1977 Jaguar XJC 4.2

Repainted in its original colour of Signal Red at vast expense in 2023, this Jaguar XJC further benefits from considerable further mechanical work this year.

It is unusual in having left the factory with a cloth interior. Of course, most of you will already be aware that this was always the seat covering of choice for wealthy individuals, something that only changed relatively recently.

All-in-all, the seller has invested a solid five-figure sum in the past three years, a sum he knows he won’t get back but as a hopeless romantic he couldn’t bear to see the Jaguar languish unnecessarily.

The respray in Signal Red, which cost him more than £3,000, was completed with hand-painted Antelope Beige pinstripes, an unnecessary expense but one that illustrates his determination to do things properly.

The invoices for both are online but the real question is: How does it look?

The answer, as you can see, is magnificent.

The XJC is an unusually attractive member of the stable – and, let’s face it, Jaguars of this period are unusually attractive anyway – but the shiny red paintwork and contrasting pinstripes set this one in a class of its own; the XJC is going to make an impact wherever it goes, so you might as well go all-in and buy one in a suitably sporting colour.

And if you’re going to be driving a seventies bruiser then you’re going to want a black vinyl roof, and this one is in great shape with no loose seams, damage, or significant bubbles.

The chromework sits well against the (very impressive) coachwork, and the shutlines are as tight and consistent as we’ve seen on a 1970’s British car.

The light lenses are bright and almost completely free of chips and cracks – the offside reversing light is damaged but that’s your lot – and they’re held in place with shiny fasteners.

Another sign of above-average curation comes from the presence of a sticker in the rear window for the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, which is never a bad thing.

The rear numberplate is also the right size, which might seem too obvious to mention but you’d be amazed how many people decide to save a few pounds by bolting a standard-sized one on. Bonus points too for taking the care to add the legend “Page of Epsom”, the name of the supplying dealer back in 1976, at the bottom.

Sometimes the smallest details speak the loudest, don’t they?

The tyres are Pirelli P5 from 2019 on the rear axle, and Radar Dimax Classic from 2022 on the front. All are 205/70R15 and all have good tread.

As for flaws, the wheels and chrome bumpers have started to pit and tarnish, and the bonnet, offside rear wing, and nearside front wing have stonechips. The bottom of the driver’s door sits a bit proud too, and the nearside door and rear wing have small dents in them.

More urgent is the bubbling around the offside outer headlamp and offside front wheelarch, which will obviously need attention sooner rather than later.

The cloth interior offers many advantages over the more common hide, not least that it is warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and grippier around the corners. It’s generally nicer to the touch and is, of course, vegan-friendly.

(Jaguar Land Rover have offered a ‘vegan leather’ option for years, which seems like it would offer the worst of all worlds…)

The cabin is in great shape with the only serious issues – and we use that word in its loosest possible sense – being faded front headrests, a disconnected rear speaker (it’s in the boot), and a developing patina to the instrument bezels and some of the veneer.

The rest is very good, and the combination of black trim with a burr walnut dashboard and an amber steering wheel badge makes for an elegant, understated palette; while the exterior might be somewhat extrovert, the interior is a model of good manners and breeding.

It’s a compelling combination and we can’t help but acknowledge the first owner’s good taste.

And that of subsequent owners in maintaining it so well and restoring it with a suitably light touch; while the headrests have faded and are significantly lighter than the (very well) trimmed seats, we assume that they’re the originals, which is a nice touch.

The seats are still plump and comfortable too, and easing the front seats forward reveals even better back seats. All have seatbelts.

The vinyl ‘n’ velour door cards and rear quarter trims are also virtually unmarked, and as for headlining, the seller changed it for a new black one to further reinforce the car’s cocoon-like feel. Obviously, it is still taut and undamaged.

The radio is a period-appropriate twin-spindle Pioneer radio-cassette player, and it sits within a dashboard whose switches and controls are still nicely labelled.

(Well, the label for the offside vent is wonky, but we all know it probably left the factory like that.)

Lifting the (slightly worn) carpets reveals a solid floor with only light surface rust. The boot carpet is a bit more worn but still usable, and lifting the full-size spare steel wheel out reveals a solid boot floor underneath.

Stanton Motorsports overhauled the cylinder head and much more in August 2026. The bill, which is online, is in two parts – but set aside a few moments to read it because there is a lot to take in…

In fact, the history file is unusually complete comprising dozens of invoices and bills going back as far as 1988 plus expired MoT certificates, a V5C Registration Certificate, a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate, two service history booklets, and even a list of the fuel that was consumed in 1993 and 1994.

Of course, the engine starts well, thanks in part to the presence of a manual choke rather than the factory-fitted automatic device, which may or may not get the job done properly.

The idle is a bit shaky but it smooths out nicely under load. We suspect it would benefit from a damned good thrashing to help things bed in, not least because our test drive went very well otherwise.

And it does steer and ride beautifully, something the seller appreciated: “My mate’s got a Citroën DS23 and while that is a bit smoother, this rides better than anything else I’ve ever driven. You only need to use your thumb and forefinger to steer it too, leaving your other arm free to just sit in your lap or hang out of the window.”

The side profile is at its very best with the windows rolled down to show off the car’s iconic pillarless design, something the seller points out also makes it a bit quieter: Jaguar’s design studio was so forward-thinking it was a few years ahead of the folk charged with manufacturing the rubber window seals…

We noticed noise from the power-steering pump if we turned the wheel at a standstill but it is otherwise silent. The oil pressure is good and while the voltmeter is a bit slow, it gets there in the end.

The engine bay is in a decent condition, albeit with some grime and red overspray on the exhaust heatshield: It’s clear the money has been spent on the bodywork and engine, which is how it should be.

The underside also has some overspray, including to the exhaust. The underseal is also flaking away in places to reveal corrosion. Oh, and the presence of Koni dampers at the rear would help explain its sublime ride and handling.

A few spares are included: Please see the photos for details.

Having left the factory on the 29th of October 1976 – in case you were wondering, Mississippi by Pussycat was number one in the UK charts – Page Motors of Epsom sold it to the first of its five owners.

The owner bought it in 2022, with the previous owner having had it since 1995; our seller believes it had lain unused since then and had been admiring it for years until a friend of his persuaded the owner to sell it.

The Jaguar does not have an MoT certificate, and the recent Vehicle History Check is completely clear.

The best cars invariably come from the nicest people, and the seller is one of the loveliest we’ve met in a long time: A serial classic car owner – he’s also got a gorgeous orange Fiat X1/9 – he understands that sometimes you’ve got to spend money, sometimes a LOT of money, even though you know you’ll never get it back.

In all, he estimates the XJC owes him about twice our upper estimate of £18,000 – and given it might fetch a little bit less than that if the wind is against him, he’s going to take a helluva hit.

Which is bad news for him but great news if you’re in the market for a well-sorted XJC; finished in what might be our new favourite colour scheme and boasting significant mechanical work that’s so new it’s still being run-in, we predict it’s going to make someone very happy indeed.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £15,000 - £18,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.