1990 Jaguar XJ-S V12

Owned by a serial Jaguar XJS enthusiast, this perfectly specified example is being offered for sale after having had all the little niggles rectified that most people would have ignored. It’s now looking gorgeous, running perfectly and an exemplary example of this undervalued grand touring coupe.

(In fact, it’s so nice that it recently won a rosette at a Jaguar Enthusiast’s Club outing!)

The first thing you’ll notice after the glorious shimmering metallic blue colour, is that this example is fitted with American-spec headlights. These suit the car in our opinion but the original, UK-spec rectangular headlights are still available on the secondhand market if the new owner prizes originality – and if you do too, then this is the car for you because the coachwork is glossy with tight, even panel gaps, no ripples along the flanks and very good chromework.

The bad news is that there is a very small bubble of rust under the rear window and on the front of the offside sill. They are both really small and photographed in the Gallery. The good news is that that is the only extent of the corrosion, which is an incredible feat given the propensity of these cars to disintegrate with only the slightest provocation.

Again, score one for the enthusiast with an eye to buying a car to show and treasure for years; this is a solid car with no evidence of underbody rot or repairs; the online MOT history check shows that the MOT tester has never had cause to raise any doubts as to the integrity of the car’s structure, which is, again, almost unheard of in Jaguar circles…

The Gallery of this car is particularly informative and includes a dozen photos of the underneath so you can all see for yourself the car's excellent condition

The interior is as good as the exterior, in both specification and condition. Everything works as it should (Lucas, the Prince of Darkness, had clearly taken the day off when this example was being built), including the heated seats and the electrically adjustable lumbar support on the driver’s seat, both of which are rare options.

The roof lining is taut and clean, and the glovebox still features the original vanity mirror. The rear seats look to be almost unused but then unless the previous owner counted Warwick Davis as a friend, that’s not much of a surprise, is it?

The boot is as clean as the interior and is complete with a good spare wheel and tyre, including the PVC cover that everyone loses.

Faults are limited to flaking chrome on the aftermarket steering wheel and a soft offside leather bolster on the driver’s seat. Neither is a serious problem and the former could be sorted by either having the existing steering wheel re-chromed or even replacing it with a standard version sourced from eBay. The problem with the driver’s seat looks to be nothing more than dirty leather and a few popped stitches, and any good automotive trimmer should be able to sort it in a couple of hours at minimal cost.

The V12 engine is running extraordinarily well following a recent service that included new HT leads and injector seals, and the rectification of a small oil leak. The Jaguar V12 engine is one of life’s great joys, and this is a great example with which to lose your virginity; while you might not be able to afford to commute in one every day, nothing beats the creamy power delivery of a well-sorted V12 and this is a very well sorted example indeed.

The three-speed gearbox also changes gear smartly and almost imperceptibly (given the huge amount of torque on tap, three speeds are more than enough) and the powerful disc brakes haul the big coupe to a halt quickly and evenly, a state of affairs helped by the recent restoration of the front calipers.

The suspension has had significant work carried out on it recently, too: the seller tells us that it has had new springs on all four corners, plus new lower suspension arm bushes, new rear dampers and a new steering rack.

It has also been fitted with a new exhaust and four matching Pirelli P600 tyres. In other words, it’s had an awful lot of money spent on it within the past few months and is driving and handling like a dream as a result.

Given the car’s general condition and the amount of work that has been carried out in the last year or so, we suspect that it has been pampered throughout its life. However, the only paperwork available amounts to some old MOT certificates and the service book. Although the latter does feature 18 stamps, we would recommend that potential bidders inspect the car for themselves and bid according to its current condition.

The difference in price between ratty old XJSs and good, honest, rot-free examples is still ridiculously small, which means that you really should buy the very best car you can while prices are still so low. As you know, The Market likes to be transparent with our descriptions, and that this car’s text includes lots of detail including a few faults. But, the discerning amongst you will notice that the faults are all minor (think of the rust/oil leaks/electrical malfunctions/disintegrating trim/accident damage we could find on your average 30 year old XJS), and that only an owner very familiar with the XJS would be able to provide this analysis. This is a really good example.

We estimate that this solid, beautifully-spec’d and well-maintained car will sell for around £7,250, or about £600 per cylinder, which is a preposterously small sum of money for a car that was widely thought of as the Best Car In The World when it was new. (Check out comparable recent UK auction prices, this Jaguar is very competitive)

Even now, almost thirty years later, the refinement, style and sheer performance on offer make a V12 Jaguar XJS one of the very nicest places to be. It’s a safe place to store your money, too; while prices are still low compared to comparable models from other manufacturers, prices have been rising steadily over the past few years and we don’t expect that to change anytime soon.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen 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.