1996 Jaguar XJS Celebration

A limited edition to mark Jaguar’s 60th anniversary as well as the end of the XJS’s 21-year production run, the Celebration gained contrasting piping to the Oatmeal hide, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, different bumpers, and diamond-turned alloy wheels. This one is also finished in British Racing Green, a time-honoured colour that suits the XJS’s lithe lines very well.

Wonderfully, it’s been in the same hands since the seller bought it as a treat for herself back in 1994. She then used it as her daily driver for the next 30 years, albeit accruing just 51,000 carefully-driven miles.

She’s now downsizing and will only have room in her garage for one car, so has reluctantly decided that now is the time to let it go.

Our assessment of the XJS’s exterior gets off to a great start by way of consistent and tight shutlines and perfect panel alignment, demonstrating that there really wasn’t anything wrong with Jaguar’s build quality in the mid-90s.

Yes, they’d had a couple of decades of practice by the time this one rolled off the production line but any opinions you hold to the contrary have more to do with the poorly maintained examples that hope to ride the coattails of examples like this than poor quality control at Brown’s Lane.

Because even the smaller details, like the chrome trim around the boot and rear lights, lines up perfectly – and the quality of its curation means there are no ripples along those long flanks either.

Three of the four corners are free of scuffs and scrapes too, as are the door mirrors. Mind you, having spent its life on the Isle of Man, it hasn’t had to deal with the congested cities we have here on the mainland.

The paintwork is good too, and while a professional machine-polish would help revive its original gloss, you’ll be improving its original finish rather than having to start from scratch by applying fresh paint; after all, a car is only original once and we think it’s important to keep it that way for as long as possible.

The black roof rises and falls at the touch of a button, transitioning between the two states smoothly and elegantly. It also fits very well when it is raised, with no wrinkles or looseness and certainly nothing as vulgar as a hole, rip, or tear.

It also tucks down neatly and can be hidden beneath a cream cover when it isn’t needed, at which point the XJS’s flowing profile shines.

The rear screen is made of Triplex toughened glass and as it’s fitted with a demister element, driving in foul weather remains a pleasure.

The lamp lenses are all in great shape too, and it’s nice to see the headlamps are still the original oval units. These are starting to get scarce leading cheapskate owners to fit US-spec quadruple round headlamps to save a few pounds, which ruins the look of the XJS in the same way impact-bumpers did for cars such as the MGB.

The diamond-turned alloy wheels are free of scuffs and kerbing marks too, although they have started to dull and peel, so you may want to consider getting them refurbished when you next change the tyres.

Those tyres are matching 225/60ZR16 Pirelli P6000 by the way, and 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.

As for damage, there is a small dent on the nearside rear wing, a few stonechips to the front, and a scuff to the nearside rear corner of the bumper.

Rust is just starting to form on the leading edge of the offside sill and the lower edge of the front wing. Some of the inner wheelarches also show corrosion, and while it looks relatively minor at the moment, it would be as well to catch it sooner rather than later.

The interior demonstrates the benefits of buying a one-owner-from-new car in the clearest possible way; finished in Oatmeal hide edged with cappuccino piping, the driver’s seat is only very lightly creased and shows only moderate colour loss on its outer edge. The underlying cushioning and structure is still firm and supportive, and the elasticated pocket on the front edge remains taut.

The elasticated pockets fitted to the back of the front seats are in good order too, as is the front armrest and cubbybox.

The front passenger seat is in a better condition than the driver’s seat, and yet the rear seat is even better than that, probably because the XJS is really more of a 2+2 and it simply doesn’t get used as much.

Still, it’s a useful feature to have and small children would be fine back there for a long journey, while your adult friends will presumably be very happy too if it means a lift back from the pub.

The Oatmeal leather, while in good order, does show up dirt but we think a good clean followed by a feed would work wonders.

The door cards are trimmed in matching leather plus carpet, chrome accents, and a strip of walnut veneer. Both are in great shape with barely a mark on them and the safety lights illuminate when they’re opened, which further suggests the car has been maintained properly.

The door cards also house the controls to adjust the seats, as well as speakers for the Jaguar-branded radio-cassette player.

The walnut veneer trim has survived the passage of three decades with impressive aplomb; free of chips, cracks, and peeling lacquer, it’s also got a good shine.

The switches and controls remain easy to read at a glance, and everything we tested worked as it should.

The carpets are free of holes and damage, but they, like the overmats, are a bit grubby and would benefit from being professionally cleaned.

As always, the luggage space left the factory as beautifully trimmed as the rest of the cabin – and this one has remained so, with barely any wear to the carpet, the continued presence of the factory tool kit, and what seems to be an unused space-saver spare wheel.

The stamps in the service history booklet record the following work:

· 11.04.1996 and 57 miles – pre-delivery inspection by Dutton Forshaw

· 24.04.1997 and 1,580 miles – service by Mylchreests Motors

· 21.10.1998 and 8,726 miles – service by Mylchreests Motors

· 13.10.1999 and 11,541 miles – service by Mylchreests Motors

· 16.10.2000 and 16,234 miles – service by Mylchreests Motors

· 07.07.2005 and 36,399 miles – service by Lica Repairs

As you can see, the AJ6 engine starts very well and idles nicely. It also shows a healthy charge to the battery and good oil pressure, both of which improve in line with the revs.

The engine bay is in a pretty good shape, although it does have the usual surface rust you tend to get on cars that have spent their lives on an island.

It appears to be cosmetic rather than structural though as we can’t see any on places like the inner wings or bulkhead, and it wouldn’t be a difficult job to refresh the affected components and brackets.

The underside shows the same corrosion with things like the steel suspension components having a veneer of rust over them. The sills, floorpans, and boot floor have started to bubble too, so they’ll need further investigation to see how deep the rust has gone.

We suspect this has been caused by the underseal hardening with age, leading it to crack and peel away. Some of the pipework looks corroded too, so it would be worth getting your garage to take a look and see what, if anything, needs replacing.

The only mechanical/electrical fault is that the handbrake warning light doesn’t light up when it is applied.

The Jaguar doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and it will need to be registered here in the UK.

The history file comprises two sets of keys, its Isle of Man Vehicle Registration Certificate, the Jaguar book pack and wallet, and receipts for maintenance work over the years.

It also contains a photocopy of the original V5 Vehicle Registration Document plus the welcome letter, invoice, and handover paperwork from Dutton Forshaw when the first owner bought the car with just 57 miles on the clock.

Interestingly, they paid £43,600 for it in February 1996, which would be around £90,000 today; this was not a cheap motorcar.

Everyone loves the XJS, and demand has been consistently high since it ended production 30 years ago.

And with a willing aftermarket, both of parts and specialists to look after them, running one has never been easier; throw in nigh-on modern levels of performance, handling, braking, reliability, and safety and the case for owning one has never been more compelling.

And yet, price still don’t reflect this; for example, our estimate for this one-owner-from-new Celebration is between £15,000 and £18,000, an accessible price point that surely can’t be sustained for much longer.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.