1982 Jaguar XJ-S HE

Finished in the rare colour of Chestnut Brown Metallic and having had just seven former keepers, this lovely early HE example has been in the care of its current owner since 1994. As an active member of the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club he knows the model well and has taken good care of it. He’s rarely used it in the wet for example and kept it garaged and on a trickle charger when it’s not being used.

With a carefully curated MOT history to substantiate the car’s mileage, it is now only being offered for sale because he simply doesn’t have the time to continue to keep it in the manner to which it has become accustomed. Sold with a short MOT (it expires in November 2018), the reserve reflects the fact that there are some jobs to do on it, making it an ideal purchase for the competent DIYer with an eye to the XJS’s investment potential.

You’re thinking that this is another crusty old XJS that’s been bodged from one MOT to another in a desperate attempt to dodge the scrapman’s crusher, aren’t you? Well, while we can’t blame you for thinking this this, you’re wrong. Very wrong.

For a start, take a look at the online MOT history. It’s clear of any significant advisories regarding rot or serious corrosion – and when you start to dig a little deeper, the news gets even better. Sure, there are a few areas that need attention: the underside needs scraping clean and re-undersealing to stop the spread of what is almost certainly only surface rust; we’d be amazed if the wheelarches don’t have the odd spot of rust underneath the chrome trims; there is the odd bubble here and there, most notably on the bottom of the wings.

But, the panel gaps are tight and even, the flanks are free of ripples, and the paintwork is believed to be original. It really is much, much better than the average XJS and, reassuringly, you can be sure that it hasn’t received a cursory blowover in a cynical attempt to trick bidders into paying more than it’s really worth. The owner has mentioned to us many times that he had done no bodywork repairs in his 24 year tenure.

So, we think that while the old girl could probably do with a spot of fettling, it’s by no means as bad as some of the photos would have you believe. Why not go and take a look for yourself by using the Contact Seller button before auction end? We think you’ll be very pleasantly surprised…  

The interior is in much the same condition as the exterior, which is to say that at first glance it looks far, far worse than it really is. The front seats could do with a good clean, the boot carpet is stained, and the headlining will need replacing but when you get past the first impressions, it really is quite lovely with no significant wear much less any rips, scuffs or tears.

Overall it is in surprisingly good condition. The wooden veneer appears to be in excellent condition, as are the door cards and the rear seat. The chromework looks good too, as does the steering wheel and dashboard gauges.

It has been fitted with a Jaguar-branded Clarion radio cassette player. It also has an immobilizer fitted.

The automatic gearbox and rear subframe assembly were both removed and overhauled at 70,000 miles at a cost of over £2,000. The only outstanding problem is a long-term slight oil weep from the rear of the engine; Swallow Engineering, the Jaguar specialists that have looked after the car for years, say that in view of its minor nature and the fact that it only weeps when the engine is cold, it’s best left alone until the engine is next removed from the vehicle.

The owner tells us that it starts first time, every time no matter how long it’s been left for. He went on to say that it’s been very reliable since he’s had it (the gearbox and rear subframe work is the only significant work he’s had to have undertaken in almost 24 years) and he’s treated it to a DIY oil change every year.

However, if it were ours, we’d be tempted to treat it to a full service if only to ensure that we start from a known baseline.

Oh, and the four tyres are matching Avon Turbo Speed CR28s, all of which have good tread. (Regular readers will know how highly we value matching tyres because we think they indicate the fact that a car is being sold by a caring and knowledgeable owner who hasn’t been afraid to spend money in order to keep it in good shape.)

The Jaguar service history book contains sixteen stamps and comes with a full set of old MOT certificates that confirm its mileage. (It looks like a new speedometer may have been fitted early in its life, so the true mileage is likely to be slightly higher than the current odometer reading.)

The car also comes with a number of old invoices, bills and other pieces of paperwork as part of its charming history.

Note that the Jaguar is sold with registration MUV 305X.

Offered in a rare colour and having been owned by a bona fide enthusiast for the past quarter century, this car is balancing on a bit of a razor’s edge; another couple of uncaring owners would probably see it in the scrapyard in five years. Such a shame. BUT just one enthusiast (are we looking at you?) could rescue it with ease as none of its faults are significant or expensive to put right – and with them done, this would be a lovely way to safely store a few thousand pounds.

Which is all it will cost you because we estimate that it will sell for between £3,500-5,000, at which price point we think it’ll prove to have been an astute buy; the price of good Jaguar XJSs has been gently rising for some time now and we can only see this trend continuing. And you’ll have a lovely Jaguar in the garage and the opportunity to drive around in that miraculous V12 – one of the first HE’s to boot.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen near Basildon in Essex; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.