1993 Jaguar XJS Convertible 4.0

In the care of the same owner for the past four-and-a-half years - and 20 years with the one before - this exquisitely maintained example benefits from considerable recent expenditure, which has left it driving beautifully and looking stunning.

Not that the work that was done was the sort of budget makeover unscrupulous dealers carry out to fleece the unwary; it is simply a continuation of the sort of care the car has become accustomed to receiving over the years. Maintained regardless of cost might be a cliché, but it’s entirely apt in the case of this pampered big cat.

So, you’ll find a new roof and lining, new carpets, a refurbished cylinder head, and a fully rebuilt suspension system. As a result, it drives as it should and the owner tells us that he is not aware of it having any mechanical faults.

As he demonstrated by driving it the 90 miles to us. This was actually the longest journey he has undertaken in it; a serial Jaguar owner - he also has an E-Type - he has been forced to admit that he just isn’t using the XJS as much as he would like.

With a sensible guide price and reserve, this is one for the enthusiast who is looking for an XJS to drive and enjoy because, with only a little gentle detailing, it could be more than capable of picking up the odd award at your local classic car show, too.

As you might expect of a car that has had just two owners in the past quarter-century, the metallic Carnival Red paintwork is in very good condition indeed. The panel gaps are tight and even, which bodes well for its driving history, and the flanks are free of the sort of ripples that lesser, neglected cars tend to pick up over the years.

Nor is there any corrosion or bubbling of the paint, and while it does have a few age-related stone chips and scratches - all of which are commensurate with the car’s age - we think this is actually a good thing because a car that wears an honest, light patina is always going to be preferable to one that has been cheaply tarted-up to make a quick profit.

What little chromework there is is in very good condition and the American-specification headlights were fitted from new.

Speaking of new, the folding black fabric roof has been recently replaced, and the work included a new cream liner, too. It also comes with a matching cream tonneau cover and a wind deflector, for ruffle-free drop-top motoring.

The 16-inch alloy wheels have also been recently refurbished and so are in great shape. The matching Nexen tyres are very recent too, and so still have plenty of tread.

As we will never tyre of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but do give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Speaking of which, the windscreen displays badges from both the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club and the Jaguar Drivers’ Club; that’s got to be (another) reassuring sign, surely?

Work to do appears to be limited to adjusting the boot lid as the nearside rear edge doesn’t align terribly well and sits proud of the adjacent rear wing, and the bonnet, which doesn’t close properly without fiddling with the release cable. That’s not a bad list for a 26-year-old Jag, is it?

While the exterior is very good indeed, the interior is the real star of the show, being incredibly well preserved; the wooden veneer, which almost always dries out and lifts and splits, is solid and shiny and in need of nothing other than continued maintenance. Even the leather-covered dash-top is solid and hasn’t cracked in the sun; details like this matter, and can often give you an insight into how well a car has been maintained, so the fact that it is so good is telling.

The parchment leather seats show only the very gentlest of creasing, partly through careful conservation and care and partly because they have been re-Connolised. They look terrific, and the rear seat looks almost new, which is no surprise given how little legroom there is back there…

The electrical adjustment on them works perfectly and the parchment leather extends to the door cards, which are in great shape. The Jaguar also benefits from new Wilton carpets, which were fitted at no little expense, as well as lambs’ wool overmats.

The Jaguar also has electric windows, central locking, and cruise control, plus, of course, that new electric folding roof. The air-conditioning system has been recently re-gassed and is blowing ice-cold.

A Jaguar alarm system is fitted, as is a Kenwood headunit. Oh, and the O/E toolkit looks to be complete and barely used.

Problems seem to be limited to a sticky rear window. It rises and falls okay but sometimes gets stuck and needs a helping hand. But then don’t we all?

The 4.0-litre, six-cylinder engine starts on the button and is smooth and powerful in use; it is also decently economical for a car that should hit 60mph in sub-eight seconds and go on to a top speed of around 140mph.

It also benefits from having had annual servicing, the most recent in January 2019, despite covering very little miles in between visits. A major service was carried out on in February 2017, along with a complete suspension overhaul comprising six new dampers, new suspension springs and all new bushes. The cylinder head has also been recently refurbished and the head gasket changed. The braking system has been serviced, too, and a new alternator and battery were fitted last year, along with a thermostat.

We have driven it and can confirm that it drives well, and exactly as we would expect it to. The vendor tells us that the car has no known faults.

The engine bay itself is neat and tidy, and the underside is clean and free of rot and corrosion.

The online MOT history shows absolutely nothing of any concern and it passed this year with no advisories. The history also, along with the service records, confirms the car’s low mileage. The MOT certificate itself expires in January 2020, and the car comes with a large number of expired certificates.

The car comes with two sets of keys, including a pair of Jaguar-branded remote control fobs. It also has the full suite of information booklets, the instruction book for the Kenwood stereo, and the padded Jaguar wallet. The private number plate ‘SIB 7726’ is included in sale.

It also comes with a huge poster; used as a promotional car for Miss Sixty (magazine photos now included in the Gallery) the owner tracked down the promotional poster that accompanied it, and this is safely stored in the boot for the new owner to display in their garage or Man Cave.

The car comes with a hand-written summary of the work that has been carried out on it and the service history booklet has 24 stamps. In summary, it comprises:

September 1993 at 943 miles by Paramount Jaguar, Cardiff

February 1994 at 3,363 miles by Paramount Jaguar, Cardiff

July 1994 at 7,864 miles by Paramount Jaguar, Derby

February 1995 at 16,838 miles by Paramount Jaguar, Derby

August 1995 at 32,762 miles by Paramount Jaguar, Derby

January 1996 at 37,183 miles by Paramount Jaguar, Derby

April 1996 at 45,319 miles by Paramount Jaguar, Derby

September 1996 at 55,921 miles by Paramount Jaguar, Derby

December 1996 at 63,275 miles by Paramount Jaguar, Derby

May 1997 at 65,896 miles by Sturgess, Leicester

November 1997 at 68,836 miles by TWR Jaguar, Coventry

July 1998 at 72,158 miles by Sturgess, Leicester

November 1998 at 73,789 miles by Sturgess, Leicester

April 1999 at 75,116 miles by Chiltern of Bovingdon

November 2000 at 81,939 miles by TWR Jaguar, Northampton

May 2002 at 85,760 miles by Guy Salmon Jaguar, Northampton

March 2006 at 89,873 miles by Templetons Garage

July 2006 at 93,085 miles by Templetons Garage

June 2008 at 94,476 miles by Steve Horsley Motors

December 2009 at 95,636 miles by Steve Horsley Motors

October 2014 at 99,100 miles by XJ Services Corby

November 2015 at 99,327 miles by XJ Services Corby

February 2017 at 99,350 miles by XJ Services Corby

January 2018 at 99,563 miles by XJ Services Corby

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please contact us here at The Market or click the “Contact Seller” button to arrange an appointment.

Fully refurbished and being sold with no known faults, this is an exceptionally good example of a modern, facelifted Jaguar XJS Convertible. Looking sharp and driving even better, it needs nothing other than a tankful of petrol and an appreciative owner who will continue to care for it in the manner to which it has become accustomed.

Because, while so many have been neglected after years in the doldrums, this one has been consistently maintained over the years - and it shows. One of the better examples we’ve seen and driven, this is one for the canny enthusiast with an eye to its future value.

As for what it is worth, we expect it to go for between £13,000 and £17,000, so it won’t be the cheapest one you’ll ever see but the real cost of classic car ownership can only be measured over the entire period you own the car, and one like this will always find a ready market when the time comes to move it on again.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at The Market HQ in 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’.

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

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings of any auction, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles we have for sale. While we use our trade experience to assess every car that comes through our hands (and between us we have bought hundreds of classic cars over the years for our personal use…) we are fallible, and our assessment of a car may contrast with that you might form yourself.

This is why we offer a far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange a professional inspection on their behalf of, each vehicle prior to bidding than any traditional car auction, and we will never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this by coming to see it in person.

That said, we do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or those formed as a result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.