal of the XJ40 for a long time. And yet, we’ve started to warm to it, not least because we are starting to see examples like this.

And yet, its condition and rarity has yet to be underpinned by strong residuals; with a guide price of between £7,000 and £12,000, this one offers an awful lot of real estate for the money and is as likely to find a home with a collector as it is an enthusiast who’s going to continue to use it as Jaguar intended.

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 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’