1985 Jaguar XJ-SC 3.6 Manual

This XJ-SC is one very rare survivor. Not only is it one of only two remaining examples built in 1985, but it’s also one of less than 20 XJ-SCs still taxed on the road. If that wasn’t enough to tickle your collective appetites then take a look at that genuine Jaguar hardtop; we can’t recall ever seeing one (the vendor reports only seeing another one on Princess Diana’s example). The good news keeps on coming, as this 3.6-litre model transfers its 218bhp through a manual transmission. Very unusual for this model, making it a much more engaging proposition from the driver’s seat.

Having never been fully restored (and only painted once) it’s truly a credit to this car’s previous owners that it’s in as good a condition as it is. The current owner has been its custodian for the past 16 years and in that time, he’s observed the service intervals religiously. Not only that, but he’s also had every issue that’s arisen fixed promptly using well respected Jaguar specialists. As a result, this XJ-SC has a wonderful blend of originality, patina and usability. The bits you can’t see have been taken care of just as fastidiously with the correct use of underseal to top up the protection – rather than hide any bodged repairs.

The original shade of Cobalt Blue metallic was topped up in 2010 by Thames Valley Repairs Limited and it did a fantastic job. The finish remains gleaming and you could be forgiven for think that it’s just come fresh from the paint booth. Panel fit and gaps are certainly looking consistent and good. The only area showing any marks at all is a patch of light scratches – about the size of a fist – on the nearside of the front valance.

Other very minor imperfections can be found around the car but really, we’d prefer to class these spots as areas of appealing patina. The nearside B post has a few small chips to the black finish and what looks like overspray to its outer edge. There’s some similar damage and scratches to the window frames around the car but these are very minor. Overall this car presents exceptionally well with very good paint and brightwork throughout.

It’s a similar story on the inside of this XJ-SC. It’s largely in very good condition. Though there are a couple of negatives, as we’re being picky. There’s a small patch of wear to the outer driver’s seat bolster and the stitching is only just beginning to come apart on the left-hand side of the base. The over mat on the driver’s side has given up the ghost, though thankfully lifting it reveals that it’s done its job, easily protecting the factory carpet. While we’re talking of the carpet there’s a little staining to the fabric covering the transmission tunnel just behind the rear seats.

Looking up at the Targa panels shows they’re in great condition having been recovered in 2002. Though there is some damage to the vinyl on the passenger side panel where it meets the windscreen top (Picky again). The glue on the lining also seems to vary in its adhesion with the same slight sagging evidence on the underside of the rear hardtop. It’s still far from unsightly but worth mentioning. With the panels removed there’s some mild staining visible around their edges on the window frames, plus one or two very small tears. The dials and switches are looking well apart from a little lacquer peel around the light switches on the centre console and a crack to the Perspex in front of the instrument cluster. Considering how well even an XJ-S with a steel roof usually fares after more than three decades, this open-top example has survived exceptionally well.

that it feels tight and responsive from behind the wheel and our brief test drive concurs. With all of the rubber replaced in the front end, we can certainly believe it. The AJ6 straight-six engine was only a couple of years old when this car was new and its 218bhp could get the XJ-SC up to 60mph in just 7.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 137mph. With a manual transmission this car should be a lot of fun when you want to do some serious driving, yet it has enough torque to simply sit back and cruise when you want to ease back. The best of both sporting appeal and long-range touring; in other words, what Jaguar has always done best.

We couldn’t find anything wrong with the floors or the sills as these have been fastidiously cared for. There’s the expected light surface corrosion to the upper suspension and steering links that haven’t received quite as much coating from the underseal as their lower siblings. The coverage elsewhere is very thorough yet thin enough to see it isn’t hiding any nasty surprises. Under the bonnet looks honest with stains from past leaks, one of which was a cooling weep cured by retightening the cylinder head bolts. The soundproofing is also peeling away a little and the washer bottle could do with a run through the dishwasher – but with this done and a few licks of paint here and there – it could be very presentable (if that’s your thing).

This car has such a glut of history that there’s simply too much to cover here, however the following are highlights that we felt worth pulling out. There are a number of big bills from the last decade covering all manner of upgrades and repairs to the bodywork, cooling and chassis, plus more besides.

2002 Targa roof panels recovered £117.50.

2004 Very rare hardtop with heated rear screen sourced and purchased along with x5 ‘starfish’ alloy wheels £1000.

2004 G Grace & Son: coolant system refresh plus rust repair and treatment to sills and bumpers £2981.76.

2004 G Grace & Son: rust repair (front nearside wing & rear quarter panels) £2739.22.

2005 All suspension & steering bushes replaced plus diff pinion oil seal, engine core plugs and exhaust gaskets replaced £2223.01.

2007 AC amplifier replaced along with an AC system re-gas £1824.60.

2010 Refurbish and repaint of wheels plus fit new tyres fitted £368.

2015 Brake system overhaul including new pipes, master cylinder repair kit and genuine new (not refurbished) Jaguar caliper £1009.97.

2016 Full suspension and steering geometry laser alignment £39.

2017 Bonnet gas struts & low-pressure PAS line replaced £241.80.

2020 Front anti-roll bar bushes, oil pressure gauge and rear brake pads replaced £587.50.

In addition to the £13k+ listed above, the service history file also shows considerable evidence of regular oil, filter and treatment services for the oil and fuel systems. Very impressive.

The continuous MOT history is very reassuring, showing just how few miles the vendor has driven in his long ownership, but also the attention-to-detail to continue the MOT trail, and seemingly fix the issues. It’s often recommended when buying a car to look at the seller as much as the car….

Although this car has had plenty of remedial attention over the years it’s been limited to just what was needed, nothing more. That means the mass majority of the car remains original and untouched. As such it’s more of a survivor than a pristine restoration, though the level of care is immediately evident from its condition. There are so few of these important stepping stone Jaguars left that we doubt there’s many that can claim to be on a par with this one. We’re suggesting that this example will sell for between £9500 and £13,000. It’s certainly well worth checking out. 

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.