2013-03-10 12:18:10 | XJS Data writes:

The record was updated:

2007-04-12 02:52:37 | Jagman writes:

65,000 MILES
ON EBAY 04/07 CONVERSION CAR
SELLER WRITES:

ORIGINAL owner has confirmed HE BOUGHT CAR AS COUPE conversion was done afterMARKET
this is an exceptional conversion

SEE additional info INCLUDING VIDEO


JAG expert XJS converts

jag-lovers.org his book as Adobe.PDF

w/ VIN legend

NOT 1 of 2000 Hess & Eisenhardt, precedes them VIN verifies 85 Model YR, my be the prototype not know 2 exist...

1985 by VIN code V12 XJS convertible NOT cabriolet

does not techically EXIST
shouldn't B a Hess & Eisenhardt 2000 produced since contract 11/86 til factory 1990 XJS appeared

MAY B the prototype has single gas tank

























orginal photograph of paint on coupe (not this car)

NOT precedes HESS & EISENHARDT CONVERTIBLE: The XJ S was designed in an era that never expected to see a convertible again; they were expected to be outlawed for safety reasons. For many years, the only way to get an XJ S convertible was to hire one of many aftermarket customizing outfits to cut the roof off your coupe. By the mid-80's the expected ban on convertibles had failed to materialize and convertibles were making a comeback, so Jaguar responded by contracting with Hess & Eisenhardt in Cincinnati, Ohio to make convertibles from coupes to be sold as new cars at the Jaguar dealerships. After two years, the response had been so good that Jaguar began making its own convertibles at the factory, and continued until the end of XJ S production. Mike Cogswell elaborates: "The H&E's were built in '87 and '88 (my '88 is one of the last, possibly the last). The H&E is easily spotted by:
1. The small oval Hess & Eisenhardt badge on each side behind the front wheel well.
2. The top folds down flat, the later factory convertible tops are pretty high when folded.
3. The H&E has four window rocker switches. Early ones are separate, later ones in a single gang of four.
4. The factory convertible has a small, ugly hump in the sheet metal on the side right behind the doors. This covers the tops of the rear quarter windows, which don't fully retract. "There are many other differences, but those are some of the most obvious." David Johnson adds, "The top also looks better than the regular convertible because it is fabric, not a plastic." This may be true for only some of the H&E tops, though. Another owner says, "I figure they had the tops made in California by Robbins." Supposedly the building the H&E's were made in burned down, but H&E is still in business making limousines and other things. Of course, the nickname H&E is only too likely to cause confusion with the H.E. used to describe the V12 engine with the Michael May-designed heads. If you own an H&E or would like to know more about them, Johnson is the guy to talk to. He operates an e-mail discussion list dedicated to the H&E and serves as a clearinghouse for available information. His phone number is +1 303-708-1850, you can send him e-mail at david@davemjohnson.com, or you can visit his web site at www.davemjohnson.com/jaguar1/jaguar.htm.
The cars potential started to show in 1983 when a less-expensive, less-complicated version was introduced, powered by a 3.6L six-cylinder engine. This engine was added alongside the exotic 5.3L V-12, which had been the sole powerplant offering the previous eight years. To make things even better, a cabriolet version was also introduced in 83. Not a full convertible, it was more a targa-type model with a removable roof and fixed rollbar.
Previously, several aftermarket companies had produced ragtop versions of the XJ-S, but Jaguar itself didnt muster the wherewithal to introduce a factory full convertiblecomplete with a power-operated hooduntil 1988. Finally the XJ-S had become a car worthy of being perceived as a classic Jaguar. Slightly a year after the XJ-S convertible appeared, Jaguar was placed on the market: The small company found it impossible to survive as an independent. GM showed interest in buying the iconic marque, but in the end Ford grabbed the cherished Coventry company.
Buying An XJ-S
If youre in the market for an XJ-S, look for the most recent model you can find. Newer cars are much better (unlike E-Types, where earlier models are more desirable). Shop around and look for an XJ-S with a full service history that shows its been well maintained. Although the six-cylinder models are less expensive to maintain or repair, they do not provide the same svelte character thats bestowed by the 12-cylinder engine. According to long-time Jaguar technicians, the 12-cylinder engine is basically very strong and will last a long time providing it has been correctly maintained. Routine maintenance is the key to success with any XJ-S.
XJ-S Chronology
1975: GT Coupe V-12 5.3L launched September
1981: HE Coupe V-12 5.3L launched July
1983: 3.6L Coupe launched October
1983: XJ-SC 3.6L Cabriolet launched October
1985: SC HE V-12 5.3L Cabriolet launched July
1986: HE V-12 5.3L Convertible by Hess & Eisenhardt
launched November
1987: 3.6L Coupe Sportspack launched September
1988: V-12 5.3L Convertible launched April
1988: XJR-S 5.3L Coupe, Le Mans Special launched August
1989: V-12 5.3L Collection Rouge launched June
1989: XJR-S 6.0L V-12 launched August, Ford takeover
1990: V-12 5.3L Coupe Le Mans special edition introduced September
1991: Restyled range, 4.0L six introduced
1992: 4.0L Convertible launched May
1993: V-12 6.0L launched May
1994: AJ16 4.0L six fitted June
1996: XJ-S withdrawn from sale


The 1980s The 1981 XJ-S received the new High-Efficiency engine for much better economy. The XJ-S was also now the fastest automatic-transmission car in the world at 155 mph. In 1982, the new V12 XJ-S won first and second at the Tourist Trophy race at Silverstone. In 1983 a new cabriolet version dbuted with a new 3.6-litre Jaguar AJ6 engine, the XJ-SC. In the XJ-SC, the rear jump seats were eliminated making it only a 2-seat car. The XJ-SC was not a full convertable but had a non-removable center targa-type structure and fixed cant rails above the doors. The rear quarter windows remained as well. With the introduction of the AJ6 engine in the XJS chassis came the availability of a 5-speed manual transmission for the 6 cylinder cars. This model with a Getrag manual transmission was not imported by Jaguar into the United states until 1994 (and then only in extremely limited numbers). A limited number of earlier 5-speed AJ6 cars did enter the US as grey market personal imports however. A V12 XJ-SC did not emerge until 1985. The two-seat XJ-SC targa-type model was replaced with a two-seat full convertible in 1988. Prior to that there was a special full convertable version called a Hess & Eisenhardt XJS offered through dealers starting in 1986. The Hess & Eisenhardt coachbuilding firm was located in Ohio and built approximately 2100 of these cars under contract from Jaguar before the official Jaguar built XJS convertible appeared in 1988 to be offered as a 1989 model. The Hess & Eisenhardt convertible differed from the later Jaguar convertible XJS as its unpadded top folded down deeper into the body structure of the car resulting in a cleaner rear profile when the roof was lowered. The later Jaguar full convertible had a heavier padded top that did not fold into as small of a bundle when in the lowered position. In 1984 Tom Walkinshaws TWR team captured the Group A title in the European Touring Car Championship with their version of a racing Jaguar XJS. In 1985, XJS drivers John Goss and Armin Hahne won the James Hardie Bathurst 1000 motor race in Australia. In 1988 and 1989, a special XJR-S version of the V12 5.3 litre car was produced by TWR to celebrate Jaguar's win at Le Mans. A numbered limited edition of 100 of these cars were made for European sale only. This car had a distinctive TWR-fitted body kit, special alloy wheels and suspension and handling improvements. Between 1988 and 1989 a total of 350 XJR-s cars were produced with the 5.3-litre engine. After September 1989 the change was made to a special 6.0-litre engine with a Zytec engine management system. This was different from the standard 6.0-litre engine used in the late XJS models

2013-03-10 09:47:23 | pauls writes:

Car returns to ebay 3/10/13
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JAGUAR-XJS-CPE-/330882698795
Current bid $1,025 reserve not met, 9 bids 1 day left in auction. Car now said to be in Irvine, California.

Sellers description:
DRIVE IT or refresh it. Good either way. Needs a radiator(have one available, not installed),lights/signals work, gauges work, heater,radio, lighter all work, windows work, top works,windshield wiper motor not working, seats need restiching otherwise good, . tires could be replaced, still good .Purchased vehicle just as it appears in as is condition (converted to a convertible already) stock everything else. Not driven in a few years but engine startups 4 times a month. When driven, it drove well, front end tight but could use shocks.