1992 Jaguar XJR-S 6.0

9 Bids
8:00 PM, 22 Jul 2021Vehicle sold
Sold for

£14,100

Background

Oh, lovely, lovely Jaguar. You’ve given us some mightily good cars over the years. Your Marks, XKs and different Types have beguiled and entranced a good many of the British and Worldwide motoring public.

Top of the tree? That’s subjective, but many would no doubt go for the E-Type. Enzo Ferrari may, or may not, have called it “the most beautiful car in the world”, but that’s what the new XJ-S had to follow in 1975.

Misunderstood at first, the new beast was in fact more of a smooth GT than an out-and-out sports car. It offered the imperious XJ12’s suspension, brakes and majestic fuel-injected V12 engine in a sporting 2+2 package.

There was no doubt about its ability, but aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer’s long-flanked and flying buttresses-endowed styling took a while to be accepted.

However once they were, the model went from strength to strength; not only would it last an incredible 21 years in production (thanks to some wonderfully transformative facelifts), it would also come to become a defining icon of the 1980s, before powering into the next decade too.

Refined, supremely planted (it made a cracking race car) and in magnificent V12 form it’s transitioned today to become a truly great classic car. Finding a good one is key and this Japanese market XJR-S has never once seen a salt-laden UK road.

  • SAJJSKES3ER184249
  • 72337
  • 5996
  • AUTO
  • Brooklands Green
  • Cream
  • Right-hand drive

Vehicle location
Bonhams|Cars Online HQ, United Kingdom

Background

Oh, lovely, lovely Jaguar. You’ve given us some mightily good cars over the years. Your Marks, XKs and different Types have beguiled and entranced a good many of the British and Worldwide motoring public.

Top of the tree? That’s subjective, but many would no doubt go for the E-Type. Enzo Ferrari may, or may not, have called it “the most beautiful car in the world”, but that’s what the new XJ-S had to follow in 1975.

Misunderstood at first, the new beast was in fact more of a smooth GT than an out-and-out sports car. It offered the imperious XJ12’s suspension, brakes and majestic fuel-injected V12 engine in a sporting 2+2 package.

There was no doubt about its ability, but aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer’s long-flanked and flying buttresses-endowed styling took a while to be accepted.

However once they were, the model went from strength to strength; not only would it last an incredible 21 years in production (thanks to some wonderfully transformative facelifts), it would also come to become a defining icon of the 1980s, before powering into the next decade too.

Refined, supremely planted (it made a cracking race car) and in magnificent V12 form it’s transitioned today to become a truly great classic car. Finding a good one is key and this Japanese market XJR-S has never once seen a salt-laden UK road.

Video

Overview

Vendor Danny Sangar has imported a number of Jaguars from the Far East. “This car is a lovely, rust-free (from top to bottom) example. Salt isn’t used over there, so hence all panels are original, there’s no under-body rust and it’s never been welded.”

Spec-wise it’s a 6.0-litre facelift V12 model with a 4-speed automatic gearbox, and it comes with a trip computer, electric heated seats, a driver’s air bag, ABS brakes and Jaguar Sport body styling.

The included V5 shows that it was first registered on 01/08/1992 and then first registered in the UK on 01/06/2021, making it very new to these shores indeed.

“Although I can’t back it up with documents, it’s had three owners from new,” says Danny. “It’s in close to unmarked condition, has covered 72,337 miles from new and recently passed an MOT with no advisories.”

The latter test took place on 23/03/2021 and runs through until 22/03/2022.

Exterior

The Jaguar Sport styling tweaks (including deep front spoiler), rear spoiler, and 11-slot alloy wheels lend the XJR-S quite the aggressive countenance. There’s no doubt that it’s a low-slung, mean looking beast.

Those long flanks suit the Brooklands Green colour well and look to be straight and true. Wheel arches all appear spotless and paintwork is generally very nice, with only the odd very minor mark here and there.

There’s minimal chrome on an XJS of this era, but the odd bit that remains is good, and should look even better after a rigorous polish. The aforementioned alloy wheels are super clean and each wears an almost new 245/55 R16 Michelin Pilot tyre.

Popping doors, boot and bonnet reveals clean door shuts, sills (endowed with chrome Jaguar Sport covers) and gutters – which should further enhance confidence in this example’s rust-free and clean status.

The wing mirror surfaces are a touch cloudy, so the next owner may wish to replace them for clarity’s sake.

Interior

Complementing the exterior is a cabin that remains in very good condition. All the cream leather is in superlative condition and smart, unmarked and supple. The veneers to the dashboard, door cappings and centre column are also in neat condition and refreshingly, show no evidence of lacquer peel.

XJS headlinings invariably come loose, providing cabin inhabitants with their own version of the Turin Shroud. However, this example’s has just been replaced so should be good for another few decades at least. Fresh carpets have also recently been added, just to add to what is already a very smart interior picture.

One of the rear seat belt clasps has lost one side of its outer casing, so a replacement will need to be sourced. All electrics function, as they should. Although it’s worth noting: “The only minor issue is that since the MPH speedometer face was fitted, the needle and volts gauge are temperamental – I suspect a loose connection behind the speedo cluster.”

Mechanical

The underside is the star of the show here, as all the usual XJS suspects appear to be nice and solid. There’s just a very light touch of surface rust on one or two of the fittings, but other than that it’s clean and confidence inspiring. Pop the bonnet and you’ll find an engine bay in pretty spotless condition, while at the rear the boot is nicely trimmed and you’ll find the space saver spare still in situ.

As part of its UK fettling, the XJR-S has just had a full engine service including new spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor arm. ‘It runs really well,” says Danny. “I drove it 120 miles to Oxford to drop it off; it was a hot day and involved almost four hours driving non-stop in town and on motorway, and it was rock solid.”

Radiators are a split design and a known weak spot on XJS models, as the bottom (which cools the right engine bank) is prone to getting clogged up with silt, moss and debris. Any issues there will result in overheating, so the above statement from the vendor is good to hear and should provide bidders with confidence in its drivability right from the off.

“It runs perfectly on all 12 cylinders and the transmission is smooth through all the gears; the brakes are strong and vibration free with no pulling. It’s also free from suspension clonks or knocks and there’s no diff whine,” adds Danny.

We’ve also had the car out for a spin or two and can confirm all of the above: it’s one smooth V12 operator.

History

Japanese imports invariably come with limited paperwork and that is the case here, too. The payoff for that is, of course, the 100 per cent salt-free history that cars from that country have.

As well as this car’s V5 document (issued on 01/06/2021) you’ll also find a Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency ‘application to register a vehicle’, its current MOT test certificate and another application to make a SORN.

And that’s, as they say in the cartoons, all folks.

Condition is king and this car’s is indicative of the care and attention that it has had in its lifetime, so please view the Photographic Gallery closely. It’s also worth visiting the documents section of it where you will also find photos of the paperwork. 

Summary

We’ve said it before when discussing Japanese imports of popular classic cars, but it’s worth repeating: when rust is the principal worry then a Far Eastern import can remove that in one fell sweep.

As vendor Danny says, “in my opinion it’s an excellent original base in clean condition to make perfect; when rust/rot is the most common issue on these cars, and this example has none, it has to be a rare find in today’s market.”

With that in mind, we believe that this cool big cat will fetch somewhere between £15,000 and £25,000. At the bottom end of that estimate it’d be a steal and even up at the top end, it should prove to be a very sound purchase.

If you’ve always fancied one of Jaguar’s smoothest V12 mile-munchers, then this lovely example could be the classic for you.

Viewing is always encouraged and as stated this car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

About this auction

Seller

Private: v12vandenplas


Viewings Welcome

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and is strictly by appointment. To book one in the diary, please get in contact.

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