On this page: 1975 - 19811982 - 19911992 - 19941995 - 1996Tuners & CustomsComments
A brief overview of the Jaguar XJ-S by Geoffrey Green, author of a forthcoming book about the model.
A V12, 2+2 coupe with flying buttresses, black rubber bumpers, alloy wheels, white walls, matt black trim, petrol injected, leather finished, the 150 mph luv machine... Hi there! Would you like to ride in my XJS… Of course it will start! Hey, where are you going?
1975 - 1981
A Jaguar made with mathematical aerodynamic study as the prevalent design factor and government safety regulations determining front and rear profiles. Sir William Lyons made minor changes to Malcolm Sayer's design. Nothing like it before and nothing like it since. The XJS becomes more beautiful as time passes combining the rounded shape of the previous jaguars and the sharp edges of the later 21st century Jaguars. Manufacturing began in 1975 as a 1976 Model Year continuing for 20 years until 1996.
Pre-H.E. XJS. 1976 to 1981 with UK lighting (no front sidemarkers)--always available as a coupe.
This first model affectingly named "preHEstoric" by David Cleary, however we call it the pre-H.E. Only available as a coupe with either a manual transmission or automatic gearbox. Soon the manual was dropped. Extremely quiet and smooth at speed the XJS is the perfect touring car.
Special variants Cannonball Edition
1982 - 1991
H.E. Coupe 1982 to 1991 US lighting.
For 1982 John Egan gave Jaguar customers what they wanted by adding wood trim to the interior, more leather everywhere, chrome trim on the bumpers and windows, better fuel mileage and increased the speed. Swiss engineer Michael May's "Fireball" combustion chamber, lean fuel mixture, high compression design increased fuel mileage by 20% along with a higher rear gear ratio, higher compression and better fuel management. This model is known as the H.E. for High Efficiency. A cabriolet became available.
H.E. Cabriolet 1986 to 1988 US lighting.
An inline 3.6 liter six cylinder with either a manual or automatic could be had. A convertible was produced bringing an end to the cabriolet model.
H.E. Convertible 1989 to 1991, continued with facelift model.
TWR Racing, not missing a beat, applied their winning Touring Car fame to an XJS street car for the owner who wanted a faster firmer XJS. You could pick from a menu or have it all in any XJS available including your car, 6 or 12 cylinder. This lead to the partnership with Jaguar on the XJR-S.
JDHT cars, front to back: TWR Group A, preHE, last convertible, Daimler Coupe, last V12 coupe.
Special variants H&E, Celebration, Le Mans, Collection Rouge, Collection Classic, XJR-S
1992 - 1994
In 1992 a complete reworking of the car became the Facelift model. Different lights, most noticeably the rear, a new grill design, a change to the rear quarter windows, elimination of door vent windows and a round fuel filler door on the coupe. The interior received new round instruments with wood surround and color keyed dash. The six cylinder was increased to 4.0 liters. The V12 was soon increased to 6.0 liters.
Special variants XJR-S, Insignia
1995 - 1996
New Convertible 1995 to 1996 US lighting
Lastly in 1995 the New XJS model completed the line with body colored front and rear bumper covers and 16 inch alloy wheels. Manufacturing ended in 1996 with 115,413 produced.
Special variants Insignia, Celebration
Tuners and Customs
Over the years many Tuners, Customizers and Conversion companies have modified the XJS to make it look better, go faster and have more room inside. Some of these include: Lynx Eventor, Turbo and Convertible, Lister and Lister Le Mans, PBB Monaco, TWR (of course), Appleyard Special edition, Guy Salmon Special Edition, HandsHyper, Koenig, Arden, Hess & Eisenhardt for Jaguar Cars Inc.
An XJS won the North American Trans-AM manufacturers title in 1978 and the Group A manufacturers title in the European Touring Car Championship in 1984.
One event an XJS set the record for was the Cannonball Run. A non-stop (except for gas) crossing of the US from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Coast run five times. In April 1979 Dave Heinz and Dave Yarborough won in 32 hours and 51 minutes (about 87 mph) beating many models of exotic and modified cars and trucks, a record that still stands. Giving rise to the Cannonball Edition.
Last two XJSs.
End of the line.
You may leave a comment or question about this article:
2007-10-10 21:04:41 | Anonymous writes:
Why do all the pics. I see of a Cabriolet, show it as a full convertible? Mine isn't. It has two removable panel above the driver/passenger, a centre "roll bar" and a drop down canvas rear portion.
2007-11-04 21:22:14 | Bob writes:
The smoothest car. A head turner thru all the neighborhoods I drive. 94 XJS Convetrible Oyster with Brown top... I consider the color gold/champagne with Brown top
2008-05-25 01:00:52 | Clive Collins writes:
The picture of the "Cabriolet" is actually an H&E conversion car not a cab. You can easily spot an H&E car because it is a modified cabriolet and has quarter lights in the front door glass. The later factory convertibles had one piece door glass. BTW The cabriolets were made by Tickford of England converted from a standard coupe.
2008-07-08 06:42:34 | simon cooksey writes:
Hi everyone, I have been looking to buy an XJ-S and have been offered an 'insignia' model. Can someone fill me in on more detail exactly what this model was? Thanks Si. This will be the second XJ-S I will have owned, already having a 1980 white early rubber bumper model. My daily driver is a V8 XJR, so I love my Jags. Cheers Guys
2008-09-05 17:27:03 | bleasie writes:
To Clive,
Only about 150 of the 5014 Cabriolets were made by Tickford.
They were taking too long to Complete in some cases over a year between Trim date & Comp date.
so Jaguar started to do them in House.
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