1996 Jaguar XJS

Which is where this car comes in. As one of the last-of-the-production-run and sought after Celebration models it is fitted with its original equipment diamond-cut alloy wheels, a half-wood steering wheel and gear-knob, chrome door mirrors, and one-piece leather front seats with an integral headrest and contrasting grey piping.

Presented in its original colours of Kingfisher Blue and Oatmeal leather interior, few cars are as reminiscent of the great era of British sports car manufacture as the redoubtable XJS, and few examples are as beautiful as this one.

The Kingfisher Blue paintwork is in good order, with just a few minor scuffs and a 50p-sized piece of peeling lacquer on the rear nearside quarter bumper, and a half-dozen small stone chips on the front bumper.

The unique alloy wheels were properly refurbished last year (that means being diamond cut, as per the factory finish rather than being the subject of a £15-per-wheel blow over with some Halfords’ paint…) and are shod with matching Pirelli P6000 tyres. Yep, that’s right; matching, high quality tyres, which is one of our Patina-patented signs of a good ‘un.

The interior is a credit to the car’s four owners and presents very well indeed. All the special Celebration trim is present and correct and the seats belie the car’s 95,000 miles.

The original owners’ handbooks for the car and its stereo and alarm systems are all still nestled in the original XJS wallet.

A full service was carried out eighteen months ago at which point all the fluids, oils and filters were changed, along with the spark plugs. The front dampers have also been recently changed and a new battery fitted. As such the car is in good running order and the owner predicts that nothing other than routine servicing will be required in the foreseeable future. 

All of this work, along with every penny spent since the car was new, has been recorded and the receipts kept. The service book is stamped up and the original sales brochure is included with the car as part of the car’s comprehensive service history

The current owner is the fourth person to own the car (the previous owned it for eight years) and he has done so for the past three years. It has always been garaged while in his care, is never taken out in the rain, and is SORN’d and stored correctly during the winter months. (We want him to adopt us; this XJS is better taken care of than anyone here at Patina HQ…)

All the old MOT certificates are available, along with the numerous old tax discs, receipts and invoices for every single piece of work that has been carried out on the car since it rolled out of the dealer’s showroom back in 1996.

The best classic cars are bought from obsessive owners that understand the value in maintaining a car correctly - and keeping good records to support that. We haven’t seen many cars with a better paper history than this one.

The XJ-S and XJS models might have been instant classics even when new, but they still have room to move and seem to us to be under-valued in today’s market.

This example is priced fairly, but won’t be a bargain but then the very best cars never are. The investment market demands original cars with an impeccable history and this car scores highly on both counts. Yes, you might be able to pick one up more cheaply, but over the long-term this should prove to be the better investment.

It needs no immediate work and can be enjoyed as it is; if you keep the mileage reasonable and continue to store it in the manner to which it has become accustomed, this XJS offers one of the safest and most cost-effective ways to drive this legendary Jaguar.

The sale also includes the private plate which the current owner says has been valued at £1,500.

The car can be viewed near Edinburgh, to arrange to view use the 'Contact Seller' button above, or to find out more about The Market take a look here.

Estimate £10-11k (but remember the reserves on The Market are always less than the estimate)