1989 Jaguar XJ-S V12

This particular example has covered fewer than 2,000 miles since 2010, and has covered only 54,000 miles from new, which must make it one of the lowest mileage cars of its type for sale today.

It has clearly been cherished and used sparingly over the years and has the history file to prove it. It also comes with the highly appropriate private registration plate ‘F6 XJS’.

The coachwork is in very good condition, bar a small amount of bubbling behind the nearside front wheel arch. As you can see from the photos the rest of the bodywork is in excellent shape even around the roof.

The two-seat interior reeks of British craftsmanship and is showing only gentle patination. The wooden veneer and chrome trim are in excellent condition, and are beautifully set-off by a wooden steering wheel. The folding roof is in excellent condition too, with no rips, tears or sagging.

It even comes with a neatly fitted period mobile telephone incorporated into the central armrest, enabling you to fulfil all your mid-eighties’ Gordon Gecko fantasies…

The 5.3-litre engine’s nature endows the XJS with the sort of languid, laid-back nature that it was always in search of; the smaller engines might be a shade more economical but nothing beats the almost complete lack of NVH of the V12. Or the power: with a top speed of around 150mph and a 0-60mph time of under seven seconds, the one thing you’ll never be left wanting is more performance…

The seller also tells us that the gearbox changes smoothly and is responsive enough to make the most of every single one of the 299bhp and 318 lb/ft of torque.

The suspension has been refreshed with new springs and dampers, and while it is biased more towards effortless continent crushing than track day heroics, it is taut enough to allow enthusiastic drivers to maintain surprisingly high average speeds along more challenging terrain.

The car also stops well, with the all-round disc brakes pulling the car to a rapid halt in an even and progressive manner.

We look for two things when trying to assess the quality of a classic car at a distance: the car’s online MOT history and the history that accompanies it. The dross can be weeded out if either of these two areas raise concerns.

So, you’ll be pleased to hear that the online MOT history check shows absolutely nothing untoward, which is rewarding given how many XJSs have suffered catastrophic rot and rust issues in the past.

And the history file is comprehensive and, almost as importantly, beautifully organized; just think, if the previous owners have taken the time and trouble to retain and file everything this neatly, it can only say good things about the time and money that have been lavished on the car itself.

The file itself contains all of its old MOT certificates, the original leather bound book pack including the original service book (with stamps from Jaguar dealers and Jaguar specialists) and fold-out map, plus most of the old tax discs. Amazingly, the previous owners have even retained their old insurance certificates and the paperwork pertaining to the number plate change plus a vast selection of old bills and invoices .

Please visit the Records section of this listing where you will find 60 photos and 2 videos to see the car fully for yourself.

After years in the doldrums, the price of good Jaguar XJSs has been rising steadily for some time now, although we think they are still underpriced and some way to go yet.

With a guide price of £18,000, this beautiful example of the most desirable XJS of them all represents outstanding value given the performance and desirability of the V12 convertible model. And don't forget, this car includes the registration.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be viewed in Upminster, 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 or view our frequently asked questions below.

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