1996 Jaguar XJS 4.0 Celebration

The included V5 document shows that this XJS 4.0 Celebration was first registered on the 4th of March 1996 and has had a total of ten owners from new. It has a current MOT certificate, which runs until the 26th of April 2021.

The vendor bought the car to “tidy up” before selling. “One of the reasons we bought it was the previous owner had spent quite a bit of money on the car. The other, was condition. It’s a really nice example.”

It’s had some recent cosmetic works including a touch of bodywork (discussed below), an interior re-fresh, and alloy wheel refurbishment. It’s also had a recent comprehensive service. The result is a car that presents very well and one that’s ready to be bought and driven.

The colour really suits the XJS’s lines to a T. The paint looks lovely from a distance and also works beautifully in contrast to the interior. It’s relatively free of flaws with just the odd small chip and a touch of lacquer lift revealed when closer. Panels look nice and straight (something that’s important given those epic long flanks) with minimal dings.

“It’s pretty good and cleaned up quite nicely,” states the vendor. “It has had paint in places but it’s hard to tell where. A previous MOT mentioned some rust on a sill, so we cut that out and fitted replacement panels before re-painting.” There’s a very small touch of surface corrosion on the sill in the rear corner of the passenger door shut, but a quick smart repair may be enough to tidy that up.

There’s not much chrome on this generation XJS but what there is remains in good condition. The badges on the rear are a touch tarnished around their outer edges, so replacement could sharpen things up another touch.

Bespoke Auto developments of Congleton recently carried out a Diamond Cutting refurbishment of the alloy wheels at a cost of £480, so they remain absolutely pin sharp and pristine.

The cabin has benefitted from a recent professional ‘Level Three Intensive Cleaning & Refurbishment of Leather Upholstery’ by Leathercare Ltd of Knutsford, Cheshire, at a cost of £450. This included repair of the driver’s seat bolster.

The results of this process mean that the cabin looks very smart indeed; in fact, we’ve seen considerably lower mileage cars with interiors that aren’t as sharp as this. “It is mint,” states the vendor. “The seats are very good, as are the door cards and headlining.”

The sapwood veneer remains in good condition, albeit with the odd crack here and there, and complements the tan leather (piped brown) and oatmeal carpets (piped tan). The clock was also replaced by a previous owner, so the glass is clear and it works. The half wood steering wheel does have a crack by the upper right thumb grip and would benefit from some restorative TLC.

All electrics function as they should, although the passenger window is a touch slower than the driver’s in going down – almost certainly due to seeing less use. The air conditioning and heater both appear to work well.

“It really does drive beautifully, almost like a new car,” says the vendor. “Gearchanges are dead silky, and the engine is lovely and smooth. It’s a real nice car and moves along with no bangs or rattles from the suspension.” Perhaps the biggest compliment is the fact that the vendor even considered keeping it for himself. “And I’m not even really into Jags.”

We can confirm that it does drive very well. Smooth, comfortable and providing of the consummate GT experience expected. It is worth noting that when we shot the video the throttle sometimes held after release, which could possibly be down to a stretched cable.

Pop the bonnet and you’ll find an engine bay in a good standard of presentation. The car has had that recent service, which included all new filters, fluids and spark plugs.

At the rear, the boot is nicely carpeted with a spare wheel in situ.

The most important piece of documentation in this car’s history file if without doubt the Service Record and Warranty book, for it shows the attention that the car received in its early life; that includes a full and comprehensive service history from new in 1996 through to 76,046 miles at 10 years old in 2006.

You’ll also find all the original handbooks (Vehicle Care, Sound System, Driver’s Handbook, Sound System, Security System, Quick Guide and Maintenance Schedule), as well as Jaguar Approved Used Car Warranty from later in its life.

There are a range of receipts, mainly from the last ten years, for potential bidders to peruse; these show regular maintenance and some parts replacement carried out when necessary.

Most recent ones include new front discs and pads (07/01/21, £76.80 and £33.07), level three intensive cleaning and refurbishment of leather upholstery (11/01/2021, £450), Diamond Cutting of the alloy wheels (£480) and a fresh exhaust tail pipe finisher (13/01/21, £43.36).

Other noteworthy works carried out include a replacement headlining (22/07/12, £240), new bonnet gas struts (4/9/15, £246.91), a fresh water pump, temperature sender switch and thermostat kit (9/7/15, circa £850), and a replacement radiator (15/07/15, circa £500).

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

This is a very nicely looked after example of Jaguar’s six-cylinder end-of-the-line Celebration model. It presents well on all fronts and drives smoothly, which is a strong combination.

The Celebration Coupe cost £38,950 when new and came fully loaded; as such, with anti-lock brakes, airbags and a raft of other technology it feels a generation or two away from the first XJS models (which of course, it is). That transmits to the road where it still feels like a thoroughly modern car.

Evidence in its history file attests to continued outlay on upkeep, as well as a very good early service history (something that everyone in the old car game is key to a classic’s ultimate longevity).

It’s recently been thoroughly prepped and gone over, so is now ready for its next owner. We feel that, for somewhere between our £9,500 to £12,500 estimate, the next owner is going to get a smart and driveable example of this last-of-the-line Jag.

Inspection is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), 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’.