1998 Jaguar XK8

Presented in Ice Blue Metallic with a dark blue hood and a set of gloriously OTT chromed wire wheels, this Jaguar XK8 convertible was first registered in February 1997.

Perfectly complemented by an Oatmeal leather interior, its overall condition is very good as you can see – and hear!

Being sold by a family friend on behalf of an estate and being offered with a wonderfully full service history up to 2018 - after which it has covered only a few hundred miles – it’s being auctioned with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid.

The coachwork presents well. With consistent shutlines and good panel alignment, it speaks of a life gently led – but then you’ll start to appreciate how gently when you get to the section in which we list its service record.

Ice Blue Metallic (colour code MDP) is a lovely shade, too. Light and cheery, it’s an elegant twist on the usual subdued metallics and this one is in a fine condition with nothing more than the usual stonechips and minor marks every car collects over the years, not matter how carefully they’re driven.

Even the wheelarches, often prone to corrosion, are free of rust and the badges are still bright and vibrant. The lamp lenses and glass are all unmarked.

The dark blue hood is taut and fits very well. It’s also free of any rips, tears, or other damage and rises and falls as it should at the touch of a button. With contrasting white stitching and a proper glass rear screen complete with a heating element, it is as elegant as it is functional.

Speaking of elegant, the 18-inch chromed wire wheels might be more classic than contemporary in design but there’s no denying their condition, which is excellent. Bright and shiny and free of corrosion and pitting, they’re shod with a set of matching Dunlop Sport tyres.

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. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for work to do, the wheels would benefit from being removed so the inner rims can be cleaned and the tyres are getting on a bit, so should probably be replaced on the grounds of age, even though they’ve still got plenty of tread left.

There are also a few very light scuffs on the rear bumper and corners but that’s about all we can see that might bother you.

The Oatmeal (code AGD) leather and walnut veneer cabin is every inch the high-class Jaguar the XK8 is. In a very good condition, it wears its 65,000 miles and a quarter of a century lightly.

It’s a light and airy space, even with the hood raised – and with it down you get to use the matching cream leather tonneau cover for extra style points.

It’s also a very pleasant place to be; the design helps, of course, but being able to enjoy it with so few signs of wear is a joy.

The front seats, for example, are only very lightly patinated and the only deterioration we can see is to the outer bolster of the driver’s seat. This could be left as it is or recoloured fairly easily, we imagine as it’s a loss of colour rather than damage from what we can see.

(While we are nit-picking, a rusty clip on the outer edge of the driver’s seat could do with being replaced.)

The rear seats are even better. Legroom back there might be limited, which means they tend not to get used very often, but there is enough space for a couple of young children - and when you’re not being the coolest parent/grandparent in the UK, you can use the space for coats and soft luggage.

More signs of careful use come with the presence of the cupholders, which are both undamaged and working. The leather-covered transmission tunnel console and armrest are also both clean and undamaged, as is the (extensive) walnut veneer trim.

The boot is untidy but then it does contain a CTEK battery charger/conditioner, a wind deflector, and a fire extinguisher, so #swingsandroundabouts, eh?

There’s a space saver spare wheel in there too, which looks like it might never have been used.

The only other work we can see the new owner might like to undertake is to have the mid-brown carpets cleaned; they’re in a very good condition but are a little grubby. Ditto, the outer edges of the headlining, which look to be water-stained.

There’s also a hole in the headlining but we think this is probably a missing trim surround rather than damage.

The V8 engine sits in a nicely presented engine bay. If you’re that way inclined, detailing it would be a rewarding way to spend a day or two but if you’re not then you could live it with as it is without fear of embarrassment.

If it were ours, we’d budget on a day’s labour from a professional to do the interior and engine bay. This would be a relatively modest investment but one that would transform the cosmetic condition of the weakest areas of the car.

As you can see, it starts promptly and idles well. Revs nicely too, with a subdued menace allied to a wonderful crackle on the overrun. There are no warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, either.

The underside of the Jaguar does have some corrosion. None of it has come to the attention of the MoT tester recently though but the online history does suggest some remedial work was carried out in around 2017.

The Jaguar’s maintenance history is recorded in the service history booklet as follows:

• February 1997 – pre-delivery inspection by Avalon Jaguar of Wolverhampton

• 04.03.1998 and 2,686 miles – one-year service by Avalon Jaguar of Wolverhampton

• 16.01.2001 and 11,347 miles – two-year service by H.A. Fox of Southampton

• 07.06.2001 and 21,547 miles – three-year service by H.A. Fox of Southampton

• 05.12.2001 and 31,840 miles – four-year service by H.A. Fox of Southampton

• 18.07.2002 and 39,876 miles – five-year service by Doves of South Croydon

• 05.05.2004 and 45,444 miles – six-year service by Doves of South Croydon

• 05.05.2006 and 51,216 miles – seven-year service by Sudbury’s Jaguar of Swindon

• 07.07.2008 and 56,898 miles – eight-year service by Swindon Jaguar

• 15.05.2015 and 63,992 miles – nine-year service by Haven Motor Holdings

• 30.10.2017 and 64,855 miles – 10-year service by R.I.J.C. of Reading, independent Jaguar specialists

• 02.08.2018 and 64,971 miles – 11-year service by R.I.J.C. of Reading, independent Jaguar specialists

The Jaguar’s MoT certificate, which is valid until June 2024, was gained, like the previous two, with no advisories.

It comes with the full book pack and the recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

Being offered with no reserve, this Jaguar XK8 has a lot going for it, not least that comprehensive service record and a good recent MoT history.

It’s got good bodywork too, and a nice leather ‘n’ wood interior that needs nothing other than a valet.

The only fly in the ointment is the underside, which shows some corrosion. But, if it’s as little as the recent MoTs suggest, the fact it’s being offered with no reserve might just help you bag a bargain providing you don’t mind getting your hands dirty.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Reading, Berkshire. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.