2024-06-29 20:04:19 | pauls writes:

Car offered at:

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1991-jaguar-xj-s-convertible-11000-miles-g2KJmn

Auction description:

1991 Jaguar XJS

Colour Blue

Odometer 11,816 Miles

Engine size 5300

Seller Type Trade

Wandsworth, London, United Kingdom

All-original specification

Outstanding condition throughout

Comprehensive history to confirm mileage

New MOT

Ice-cold air-con

The History and Paperwork

V5

New MOT

Original books and manuals

Sheaf of shaken documents

Itemised record of kilometrage, and original km/h speedo

The Condition

All-original specification

Adriatic Blue paint with burgundy leather

Supremely impressive condition throughout

It’s fabulous, frankly, from top to bottom. The more you scrutinise the details, the better it gets – even the screwheads in the light clusters and A-pillars look brand new. The Adriatic Blue paint is a superb choice that really sparkles in the sun, and as far as we know that’s all the original paint complemented by the original side-stripe stickers (which haven’t faded, peeled or degraded over the years).

Gaps are all nice and even. The doors and boot close with a pleasing thunk, the window glass is all good, and the alloy wheels are in really super condition. The only cosmetic blemish of note is a very minor ding in the paint on the passenger-side front wing.

The soft-top is easy to raise, affix and lower, and it’s in very good condition inside and out.

The interior is something really special. Although this is a 1991 car, it doesn’t have the 1991 model-year facelift changes, which means that it has the (much cooler!) earlier barrel dials. The deep red colour of the leather is a seldom-seen spec choice, and it looks absolutely terrific – and it’s all in lovely condition, with no obvious wear.

The wood trim is also extremely tidy, and even the action of the seatbelts feels new and unworn. The car is fitted with air-conditioning, which has just been re-gassed and is in great working order. Honestly, it’s almost surreal how good it all is. Truly the nicest unrestored XJ-S we’ve seen in some time.

The Mechanics

5.3-litre HE V12

ZF automatic transmission

As you might imagine given the mileage, the mechanical side of this car is highly impressive.

That creamy-smooth V12 fires readily on the first twist of the key, settling into an even and quiet idle. Once up to temperature, the gauges register the correct temps and pressures, and the engine pulls the car on an impressive tide of torque – the acceleration isn’t hysterical but insistent, just as it should be, and the slick auto ’box shifts smoothly as you’d expect.

The car rides very well on its suspension and the brakes are appropriately strong. And what’s really impressive is the refinement and the quietness… you might expect a 33-year-old Jag to have developed a few creaks and rattles over the years, but there’s none of that here. It all feels super fresh and very composed.