1976 Jaguar XJS Pre-HE

First registered on the 9th February 1976 and an original UK car with a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate to prove it, we are delighted to offer this lovely low-mileage example of the appreciating Jaguar XJ-S for auction.

How low is the mileage? Well, it’s showing under 61,000 miles on the odometer and we are inclined to believe that this is accurate as it is supported by both the car’s MOT and HPI history.

The owner tells us that he’s owned the car since 2009, during which time he’s invested an awful lot of time and money to bring it to the condition you see today. So much time, in fact, that he’s barely covered 7,000 miles since he’s owned it, making this a very pampered big cat.

Originally finished in Greensand, the owner had the car fully resprayed in metallic black. While this wasn’t a bare-metal respray, the photographs of the work being undertaken show that the bodywork was carefully prepared and the work appears to have been done to a good standard.

The car has been stored under a fitted car cover in a dry garage since that time, which means the finish is still lustrous and free of dents and dings. The flanks are free of ripples and the panel gaps appear to be as even and narrow as anything that came out of a British car factory in the seventies.

More importantly, we are told that the car is free of structural rot and corrosion, with the usual problem areas - wings, lower doors, wheelarches, front floorpans, sills and boot - all being in good shape.

Still fitted with its original Kent wheels (including the spare), the tyres are matching Pirelli P4000, all of which have good tread.

Significant work to do appears limited to some remedial work to the front spoiler – but please feel free to make a trip to Cheshire to check the car over for yourself prior to auction end – use the Contact Seller button to arrange.

The Cinnamon interior is in very good, unrestored condition and serves as a reminder of just how delightful the interior of the early XJ-S is; its simplicity, stylishness and sheer elegance are a world apart from the marque’s current cars - and we can’t imagine many people choosing the latter over the former…

Anyway, you came here looking for facts, not nostalgia. So, we can report that the leather seats are in good, lightly patinated condition with the exception of the driver’s seat, which looks like it could do with a small amount of fettling to tidy up the centre section of the seat base; the leather looks to be in good shape but the attentions of a decent interior trimmer would make a world of difference for not a lot of money.

The rest looks to be very good, including the switches, steering wheel, and veneer trim. The car has had a new headlining in its recent past, so that’s one less job for the new owner to carry out.

Work to do is pretty much limited to sourcing a pair of front carpet over-mats as the originals are missing, sorting out a fault with the driver’s electric window, and fitting the period-correct radio that is supplied with the car should you value aesthetics over musical fidelity.

Maintained by the seller’s local garage, the seller reports that there are no mechanical issues with the vehicle. He also tells us that the car starts, ticks over, revs, runs, stops and drives as it should.

Recent work includes a new stainless steel exhaust, rear dampers, springs and rear lower suspension arms, and a water pump in addition to regular servicing. The car’s fuel injection system has also been fully refurbished in his time with reconditioned fuel injectors and a new fuel pump.

The automatic gearbox has also been rebuilt and the torque convertor replaced with a reconditioned unit in 2010, since when the car has done well under 10,000 miles. The engine bay itself is very presentable, being clean and tidy.

The seller tells us that faults are limited to an inoperative cruise control, which is believed to be the bellows, a common fault that is easily fixed.

Supplied with an original showroom brochure and stamped service history booklet, this XJ-S is being offered for auction without an MOT as it is age-exempt. We would always encourage potential bidders to come and examine the car for themselves, if for no other reason than to reassure themselves of its mechanical and structural condition at little cost.

On the positive side, the vendor tells us that he doesn’t think the car will need any work to pass - and his optimism may well be warranted given that the car has passed its last two MOTs without a single negative comment from the MOT tester. (And the previous three gathered only very minor advisories.)

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find copies of the car’s old invoices, bills, expired MOT certificates and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained and refurbished to the very highest standard.

Offered for sale with a very reasonable reserve, this pre-HE XJ-S serves as a beautiful reminder of just how simple and well-proportioned the early cars are; with all the attention currently on the youngest and most modern XJSs, the older, cheaper cars have flown under the radar for too long. In fact our Market Trends data shows that the pre-HE XJ-S is one of just a few cars to have shown real price appreciation in 2018.

We estimate that this example will sell for between £10-12,000, at which price point it offers a very cost-effective way into classic Jaguar ownership with only a few minor jobs for the owner to carry out over the winter. And, as always, the reserve is set at an even lower point.

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