Jaguar XJ-S / XJS Convertible V12 - stunning condition with massive history file

A stunning example of one of the original XJ-S Convertibles - one of the very last pre-facelift versions in fabulous original black.

Whilst not a low mileage. one-owner car. it is actually even better as it comes with a massive history file (see pictures) tracing back to it's first registration. PDI. etc. with every previous owner traced (name. address. date of ownership and car services in their time) and page after page after page of receipts for work done on the car - all contained in it's own leather bound folder in date order.

Comes with all the original brochures. handbooks. etc - even an original press photo! It is very rare to find a car with this level of detail on it's history. that backs up virtually ever mile it has done in the last 23 years. as well as everything that has been done to the car in that time.

It is unusual in having a 2+2 seat conversion (originally there was a lockable storage box here) with the associated seatbelts. It also has a 6-disc CD changer and Panasonic head-unit. which with the immobiliser are pretty much the only non-standard things on the car. It is cheap to insure (I pay £250 on an agreed-value classic policy fully comp for my wife and I) and there are good and inexpensive Jaguar specialists all over the country. and readily available parts.

I am a Jaguar Enthusiasts Club member and bought the car in March 2009 from a retired airline pilot who had bought the car in May 2002 and who over the next 8 years and 10 months spent some thousands of pounds on an under-bonnet restoration on the car in his heated 4-car garage. The car was stunning. and I have only aimed to improve on this.

Virtually everything that could be reached by hand had been replaced (hoses. screws. pipes. fuel injection system. gaskets. washers. etc) with all new genuine Jaguar parts. He kept all the receipts which are within the huge file. He only did 1. 63 miles in the car in this time and it was described as a 'labour of love'.

Prior to his ownership a Dr. Jenkins had the car. and was about as obsessive as the pilot was (and I have been). as he had bought the car in Feb 2000 (at 89. 00 miles) and had spent £6. 85 on all sorts of things; from new genuine Jaguar lattice alloy wheels. strip down and re-spray. headlights. hood repair and re-lining. immobiliser. servicing etc.   

When I bought the car I bought the best one I could. and then set to work to see if anything else needed doing.

I think with a car such as this the very best care must be taken to preserve it's beauty for the coming years - no expense spared. I also believe that they should be driven. and I have enjoyed adding just the 6. 00 miles that have been done on it since I bought the car. These have only been done when it is dry. (with the exception of two show days where it had to sit rather sadly in the rain - still looking lovely!) and it is garaged all the time.

When I bought the car and joined the Jag club. the car won the local Jag club's 'bonnets-up' prize for having the cleanest most impressive engine bay. Over the past few years I have had a number of things done to make this car one of the very best of it's type. I had new rear arch panels professionally fitted by a local Jag specialist down in Eastbourne. At the same time new front stub axles. wheel bearings and a gearbox mount were fitted. 2010 saw a full under-body wax protection. new front suspension mounts. a conversion of the air conditioning to run R134a gas. etc. as well as a new electric aerial for the stereo.

2011 saw a complete professional gearbox strip-down and rebuild at 96. 60 miles. In March 2011 I heard Pirelli were doing a remake of the correct tyres for the car (235/60R15 P600's). so I had 4 new ones fitted. In June 2011 unusually a valve stem seal failed and the top of the engine came off for replacements onto nicely skimmed heads. This was done at Jagtechnic Eastbourne by the engineer who looks after the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust cars (it was parked next to a £5 million racing 'D-Type he was rebuilding the engine of). He said that these engines are bomb-proof and this was the first time he had hade to open one up in 20 years - a testament to how unlucky I was. but reassuring that this was an unusual event.  

Needless to say the car has also been regularly serviced (last service in January of this year). including having the brakes serviced (new discs and calipers). rear suspension replaced. aircon service recently. nbsp;and to get it 100% perfect I had the whole car resprayed by Kingswell Coachworks in Battle. East Sussex after any tiny surface marks. and dings were removed to bring it to it's best. The icing on the cake was a new mohair hood that I had fitted by Monsoon in February of this year.

The work I have personally had done on the car totals over £16. 00 (all receipts on file). and the car is worthy of any inspection.  

There are a few low mileage XJ-S convertibles out there. but I don't believe that you will find many cars that have the history and integrity of this car. which have been gone through with a fine tooth-comb and are rust-free like this is. Anything this car has needed has been done. and in combination with the previous two owners I think we have 'future-proofed' it so it will be a long term pleasure for the next owner.

It drives beautifully and looks stunning.   

Why am I selling it? Simple really. My daughter did fit in the back when I got the car. but does not do so quite so easily now. and instead of being a fun weekend car for the family. it only gets used on sunny days for my own 40 mile commute to work. making it rather a selfish item. We have enjoyed our time with her. but it is now time to pass her to a new home for someone else to do the same.

Negatives? Well. in the spirit of absolute openness. she has had a tiny crack on the windscreen (about 1cm long not a problem for the MOT). and a sight 'creak' noise at full lock sometimes when parking. Both were there when I got the car and have not got worse.  The steering noise is very slight wear on the rack which the Jag specialists and I decided was so minor as to not be worth doing anything about and it has actually got quieter and less frequent with use (I was quoted about £350 for a replacement rack so it was not exactly a big issue). There is a small crack on the walnut in front of the gear-lever - also pre-existing. but it has not broken the surface and so I have not done anything about it. You can buy new veneer for these (Myrtle do a range). but I like the originality of what is in the car now. and it has not got any worse since I got the car. so I have left it.

I have priced this at a very realistic price to sell. and would welcome any professional inspection - you will not be disappointed.

If you are looking for one of the best of these cars. with the paperwork to back it up. then this is the one for you.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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