1985 Jaguar XJS HE

Finished in the iconic colour scheme of silver coachwork with a black leather interior and matching targa-style roof, this Jaguar XJ-S Convertible shows just 35,000 miles on the odometer.

In need of mechanical fettling and some repairs to the bodywork, ‘C817 XVR’ would be the ideal project for the enthusiast who enjoys bringing old metal back to life and/or wants to stretch the cost of entry into classic Jaguar ownership over a period of time.

As you can see the shutlines are pretty darned good overall; tight and consistent, they show up well against the Silver coachwork, lending the XJ-S the appearance of a convertible sportscar that’s been carved out of an ingot of solid aluminium.

The thick black pinstripes show off its good panel alignment, and the 6.5J15 BBS-style alloy wheels suit the car’s 1980’s style, and while the latter might be a little dull, they are free of serious dinks and scuffs.

The chromework is in a decent condition too, with only moderate pitting and rust spots. The black rubber trim on the bumpers is also free of heavy scrapes and gouging.

The lamp lenses are bright and free of chips and cracks, and the headlamps are the increasingly rare oval Cibie units, which is worth mentioning as so many examples now use the American-spec ones.

The soft-top is in good order overall with only light stains and no serious damage to the fabric. However, the targa panels cannot be removed, the offside section is missing its chrome handle, and the plastic rear window is badly faded. The inner headlining is also mouldy.

The alloy wheels are fitted with a matching set of 235/60R15 Saferich FRC26 tyres – and the yellow dot has been installed near the valve too! Made in 2019 and 2020, all have good tread left on them although they are starting to perish between the tyre treads, so will need to be replaced.

There are a few more issues with the bodywork, including: The lower front panel is rusty; the bonnet is bubbling; the offside front wing is rusty including the section that’s been painted silver; the driver’s door is rusty along its lower edge; the offside rear wing is bubbling where it meets the sill, bumper, and wheelarch; the boot lid is dented and has corrosion along the bottom edge and near the handle; the nearside rear wing is heavily corroded; the nearside door is rusty along its bottom edge and handle; and the nearside front wing is also rusting along its lower edge and wheelarch.

The bodywork also has miscellaneous dents and chips across some of the panels, along with localised repairs and faded paint in places. Many of the window and door rubbers have also perished and cracked.

The black leather interior is discreet and suits the car’s silver coachwork very well. The light wood veneer trim (which has cracked in places and lost its lacquer in others, so would therefore benefit from being refurbished) is complemented by an amber badge in the middle of the steering wheel.

The result is an understated and timeless cabin that’s in a reasonable condition overall; while the seat stitching has come loose the rest is pretty good for its age and would clean up well providing you don’t mind a light patina, something the black leather finish would carry better than any other material or colour.

That said, the tachometer and speedometer only work intermittently, the adjuster for the driver’s door mirror and the speaker grilles are rusty, and the glovebox is mouldy.

However, the instruments are the desirable early ones whose vertical design lends the cabin a period grace. It is also fitted with a Blaupunkt Canberra radio-cassette player, the glovebox still has its pop-up mirror, and a chromed luggage rail, which stops your suitcases sliding forward, sits on top of two lidded compartments behind the seats.

The carpets are in a decent condition too, although lifting them up does reveal some corrosion to the floorpans.

The boot carpet might be a bit stained, but the boot itself is well presented and even includes the cover for the full-size spare alloy wheel, the bag for the roof panels, a hazard warning triangle, and the jack.

The seller also mentions that inside the drivers door on the car body is a switch, which on other xjs-c he's had is a kill switch. Sometimes if it’s partially engaged the car won’t tick over.

The car’s previous-owner-but-one, who bought it in 2020, had the petrol tank refurbished and work done to the suspension and braking system.

The previous owner had the nearside rear suspension mount and outer sill repaired, something that has caused it to fail an MoT in November 2025. This work, along with a few other bits and bobs, set him back £3,200 and the invoice is attached.

Its MoT certificate now expires in November 2026, and the only advisory was for a “Hydraulic leak, but not excessive”. Our seller bought it in March 2026.

The Jaguar’s High-Efficiency V12 engine struggles to start and it will not idle. It runs badly too, overheats quickly, and the oil pressure gauge doesn’t move: We have been able to move it around our premises, but it isn’t roadworthy and will need to be trailered away.

The engine bay has corrosion to both the steel and alloy components as well as perished rubber fittings and hoses. The underside of the bonnet is also corroded.

Moving underneath, while the lower panel edges are corroded, the chassis box sections look remarkably solid. The floorpans show some corrosion, and while a repair has been made to a section of the sill, it wasn’t painted so has rusted.

On a more positive note, there are plenty of fresh fasteners under there and the exhaust still has its paper sticker attached. Our seller also tells us a new battery was fitted around a month ago.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it comes with two sets of keys and one broken fob.

The history file includes a V5C Registration Certificate, the invoice for the recent work, and an MoT certificate.

With a guide price of between £4,000 and £6,000, this Old School V-12 powered XJ-SC offers an awful lot of engine for the money.

Even better, as it’s being sold with no reserve it will be going to a new home after the very first bid has been placed, so if you’re looking for a project to keep you busy this winter, why not pop in a cheeky bid and see what happens?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.