2023-03-01 11:52:05 | pauls writes:

Car offered at:

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1990-jaguar-xj-s-v12-convertible-gNKLan

Seller's description:

1990 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Convertible

Colour Solent Blue

Odometer 64,420 Miles

Engine size 5343

Seller Type Trade

Town Horsham

Location Sussex

Country United Kingdom

● Superb condition with 16 Service stamps, mostly Jaguar Main Dealer

● Just two owners since 1992

● Only four miles since last full service

● MoT valid until January 2024

● First registered August 1990

● Sold by Julians of Reading Ltd, delivered on 2nd August 1990 

● Bought by the second owner in 1992, and kept until sold in 2015

● Last private owner purchased from Bridge Classics of Ipswich in 2015

● Mileage upon purchase in 2015 was 63,300

● Owned to 2023 and covering a mere 1,120 miles

● Service book with 16 stamps, mostly Jaguar Main Dealer

● Last full service by Auto Team of Horsham just four miles ago (£967)

● MoT valid until January 2024 

● Interior work including new wood trim, door panels repaired and new rear seat (£2,340)

● New grille (£246)

● Wheels refurbished (£738)

● New battery (£199)

● V5c in last private owners name

● Full Owner’s pack in Jaguar leather wallet

The Interior

● Excellent magnolia leather and blue interior

● New rear seat and woodwork

● Blue mohair hood with no damage works perfectly

The colour combination of Magnolia leather with blue piping and blue carpets looks just stunning. The leather is in superb condition throughout with barely a mark or crease to be found. The rear seat was handmade by Trimmania in 2015 and is in perfect condition. The carpets are clean, again with no worn areas or marks. 

The Walnut dash is excellent having been replaced in 2015. The gauges and instruments clean and undamaged, and the switches and buttons are fresh and have not succumbed to “sticky button syndrome”. The gauges are functioning correctly, and there were no warning lights showing. 

The roof erects and stows neatly with a good tight fit when up, and folds neatly to be covered beneath a well fitting blue hood cover when down. The rear window is free of scratches or misting.

The boot area is immaculately clean, with smart blue carpet and the spare wheel properly stowed under its bespoke cover. Under the carpet the boot floor is dry with no significant corrosion.

Overall it is hard to find fault with the interior; it is hard to believe you are sitting in a 40 year old car!

The Exterior 

● Solent Blue paintwork in great condition

● All glass and lenses in excellent condition with no chips

● Excellent chrome parts and black trim with no fading

Looking around the exterior there are a few minor stone chips around the nose as you might expect, but in general the Solent Blue paintwork is extremely good. Looking along the flanks reveals a mirror like finish with no dings or dents. 

The polished parts all have a good shine and the bumpers are straight with no scuffs to the black plastic parts even on the corners. The grille was replaced in 2016. The lights and lenses, including the vulnerable low mounted driving lamps, are all in good condition.

The wheels were refurbished in 2016 and remain in superb order, with lightly worn Pirelli P600 tyres on all four. 

The Mechanics

● Superb Jaguar V12 serviced just 4 miles ago

● Impressively clean and tidy engine bay

● Tidy underside with only light surface corrosion of steel parts

Looking at the Service history reveals the Jaguar was cared for by Reg Vardy Jaguar in Aberdeen from new until 1999 at just over 50,000 miles. With services annually, sometimes twice a year, the mileage increased to 63,300 when the Jaguar was bought by its third owner. More recent expense was a new battery in 2021, and two further services, the last being in December 2021. 

This included oil and filters, plus new plugs, HT leads and distributor cap. The Jaguar has covered just 4 miles since then. It drives beautifully with barely noticeable gear changes and plenty of power, and ticks over with barely a murmur, maintaining steady oil pressure.

Looking under the bonnet reveals a tidy and completely “as built” V12 engine filling the engine bay. Although complicated to look at the V12 are regarded as solid and reliable, and relatively easy to maintain (by modern standards!)