1996 Jaguar XK8 - 61,000miles

Registered in December 1996, which makes it one of the very first cars to reach UK roads, this lovely XK8 has just over 60,000 miles on the odometer and an enviable history.

With only three former keepers, we are told that it “drives superbly with its four-litre V8 pulling very strongly and smoothly.”

The vendor goes on to say that it “feels and drives like new with no knocks or rattles and still feels tight.” He also says there are “no signs of rust or any accident damage” and that “the car has been maintained regardless of cost with everything working as it should.”

Being offered with no reserve and a full year’s MOT, the Jaguar’s interior is its real high point; it’s still fresh and clean and in need of nothing. Dial in a good history and you might just be looking at the least risky Jaguar XK8 on offer today.

The Antigua Blue metallic paintwork is still shiny and looking fabulous; it’s not an obvious colour to choose but we’re glad the first owner was so brave because it looks amazing and shows off its lines to perfection. It still looks contemporary and clean, and if the XK8 were released today we’d still be swooning.

The shut lines are tight and even and say only good things about its 23 years on earth. While there are many shoddily repaired examples crabbing from one corner to the next, this one sits square, looks right, and is completely free of dents and damage. It is, as the owner points out, “honestly presented” and has nothing to hide.

The alloy wheels are in good shape, but a couple of them do show some signs of kerbing, so you might want to add a few quid into the pot to refurbish them. The tyres are matching Pirelli P-Zeros (including the spare) and look to all have good tread.

As we will never tyre of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but do give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Of course, any car of this age will have the odd mark here and there, and this one is no exception. So, there is a small patch of peeling lacquer and the odd stonechip and car-park dink but there is nothing serious and nothing that needs urgent rectification. Some gentle fettling – probably largely limited to a decent machine polish and half-an-hour with a touch-up stick - would see it almost back to its former glorious self, and even that small amount of work is very firmly in the nice-to-do camp rather than the must-do.

The only other job we can see is to source and fit the rubber finishing strip for the top of the driver’s door, which is missing after having gone AWOL on the M4.

The Oatmeal and Antelope cream interior looks like that of a five-year-old car rather than one that won’t see twenty-one again. The leather seats, for example, are still taut and supportive and have only the very gentlest of creasing on the outer edge of the driver’s seat. We suspect that most, if not all, of this patina could be disguised with some professional intervention if you are so minded.

The rear seats look as if they have never been sat on, which won’t come as any surprise to those of you adults who have tried to actually use them.

The centre armrest is good too; while many have become polished and faded after two-and-a-bit decades of being rubbed by the driver’s elbow, this one is still clean and bright. The door cards are fresh and undamaged too. It’s all in remarkably good condition.

The dark carpets are in great shape and that includes the all-important heel protectors on the driver’s side of the car; it, along with the pedal rubbers, looks as good as new, which gives you an insight into how well this particular example has been maintained and how carefully it has been used.

The wooden veneer trim is in a very good condition; while that of many cars of this age has cracked and faded, this still looks shiny and lustrous and as good as it was when it was first installed. The leather on the centre console is good too, including the stitching, and the car still sports its original radio-cassette player.

The tool kit lives under the (very good) spare alloy wheel and Pirelli P-Zero tyre in the boot; it’s complete and it wouldn’t surprise us if it were unused. The carpet that covers it all is in very good condition and looks almost new.

The car has just been serviced and the owner tells us that the “engine is very smooth and strong. It doesn’t burn any oil and starts every time. It’s been very reliable.” He went on to say that it “brakes in a straight line, changes gear smoothly, and tracks well.” He is so confident in its condition that he is going to put a new MOT on it before the auction ends.

And that’s all there is to say about the car’s mechanical condition really, other than to point out the engine bay is very clean and tidy. A short section, but when you’re looking to buy an older Jaguar, not having a story to tell is the very best story of all.

The XK8 has its original driver’s handbook and wallet, plus a replacement stamped service history book plus all the usual bumf that you’ll never read but looks nice and is essential to have with anything you buy with an eye to maintaining its value.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the service book to support our claim that this car has been maintained extremely well.

The Jaguar XK8 has been something of a slow burn; while the price of the Aston Martin DB7 has long started its exorable and predictable rise, that of the XK8 still has some way to go before it is seen as a Grade A investment.

Which is bad news for the vendor but great news for those of you with a shrewd eye for a future investment but aren’t prepared to compromise on your driving pleasure to get it.

Because the Jaguar XK8 drives very well indeed; it’s fast and comfortable and cossetting in the way only a grand touring Jaguar is. Reliability is much better than you might fear too, which makes this a very practical classic (semi-) supercar.

It’ll be very reasonable, too. We think it will fetch between £3,000 and £6,000, at which price point it is an absolute steal. We all know that when buying big old ‘barges’ like this Jaguar, paying a touch more for a good’un will almost always result in lower bills, higher resale and a much better driving/owning experience along the way. And, it’s being offered with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid, so why not pop a cheeky one in and see how you fare?

Because, while sensible folk are stocking up on water and medicine and seeds in advance of the 31st of October 2019, this is your opportunity to go out in blaze of glory, prowling the post-Brexit wasteland in one of Coventry’s finest V8-powered sportscars. At least until the petrol runs out.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Twickenham; 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: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings of any auction, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles we have for sale. While we use our trade experience to assess every car that comes through our hands (and between us we have bought hundreds of classic cars over the years for our personal use…) we are fallible, and our assessment of a car may contrast with that you might form yourself.

This is why we offer a far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange a professional inspection on their behalf of, each vehicle prior to bidding than any traditional car auction, and we will never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this by coming to see it in person.