1995 Jaguar XJ6 3.2

First registered on the 29th of March 1995, this jewel of a car was delivered to Stratstone of Grays Inn Road in London on behalf its only previous keeper, an architect who was based in the city. Clearly a man of great taste as well as deep pockets, he spec’d it perfectly with deep green coachwork and a magnolia leather interior.

Stratstone serviced it religiously over the years and this obsessive attitude towards its maintenance helps explain its stunning condition. Being garaged underground in The Barbican when it wasn’t being driven obviously helped too, keeping it away from other people, salt and the sun, the triumvirate of problems when it comes to keeping your treasured luxury saloon looking its very best.

The first owner had it in his care for 24 years in all, although it looks like it was off the road from 2011 as the MOT and service history pause at that time. Mind you, there are still 14 stamps in the service history book.

The vendor bought it on the 5th of March 2019 from the first owner’s estate. Bought on a bit of a whim, he thought he might be able to run it for a while as a bit of fun, or even just snaffle the number plate if it turned out to be a bit of a dog. However, he quickly discovered that it is really rather special. So, he did what we’d all do given the space and popped it straight into storage, making it an almost one-owner-from-new example.

And, rather than hoarding it he is doing the decent thing and offering it for sale in the hope that it’ll go to a Jaguar enthusiast who will be better placed than he to enjoy its many charms.

PS. the XJ6 does come with the displayed registration.

I know we bang on a bit about panel gaps and shutlines but they matter, they really do; show me a classic with good shutlines then I’ll show you one that has been uncommonly well looked after or restored – and it’s a buyer’s market these days, so a car that has been well looked after should be the only sort you consider.

And the shutlines and gaps on this Jaguar are very, very good indeed. Tight and even, they show that Ford’s influence on production standards was a positive one - and that buying an old Jaguar doesn’t mean having to put up with shoddy panel alignment.

Or rust. The paintwork has stood up to the intervening years well and has protected the underlying metal exceptionally well, which means there isn’t any rust at all. Yup, that’s right; this is an old Jag you can buy with your head as well as your heart. Even the inner lip of the wheelarches, you know, the place where they all go, is free of even the merest hint of corrosion. It’s remarkable.

It is true that the finish is a little rough in places but by ‘rough’ we mean rough in texture rather than finish. Someone’s been washing it with a less than optimum technique but we think an aggressive cutting compound followed by a decent polish by someone who knows their stuff should bring it back really nicely. We can never be completely confident, but we do wonder if this car still proudly wears all its original paint.

The chromework is good too, as is the glass and the lenses. It really is a bit of a time-warp car, even down to the original dealer-supplied front and rear number plates.

The alloy wheels, which are in fabulous condition, shod with matching Pirelli P400 tyres, all of which have good tread. Obviously.

The leather interior is in a magnificent condition. Say what you like about the British but there’s no denying that we do wood ‘n’ leather better than anyone else, and the interior of this mid-nineties Jaguar is up there with the very best of ‘em.

At a time in their life when most of its contemporaries will be showing their age, this interior is timeless and utterly gorgeous. Fresh, clean and supple leather cossets buttocks and fingertips alike, while the deep-pile carpets, which are protected by genuine OE over-mats, let your feet experience how the 1% live.

The original radio still sits in front of that famous ‘J’-gate gearchange and the wooden veneer that is dotted around the cabin is glossy and free of cracks and chips. The door trims could be three years old rather than celebrating their quarter century, and the switches still click with the same precision they did back in 1994.

The leather and velour seats are free of rips, tears and other damage, and remain firm and comfortable; the front are in a great condition and the rear seat looks to have been barely used. The Jag has even still got an old tax disc from 2012 and a parking permit from 2002 inside the windscreen. Time-warp, you see?

It all seems to work in there, too (even the electric mirrors and more). That’s what a strict servicing regimen from day one until now by the main dealer can do for a car. Yes, we moan about main dealers too, but then we get to see and drive a car like this and our complaints melt away.

The boot is clean and tidy and is home to the spacesaver spare wheel, battery, fusebox, and tool kit plus a bottle of engine oil and some handwipes. The carpet in there is clean too, and the various pieces of trim still fit neatly and snugly. There’s even an interior car cover for the new owner to use, too.

This is a Jaguar that has been pampered, and it shows in the details; lifting the carpets, for example, shows only clean, brightly painted metalwork and not a single trace of rust or rot.

The only jarring notes are the driver’s seat and armrest, which are a bit grubby, and the headlining, which is starting to droop. Still, the latter issue is a common problem, which means there are plenty of independent specialists out there who will be able to sort it out for you, while the former should respond well to nothing more than an interior valet.

The engine bay looks almost retro, and we mean that as a compliment. With the word ‘Jaguar’ picked out in green to match the coachwork, if it were ours then we’d treat it to a valet and detail too, mainly because the rest of the car is so lovely.

And it is as lovely to drive as it is to look at. It feels tight and lithe, and taut and responsive. It might only have the little engine under the bonnet but it’s sprightly and lively, and we’d jump in it to drive it across Europe in a heartbeat.

Oh, and bar a little muddy water from this week’s atrocious weather, the underside is as clean as you’d expect and, of course, free of rust.

The online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever and confirms the car’s low mileage and provenance.

The car itself is MOT’d until the 20th of March 2020. It comes with the driver’s handbook, the afore-mentioned magnificently-stamped service book, and the padded Jaguar wallet with the usual bumf inside. Oh, and it’s got two keys, plus the original Stratstone keyring.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to the very highest standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would always encourage – then please contact the owner to arrange an appointment.

You wonder if a car like this comes along once in a lifetime. Staggeringly original and beautifully preserved, it has made us yearn for a 3.2-litre X300, which isn’t something we thought we’d ever write.

But it is so utterly charming, so well cared for, and so wonderfully tight to drive that we’re finding it hard to think of anything else right now.

And, the trouble is, it isn’t going to sell for much, so we can’t even use poverty as an excuse to pass it up - and it’ll be cheap not because it isn’t a great car but simply because the classic car market is in a bit of a dip right now- and the Jaguar X300 wasn’t valued especially highly, even at its peak.

So, we think you’re only going to have to find between £3,000 and £6,000 to make it yours, or the sort of sum you find by scrabbling down the back of the sofa. Yes, it needs a decent machine polish and ultimately a new headlining, but less than a grand on top of the hammer price would see you in one of the best preserved Jaguar XJ6s in the world.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near 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: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.