1989 Jaguar XJ6

We have here a simple, unadorned Jaguar XJ40 from the late eighties. However, while most cars from that period wear their age harshly, this one has settled into gracious middle-age even better than Gillian Anderson.

The 3.6-litre straight-six engine and automatic gearbox blend performance and economy and endow the old girl with a sense of occasion and dignity that few of its contemporaries managed even when they were new.

Yet it’s the provenance and history that endow this car with a sprinkling of magic…

White might not have been anyone’s favourite colour even ten years ago, but the colour has seen a recent resurgence in popularity and I defy you not to look at this Jaguar XJ6 with anything less than a tinge of envy because it doesn’t belong to you.

The shutlines are neat and crisp and even and there isn’t even a trace of rust. The paintwork is original, which is always going to add way more value than even the best respray. The words ‘potential concours winner’ are bandied about like P38 in Phil Mitchell’s garage, but in this case, they’re absolutely true.

The beige leather seats look almost brand-new, with only very, very gentle creasing evident on the driver’s seat. The other seats look like new, as do the door cards and handbrake gaiter.

The funky and very period dashboard all works exactly as it should, as does the advanced-for-its-time trip computer. With a 32x32 dot matrix screen, the Vehicle Condition Monitor (VCM) is capable of relaying information on 32 different functions; if you remember learning to programme on Amstrad and BBC computers you are going to love this car.

The only slight blemish is that some of the headlining is starting to sag with age. Not an uncommon issue, this should be a relatively simple fix.

The online MOT history check shows absolutely nothing of concern bar the odd mal-adjusted wheel bearing and brake, old shock absorbers and old, bald tyres. No rust, no rot, and no major concerns. 

As we keep saying, this is a good ‘un.

The pre-delivery inspection was carried out by Appleyard of Ayrshire on the 7th of November 1988. Further stamps in the service book support the low recorded mileage:

14.07.89 – 1,000-mile service at 603 miles by Appleyard of Ayrshire 17.05.91 – 7,500-mile service at 6,794 miles by Appleyard of Ayrshire 08.08.96 – 15,000-mile service at 15,070 by Johnstone & Drynan of Kilmarnock 04.09.00 – 22,500-mile service at 21,979 miles by Johnstone & Drynan of Kilmarnock 23.07.15 – 30,000-mile service at 28,901 miles by Johnstone & Drynan of Kilmarnock

The Jaguar also comes with all three keys, the owner’s handbook, plus an owner’s guide for the radio cassette player on an original stereo cassette. Have you ever seen one of those before?

A history check (certificate in the history below) shows nothing untoward and supports the provenance of this car.

Some cars impress with a flashy wallet full of invoices to support the owner’s carefully chosen modifications that have brought their pride and joy slap-bang into the 21st century.

Others shine thanks to a recent, expensive restoration that is generally lovingly documented in both print and picture. Either category will make a solid purchase for the keen classic car owner.

But the car everyone really wants wears its history more lightly. These cars wear a gentle patina to match their comprehensively documented service history. Their provenance is impeccable. This is one such car.

Even the price is modest and honest; while the price of earlier XJ6s have started to rise stratospherically, the price of the angular XJ40 still languishes some way behind. We estimate that this example will go for approximately £7,000, with a reserve set slightly lower. Cars of this quality will not stay that cheap for long.

The car can be viewed in Aylesbury, to arrange please use the 'Contact Seller' button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments or view our frequently asked questions below.