2002 Jaguar XK8 4.2 Convertible

Built in June 2002 and first registered that September, this facelift V8 4.2 was sold by Stratstone Jaguar in Luton and it remained in the Bedfordshire area with different owners until 2008 when it was sold to the fifth owner from Worcester. In 2012, it crossed the country again to Cambridge before the current owner - a little further north in Peterborough - bought the car in May 2019.

A Jaguar enthusiast and serial owner - he’s had about 20 of one type or another - he was looking for a few months and a friend alerted him to this one which belonged to the wife of the chairman of a hot rod and custom club (an engineer) and had been maintained well mechanically by him.

He’s had a few things done to it to improve it aesthetically and has enjoyed driving it when able over the last couple of years, but now with retirement ideas firming up around touring Europe in a motorhome, there is little room in the plan for sports cars and weekend car shows.

Looking over the car, it’s hard to find any issues at all with the Platinum Silver metallic finish, not even any stone chips on the nose that you might expect of a car like this. One of the reasons why silver is so popular is that it gives excellent definition to the curves and lines without the distraction of colour, to really show off the pure form of the car.

The black fabric hood appears in good condition too, with just a few wrinkles and creases and it folds down and stows away as expected. There’s a black vinyl tonneau cover that can be clipped over the folded top that makes things look a lot neater on a reliably sunny day.

The Jaguar sits on 20-inch BBS Detroit alloy wheels with stainless outer rings, which present in a very good condition (recently refurbished) and are all fitted with Pirelli PZERO tyres dating from 2019.

The interior is upholstered and trimmed in a Warm Charcoal leather and the seats, especially the driver’s, are lightly creased and gently buttock-buffed but probably not as much as you’d expect at this mileage. There’s no undue wear or damage that we could see across the seats, dash, door cards or any of the interior trims.

Inlaid into the dash, centre console and door controls is a polished wood veneer in what looks like a light “Bird’s Eye” Maple grain. It is also picked out on the top and bottom of the steering wheel. Unlike some of the warmer coloured veneers, this one doesn’t seem to date the interior quite so much.

The carpeting is clean and undamaged throughout, with fitted overmats for extra protection. The interior lining on the soft top looks clean and in good order; just a little loose in places as you might expect with a flexible roof.

Compared to the untidy-looking V12 of the XK8’s predecessor, the XJS, a large plastic cover over the top of the engine might be preferable. But when you think back to how well the E-type’s XK engine and mechanicals were presented, it seems a shame to hide all the engineering. Nonetheless it is a clean and tidy looking engine bay, with just a hint of surface rust on one of the bracing struts.

The undersides are relatively clean and free from serious corrosion, with just a bloom of surface rust on the outside edges of the underbody, subframes and some of the steering and suspension components. The twin stainless exhaust system appears in good order and undamaged.

Inside the boot, the grey carpet and linings are very clean and intact, and there’s an elasticate net attached to the rear bulkhead to keep smaller items from rolling around. There’s also a warning triangle mounted under the boot lid.

To one side is the CD changer and below it under the carpet is the battery compartment and fuse box. Centrally located is the spare wheel with jack, wheel brace and tools that sit neatly in a polystyrene moulding within it. The floor under the wheel looks in good condition with no signs of corrosion there or anywhere around the boot opening.

The XK8 has a current MOT certificate valid until February 2022, which it passed with no advisories, much like it did on the one before that.

The documents folder includes a listing showing all MOT and service events with mileages from new, plus another showing servicing by main dealers and marque specialists as follows:

Sep 2002 - PDI - Dunham Jaguar, Luton

May 2003 - 9681 - Dunham Jaguar, Luton miles

Feb 2004 - 20176 - Dunham Jaguar, Luton

Oct 2004 - 29714 - Dunham Jaguar, Luton

Oct 2005 - 41580 - Stratstone Jaguar, Luton

Oct 2006 - 50528 - Stratstone Jaguar, Luton

Jul 2007 - 58607 - Stratstone Jaguar, Luton

May 2009 - 66243 - Stratstone Jaguar

Jun 2010 - 71867 - Elite & Performance Jags, Derby

Apr 2011 - 76,422 - Hatfields Jaguar, Worcester

Aug 2011 - 78739 - Hatfields Jaguar, Worcester

May 2019 - 85731 - Nene Jag Specialists, Peterborough

The file also includes numerous other invoices from 2008 up to 2011, most notable of which would be the fitting of a Larini stainless exhaust and lowering springs and shocks in 2009.

More recent invoices from current ownership include servicing, renewed cam cover gaskets and thermostat, anti roll bar bushes and radiator top hose. In addition, the vendor reports that the wheels have been professionally refurbished and fitted with new Pirelli tyres. The sills and bumpers were repainted and the rear quarters re-lacquered.

The car also comes with a Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate recording factory build and first supplier information.

Designed as a grand tourer in the Jaguar tradition rather than an out-and-out sportscar, the XK8 shared its chassis with the Aston Martin DB7, making the XK8 the thinking man’s choice when it comes to buying a powerful, rear-wheel-drive luxury convertible.

This one is a lovely, immaculate-looking example with sensible miles, a well documented history and a good amount of paperwork which we think will sell for between £9,000 and £14,000. It is also listed with NO RESERVE, so whoever has the highest bid when the timer runs out, no matter how low, will be the new owner.

With the more powerful XKRs already taking off, we think the 4.2-litre XK8 is the next best thing and will appeal to a canny buyer with an eye to the future as well as anyone who appreciates how good life would be with a V8-powered Jaguar convertible in it.

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 ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.