1980 Jaguar XJS Pre-HE

This stunning Jaguar XJ-S V12 Pre-HE was manufactured on the 14th December 1979, dispatched on the 18th March 1980, and registered on the 19th June 1980 to the first keeper.

This example is somewhat of a rare car because it is not only a Pre-HE model but one of a few to feature the fuel injection system, which was destined for the HE models.

The car has spent several years in dry storage with very little use. We can see from the paperwork that it received a complete respray in 1996, where it was then left in dry storage and used very little until around 2004, when it was sold from the owner at that time's estate.

Since then, the car was recommissioned and used for just a few hundred miles each year, mainly used to display at classic car shows, where it also picked up several awards.

Recently the car has undergone another complete and in-depth recommissioning, ensuring everything works as it should and is now ready to be enjoyed by its new custodian.

As mentioned, the car was repainted several years ago. More recently, it has received a full machine polish and some minor paint corrections to show off the fabulous Sebring Red paintwork, which looks absolutely fantastic.

Looking around the car, the panel gaps are excellent, and the door shut lines align superbly. Starting at the front of the XJ-S, there are no stone chips to point out, and the chrome work is in excellent condition around the damage-free headlights. The rubber bumpers (Pre-HE Spec) are in excellent condition with no signs of perishing or splitting. Moving up to the windscreen, it is free from any noticeable chips or scratches, and the chrome surround is excellent, with no tarnishing.

Around to the sides, and this is as straight as a die! There are no dings or dents to mention, and the window surrounds and trims are excellent, as are the windows and seals. There is a small amount of perishing to the door mirror gasket, but a simple item to replace should you wish.

At the rear, the boot lid aligns as it should, the lights are free from splits or cracks, and the badges are in excellent condition. Just like the front, the rubber bumper is also in good order. The wheels are the originals and would be described as excellent, with just a minimal amount of tarnishing. Fitted with matching Pirelli P4000 tyres, these are in relatively new condition, having not covered many miles.

Inside the XJ-S is like stepping back in time. The interior has been preserved exceptionally well. The black leather seats are in superb condition with just a small amount of creasing, and the door cards are also superb, along with the rear seat, which shows no real signs of use.

The dashboard has no splits or cracks to point out. The instruments are reported to be working as they should, with the odometer showing a reading of 19,608 miles. A replacement odometer has been fitted, which is documented in the paperwork, and the mileage is now thought to be in the region of 63,000 miles. The switchgear is all in fantastic condition with minimal signs of wear, and the original Philips radio cassette is in place.

The light grey carpets are clean and present well with no excessive wear; there are also a set of rubber mats fitted to help protect the carpet. Looking up at the headlining, this is clean and all held in place with no signs of sagging. Inside the boot is also pristine; the carpets are clean and tidy, the spare wheel is present and lifting the carpet, you can see the floor is extremely clean with no issues.

The purring V12 has recently received an enormous amount of attention to ensure it is running well, which has involved stripping and rebuilding the distributor to replace the centrifugal advance mechanism. In addition, there has been a new ignition coil fitted and a distributor cap. Finally, the wiring was checked, and any joints causing poor resistance were replaced. This work has resulted in the V12 firing on the button and running like a dream.

The Jaguar is reported to move through the three-speed automatic gearbox with a smooth change, and it pulls strongly in each gear, as you would expect from the 5.3 litre V12.

Out on the road, no untoward noises are coming from the suspension. Over the years, most of the suspension components have been replaced or refurbished, and since then, the car has not covered a significant amount of miles. The brakes are said to be working correctly, bringing the XJ-S to a stop in a straight line.

The underside is where you can see just how well the Jaguar has been well looked after, and it is clear to see the car has spent many years in the dry when you assess the condition of the floor. There is a coating of stone-guard to future-proof it, most of which looks intact with minimal areas of flaking.

This 1980 Jaguar XJ-S comes with an extensive history file detailing what is thought to be most of the work carried out since the early 90s after its first recommissioning. Since then, there have been other invoices and handwritten letters explaining what work has been carried out.

There is the Production Record Certificate from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, sales brochure and original service passport. However, probably the most important is the recent invoice for the engine work carried out, totalling just over £1,400, which is peace of mind for the prospective buyer, knowing it has been given a thorough overhaul.

This is probably one of the cleanest Jaguar XJ-S Pre HE models available at the moment. Being few and far between, there isn’t a tremendous amount to choose from, especially when it comes to this particularly rare model, which is fitted with the fuel injection system used on the later HE model.

A fantastic opportunity to take ownership of a genuine classic Jaguar in superb condition and ready to be enjoyed.

We estimate this British classic to bring in the region of £15,000 - £18,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Liverpool/Chester; 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’.