1999 Jaguar XK8

“I owned an identical XKR for seven years, using it as my daily driver, before selling it three years ago. I saw this example for sale at a local car meet and missing my old one, I decided to buy it,” explains the vendor vendor. “It’s a lovely example, which drives perfectly. Everything works, the hood works, everything is as it should be. In terms of performance, it’s not as fast as the XKR, but it is still plenty quick enough”.

It has covered a total of 69,568 miles from new, with 56k of those covered in the first ten years. It also comes with an impressive service history, with the stamps in the book for:

• 04/10/1999 – Service (10,323 miles), TWR Jaguar
• 25/05/2000 – Service (19,159 miles), TWR Jaguar
• 15/01/2001 – Service (29,208 miles), Guy Salmon Jaguar Gatwick
• 24/08/2001 – Service (38,461 miles), Guy Salmon Jaguar Gatwick
• 15/06/2004 – Service (46,837 miles), Frosts Jaguar
• 13/05/2006 – Service (47,920 miles), Frosts Jaguar
• 13/05/2009 – Service (55,596 miles), Guy Salmon Jaguar Gatwick
• 04/05/2010 – Service (56,790 miles), Guy Salmon Jaguar Gatwick
• 13/05/2011 – Service (58,065 miles), Guy Salmon Jaguar Gatwick
• 11/08/2015 – Service & Brake Fluid (67,977 miles), Baldocks Ltd
• 18/07/2016 – Service (68,699 miles), GH Auto Engineering & Jaguar Specialists
• 24/07/2017 – Service & Brake Fluid (68,767 miles), GH Auto Engineering & Jaguar Specialists
• 13/08/2021 – Service (69,016 miles), GH Auto Engineering & Jaguar Specialists
• 08/06/2023 – Service (69,598 miles), JagTechnic/Landsport

The car’s current MOT test certificate runs until 25/08/2023 and the vendor has just had the car serviced, so all the next owner needs to do is drive it!

“It’s had one small MOT test advisory in the time that I’ve owned it, namely a touch of surface corrosion on a rear suspension component. I had that dealt with last year, with it rubbed back and re-painted with Hammerite”.

With an imminent house move on the agenda, and fewer garages at his new property, he must jettison two of his beloved cars. “I wish I could keep it, but unfortunately just don’t have the space.”

The numberplate is being retained, so the XK8 will revert to its original.

There is a word that we pull out on special occasions when a car’s design/colour scheme/sultry looks, or all three, warrant it, and that is ‘woof’.

Why?

Well, just look at it.

It’s a stunning, alluring, red missile of a car.

“The bodywork is excellent with no dinks or dents,” says the vendor. “And for a 24-year-old car, the paint is very good; I don’t think it’s ever had any paintwork. I don’t even think there are any scratches”.

He says that the alloy wheels are in similarly excellent condition, with plenty of tread remaining on each tyre. The hood material remains first-class, with an interior matching Cream tonneau cover included for when it’s stowed.

Time for that word again…

Woof.

We are big fans of XK8 interiors. For us, their combination of wood and leather provides the perfect fusion of the modern and the traditional. As such, they provide cabin inhabitants with magnificent surroundings, and even more so when specced in an enticing colour combination, as here in Cream.

“It’s excellent inside,” says the vendor. “I had the front seats re-Connolised recently, so they are in excellent condition. That’s matched by the +2s in the rear, which I don’t think have ever been used.

“Likewise, the wood veneers are very good, as is the leatherwork on the centre column and dashboard. You’d be very hard pushed to find anything wrong with this one, and you can apply that to all aspects of the car”.

All electrics, including the seats and hood, work just as they should.

Pop the boot and you’ll find a space saver tyre.

Lovely.

Not a huge amount to add here. The XK8 has been well looked after, garaged and regularly exercised. The vendor says it performs superbly and puts a smile on his face every time. Again, we’ll reiterate, it’s just been serviced so is absolutely ready to go.

Wait, there is something to add… pop along to 1 minute and 30 seconds in the video to hear that V8 spinning freely. Now imagine it propelling you along at high-speed, say somewhere in the south of France.

The engine bay remains very smart, and the Phoenix Red exterior provides a lovely contrast to its all-black interior accoutrements. This is a modern classic engine bay that you can stare at and elicit pleasure from.

The underside looks to be nice and solid, with just a touch of surface corrosion here and there.

You will find the XK8’s current, and all its expired, MOT test certificate/s present, as well as its V5c document. A recent invoice (08/06/2023) for £297.59 at JagTechnic, as well as the final stamp in the service history book, provides evidence of its recent service. The other original handbooks and manuals are also present.

Recent invoices of note show work to the convertible roof ram, coolant housing and fresh ignition coils in May 2021 (at a cost of £1093.02), the full interior clean and re-Connolising of the front seats in May 2022 (at a cost of £300), although there are plenty of others from earlier in its life to take your time to electronically leaf through.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork that confirm that this vehicle has been maintained to an excellent standard.

“Summertime and the living is easy,” sang Ella Fitzgerald. Now imagine how much easier it would be with this thrusting V8-endowed drop-top in your life. And faster. And more comfortable.

Not sold yet?

Okay, how about the fact that we think just £11,000 to £15,000 will secure this car?

Now you’re talking. Or motoring.

That’s surely seriously good value for a top-quality example of Jaguar’s modern classic XK variant.

With an excellent service history and first-class condition, this lovely big red cat should provide its next owner with some seriously sizzling summer fun.

Yes, we know it’s rather un-feline, but what was that word we used to describe the exterior?

Ah, yes: woof.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at the vendor’s home in Brighton; 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’.