1996 Jaguar XJS 4.0 Celebration

But when it does, one ought to grab it, right? And even if you make an impulsive purchase with this one now, it won’t be wrong. Because, by the looks of it, something as good as this lowish mileage example with five former keepers (excluding the vendor) isn’t going to hang around at this price for long. This 1996 XJS Celebration has a valid MoT, full-service history, and appears to be as clean as physically possible. The inclusion of original invoices and old photos of the car is certainly a welcome idea, too.

Why is the vendor selling? Because he "has three other Jaguars to keep him occupied" that's why.

The Jaguar XJS 4.0 Celebration might’ve come towards the end of the car’s run, but it’s better than earlier cars, and for many, it has a touch more appeal than the modern and lighter XK8 that replaced it. Since that was also launched in 1996, this is one of the last XJS models that Jaguar shifted.

The design worked rather well on the XJS, despite the call for losing the car’s buttresses. It’s a good thing that they didn’t because this is how the XJS has always been, and it does look good that way. On post-1991 models, Jaguar made an extra effort to minimise the chances of the cars getting affected by rust. This was done by the adoption of galvanised steel for all rust-prone parts outside and underneath. The model also got new bumpers and wraparound tail lamps, while at the same time, it also got rid of rear window trims and the hyphen in its name. On the XJS Celebration 4.0, Jaguar offered diamond-turned alloy wheels, which to this day, look great, maybe second only to the TWR Speedline units.

This car, finished in blue, is one fine example of how arresting the sight of a well-kept Jaguar XJS could be, even a quarter of a century after it left the dealer. But let’s not forget that it’s done a little more than 70,000 miles, so understandably it’s expected to have some wear. And that’s what you’d find if you take a closer look. Nothing major at all, though, but scuffs and stone chips aren’t absent. Its rubber around the glass (windscreen as well as the rear window) is damaged or discoloured. The nearside door has very little damage and signs of previous touch up. There is some surface rust popping up near the roof and the sills, and the windscreen has a small chip. The bodywork and most chrome bits are in good nick, and that adds a lot to the car’s appeal. The wheels and badges are pretty clean, too.

The XJS wasn’t made to be the most focussed track car; it was a GT, and the space inside is good for two and some luggage. On the Celebration model, Jaguar adorned the interior with a new steering wheel with wood trim and embossed seats. The condition of both in this example can safely be marked good. The cabin is pristine and inviting, with the mix of wood and leather appearing to be in great shape. The seats do have some wear marks, but they look good on the whole; the rear seats appear unused. Plus you get the added functionality of adjusting them by just pushing a few buttons.

The door cards have fared well over the years, and like the near-perfect roof lining, these don’t give away the age of the car quickly. The carpet looks untouched, although the lower part of the dashboard (driver’s side) might require some tidying up. The centre console and the wood veneer look factory fresh, too. The boot accommodates a jack, first-aid kit, an XJS Club cap, a Haynes guide for XJS ownership, a permanently fitted Ctek battery conditioner 240-volt plug-in unit and a space-saver tyre. Another thing worth appreciating in the cabin is, apart from the inclusion of airbags for both front occupants, there’s an old Le Mans parking pass on the windscreen, signifying that the car has been previously used the way it was intended to.

One of the ways the XJS differed from the E Type was the platform it sat on. Unlike the veritable sports car that came before it, the XJS was based on the shortened XJ saloon. The engine choices included six and twelve-cylinder units, and one could spec these with either manual or automatic gearboxes. The 1996 XJS got the 4-litre straight-six, which began as a 3.6-litre AJ6, then had its capacity increased, and eventually got coil-on-plug ignition and of course a new name: AJ16.

The desirable AJ16 engine produces just 20 hp less than the original 5.3 V12 yet can still reach 140 mph if desired and still return a fuel consumption 50% better than the bigger (heavier) unit.

The engine bay of this 1996 car is a little busy (like most Jaguars’) but there’s no way its age can be decoded by just looking at that. Not too dissimilar is the case with the car’s underbody. As you can see in the photos, it’s deceptive of its age; clean, untouched, and devoid of any damage which has been comprehensively undersealed as well. There are minute signs of rust, but let’s not forget that it’s done more than 70k miles and has braved more than 25 years of use. It’s worth noting that since 2006, it hasn’t failed a single MoT test; more on that below.

The 1996 Jaguar XJS Celebration is supplied with original invoices, a full-service history, some repair/service invoices, and old MoT certificates. It was first registered on January 2, 1996, and has been serviced at Jaguar dealers/specialists throughout. The latest service was done last year, and the car got new rear shocks (both sets by KWE) to make the ride and stance very comfortable indeed.

Since 2006, this XJS hasn’t failed an MoT test, and the latest one is valid till April 2022. If you look at the mileage over the years, it has done close to 1,000 miles every year in the last five years. The odometer currently reads 72,342 miles. It has had six owners in total, including the vendor; and it has had one plate change in the past.

The E Type was purer, more athletic, and the XK8 is much lighter and even better built. This leaves the XJS in a predicament; its appeal used to be undermined because it wasn’t as conventionally good-looking as its ‘predecessor’, and it wasn’t obviously as modern as its successor, either. But classic car enthusiasts have appreciated the XJS, and finally, so has the market.

For something classy that does long journeys without the slightest sign of perspiration, the XJS deserves more than just a round of applause. And this fine example, at an estimated £15,000 - £20,000, looks nothing short of great, considering that it has full-service history, solid bodywork, remarkably clean interior, and not a lot of mileage.

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’.