2022-03-27 10:20:49 | pauls writes:

Car now offered at:

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1991-jaguar-xjs-convertible-43kxd4

Auction description:

As with every XJS, the story of this car begins on the production line of the Castle Bromwich factory, a factory synonymous with high expertise engineering. Rolling down the production line during 1991 this Jaguar would end up being earmarked for the export market and end up going all the way to Japan.

When it would have got its destination in Japan it would have been a rather expensive luxury car for probably a very successful Japanese businessman.

It appears to have lived a very cushy life over 6,000 miles in Japan receiving the perfect amount of maintenance which is probably why it is presented in such good condition today.

It left Japan recently and came straight to the UK where the current owners would acquire the car to bring it to the market as possibly one of the best classic V12 convertibles on the market.

The new owner will be able to enjoy many happy miles at the helm of this luxury big cat. With this car having lived a life in the optimal Japanese climate it means that it has been able to avoid any salty road conditions and has therefore been perfectly preserved.

The Paperwork

With this car being an imported car from Japan there is sadly not that much paperwork available, there is a modern V5 and some MOT certificates but that is about it.

However, if you have ever seen a Japanese import, you will know that they are fastidious with maintenance schedules which more than likely means that this car has been properly looked after when it was in Japan. There are also a spare set of keys, which is always lovely to see with any used car.

The Interior

The interior of this XJS is in lovely condition, chock full of wood and leather it feels like a Jaguar should. There are only a few small snagging areas that a new owner may want to have a look at, but overall it will be the perfect place to sit and soak up the miles.

With this being the convertible variant there are only two seats to talk about with a storage cubby behind the seats. The seats are in excellent condition there are no rips, tears, or stains on the leather at all. Not only are these seats extremely comfortable they are both electrically operated and heated, an amazing little feature that helps make the interior feel 20 years newer than it is. The electric motors move these seats with ease.

The only real area of note on the interior of this big cat are the two wood panels that are at the top of both doors. The lacquer is starting to peel away from the wood, this shouldn’t be too hard to rectify as many online shops will stock parts for old British classics.

The rest of the wood however is in perfect condition, especially the wood around the gear selector it has such a great shine and deep wood grain it almost looks new.

Along with the small elements of the interior such as the carpets or steering wheel, which are in great condition, the headlining to the retractable roof section is in perfect condition with no rips or tears to the inside of the material.

This folding roof is also electrically operated and with the flip of a switch, it folds away swiftly behind the drivers’ seats and can then be covered with a small tonneau cover that is also in great condition.

As you can probably tell by now, the interior of this Jag is in great condition. It is ready for the next owner to jump in, put the top down, and cruise to the coast to spend an afternoon by the sea.

The Exterior

Finished in the striking colour that is Signal Red with a contrasting black fabric roof this Jaguar stands out from the crowd of modern, bulky SUVs. Almost every element of the exterior of this XJS is in great condition, with it spending most of its life in Japan it has been able to avoid any of the nasty salty road conditions that a UK car would have experienced over its lifetime.

One item that the current owners would like to mention is that they have ordered a twin headlight conversion kit to help get it through a modern MOT and to improve the overall look of the exterior.

If we stay with the front of the car, we can see that the chrome flashes along the plastic parts are in great condition and even these plastic elements are in great condition.

It is possible that this car spent its life in a garage as these plastics are still brilliantly black with no fading that can be experienced if you were to store it outside. The front lip is also in good condition, and it doesn’t look like it has ever had a brush with a curb or speed bump.

All four of the fitted alloys are in beautiful condition and wrapped with four matching tires to a great sign that it has been owned by an enthusiast. The alloys themselves show little to no curb markings and the intricate pattern looks amazing when set against the simple lines of the body.

The fabric roof that is fitted to this car is in good condition with no markings or tears. It folds away neatly behind the seats and is then hidden neatly under the provided tonneau cover.

Overall, the exterior condition of this car is excellent, there should be no nasty surprises for a new owner to find. Having been cared for in Japan for most of its life it has probably been privy to some great maintenance to keep her looking like new.

The Mechanics

This big cat is fitted with a big engine, a 5.3L V12 to be precise, this gloriously smooth engine is perfect for a game of top trumps in the pub but also to drive. It has a smooth power delivery through a four-speed automatic gearbox, this gearbox changes switches between reverse and drive with a reassuring action.

Once in drive, it shifts between gears nicely and is perfectly usable when compared to a more modern, but a lot more complicated, automatic gearbox.

With no invoices for work present, it is hard to say what works have been completed throughout the years.

However, Japanese cars are notorious for receiving extraordinarily high levels of mechanical maintenance which is probably why this example still fires up straight away.

It has recently failed an MOT, mainly for the headlight beams being incorrect. To help rectify this the current owners have ordered a twin headlamp conversion kit to rectify this problem, there are a few other advisories that you can only expect from a car that is 30 years old.

In a world of ever-diminishing internal combustion engines, this is your chance to own one of the last true Jaguars to leave the Castle Bromwich factory. It will be the perfect cruiser to get you wherever you need to go, and with this being a later version is it fitted with a high-efficiency engine meaning it will provide better fuel economy than you may first think.