1991 Jaguar XJS V12

First registered on the 1st of August 1991, a loss of storage space forces the reluctant sale of this lovely V12-powered XJS. And how lovely is it? Well, it’s just had a fresh MOT put on it, something it managed to achieve with no advisory points – and it’s done the same for the past few years too, so it’s clearly a good ‘un.

Finished in silver with a beige leather interior, the vendor had sufficient faith in his car to drive it to us too, further proof that this is very far from the sort of ratty old Jag that lurches from one MOT to the next in an ever more desperate bid to escape the jaws of the scrapman’s crusher.

Bought only recently from a friend of his who owned it for around five years (and around £6-7,000 in bills for its mechanical refurbishment, apparently…) it’s being sold with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid. So, if you’ve ever fancied having 12 cylinders of Coventry loveliness in your life, then your time has come!

The silver coachwork presents very well; the XJS is an iconic shape and this colour gives it a hewn-from-solid look that we love. It’s got pretty good shutlines too, and the swage line along both flanks is straight and very well aligned. The tinted rear windows help further smooth the silhouette, as do the 15-inch, BBS-style alloy wheels.

The wheels are in great shape too, being straight and free of the sort of kerbing that betrays a careless owner. They’re also fitted with tyres that still have plenty of tread left on them.

The paintwork is good too, as is the chromework. Sure, there are a few stonechips and the odd patch of pitting but there’s nothing there to detract from the way it presents.

Still wearing the original UK-spec headlamps - a surprising number are fitted now with the twin-lamp US-spec versions as the domestic market versions are no longer available new and command silly money on the secondhand market – the smoked lamp units on the back make a surprising difference to the modernity of its rump.

Minor blemishes aside, the offside front wing needs some attention on its lower portion, the B-pillars don’t look great, and there are a few other bubbles starting here and there that will need catching before they become problematic: Photographs 43 to 50 show the main one areas of concern.

Oh, and the nearside headlamp lens has a stonechip in it.

The traditional Jaguar wood ‘n’ leather interior is wonderfully patinated; gently creased, it reeks of Old School class and, unlike the sort of over-restored trailer queens that seem to be the rage among the nouveau riche, it’s not trying too hard. Interiors like this are a large part of the reason we love classic cars and it’s nice to see one that’s been so carefully curated rather than been replaced wholesale.

So, the leather on the front seats might be creased but it is free of rips, tears and other damage. They are still very comfortable and the thick side bolsters offer a degree of lateral support that would have been unknown in a Jaguar only a decade earlier. The elasticated pockets on the back are still taut too, further proof of a life gently led.

The rear seats are in an even better condition but then this won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s ever tried to actually use them…

The wooden veneer is good too, as is the top of the dashboard; both can suffer with sun exposure but these are all good with the exception of the door capping on the driver’s door, which is a little jaded.

The car still has the original Jaguar head unit too, plus good carpets, door cards, and headlining. Some of the miscellaneous trim such as the end of the indicator stalk has seen better days but this just means splashing out a few quid on eBay when decent replacements come up.

The boot is very nicely carpeted. It is clean and contains a matching alloy spare wheel. Lifting the carpets and trim shows a solid, rust-free floor, and the boot lid and aperture are both clean as well.

There’s an almost complete tool kit in there too; only missing what appears to be a couple of spanners, replacements will be something else to add to your eBay watchlist, eh?

Work to do? Aside from a little colour loss to the driver’s outer seat bolster (and it really is only a little; photo numbers 15 refers), the electric seat adjustment doesn’t work, and nor do the mirrors.

Oh, and the trim piece above the offside doors has seen better days, as has one section of the carpet in the passenger’s footwell/transmission tunnel but both are very definitely in ‘nice to do’ territory rather than bothersome.

The service history is recorded in the history booklet as follows:

• 31.10.1991 and 1,714 miles – service by Reeve & Stedeford

• 24.04.1992 and 7,224 miles – service by Reeve & Stedeford

• 14.01.1993 and 14,128 miles – service by Patrick Solihull

• 04.08.1993 and 17,704 miles – service by Patrick Solihull

• 21.02.1994 and 23,898 miles – service by Patrick Solihull

• 07.10.1994 and 28,309 miles – service by Patrick Solihull

• 09.06.1995 and 34,075 miles – service by Patrick Solihull

• 22.01.1996 and 41,662 miles – service by Ryland Jaguar Solihull

• 25.09.1996 and 49,318 miles – service by Ryland Jaguar Solihull

• 22.04.1997 and 51,713 miles – service by Ryland Jaguar Solihull

• 01.04.1998 and 59,844 miles – service by Holland Brothers Ltd

• 04.02.1999 and 60,711 miles – service by Holland Brothers Ltd

There are also some big bills from XJ Motor Services, the independent Jaguar specialist. These are reproduced online but tally up to several thousand pounds spent in 2013 and only around 3,000 miles ago.

Please take a look to see what was done – but please do set aside a while because there’s a lot to absorb.

The engine bay is grubby but that that is the worst we can say of it speaks volumes. The underside looks to have had some repairs in the past but they seem to have been professionally done and the whole floor is neatly undersealed. There’s evidence of mechanical expenditure under there too, including what looks to be a recent exhaust.

Faults? Well, the vendor drove it here, which is worth a lot. We’ve also driven it and can’t find anything to grumble about bar the engine check light, which is on.

The Jaguar’s MOT certificate isn’t only valid until March 2021, it was also gained without a single advisory point, something it also did in 2017, 2018 and 2019, too.

It has a number of expired MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years – and it has had quite a bit done; the service history extends from 1991 all the way through to, and there are plenty of big bills from the past few years too. Please do take the time to leaf through them to appreciate just how well fettled the old girl is.

It also still has its original owner’s handbook, stamped service history, book pack, and storage wallet.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

The Jaguar XJS’s time has come; after years of being unappreciated and largely ignored, discerning buyers are starting to understand their unique appeal. That mighty V12 engine, for example, just gets on with the job of wafting the car’s occupants around at indecently high speeds in almost complete silence while the interior cossets and nurtures like few others.

Yes, they’re a bit complex but when you find one with a good service history and a few recent big bills like this one, that element of risk is minimized, especially when you’re only stumping up such a small sum in the first place.

How small? Well, we think this one will only sell for between £4,000 and £7,000 and it’s hard to imagine a better way to get this much metal for so little money.

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 to ask any questions or make observations on 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, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and an array of regional providers for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. 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 the result of a long test drive.

Also, localised paint repairs are common with collectable and classic cars and if they have been professionally carried out then they may be impossible to detect, even if we see the car in person. So, unless we state otherwise, please assume that any vehicle could have had remedial bodywork at some point in its life.

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.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.