1996 Jaguar XJS Celebration Convertible

This 1996 Jaguar XJS Celebration has low mileage and has been owned by the current owner for 20 years. It has been in storage for the past few years and is now being sold by the vendor on the owner's behalf, with written authorisation confirming the sale.

The car is well known within the Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club (JEC) and represents one of the final iterations of the XJS model. Recently, it has undergone mechanical recommissioning to ensure it is roadworthy. It has successfully passed an MoT test, with the only advisories noting that the four tyres show signs of perishing due to storage.

This example presents a rare opportunity to acquire a late-model XJS Celebration with low mileage and recent maintenance, requiring only some cosmetic attention to be ready for regular use.

The iconic XJS convertible's smooth lines are in good order, with no noticeable dings or dents, and the panel gaps appear to be even and well-aligned. However, the Carnival Red paintwork has suffered from lacquer blistering and flaking in places. To restore it to its former glory, a respray would be required, though it could be enjoyed as-is with its existing patina.

At the front, the rectangular headlights and grille are in good condition. The bonnet aligns well with the wing rails, though, as mentioned, the paintwork has deteriorated.

Along the sides, the chrome trim appears to be in good condition with minimal signs of tarnishing. There are a couple of corrosion blisters on the top of the doors, as well as a scratch on the nearside front wing and the lower section of the door.

The fabric roof is generally in good condition, aside from some water stains. However, there is a fault preventing the roof from lowering, which has not yet been investigated.

At the rear, the large boot lid aligns as it should, and the dark light lenses are free from damage. As noted earlier, the boot lid and bonnet both exhibit paint blistering and lacquer peeling.

The car is fitted with its original-style chrome-finished wheels which were an optional extra when new, which are still in very good condition. However, as noted in the MoT advisories, the tyres show signs of perishing.

Inside, the Jaguar boasts an elegant combination of cream leather and sapwood trim. The leather seats are in relatively good condition, with only minor age-related wear to the piping and some creasing, in keeping with the XJS’s mileage. The rear seats appear to have seen little use over the years, though there is some packaging tape stuck to the back of one seat, possibly where the stitching has come away.

Both door cards are generally in good order, apart from the sapwood veneer trim on the driver’s side, which is broken.

The dashboard is free from any splits or cracks. The sapwood fascia has a few small splits in the lacquered finish. The instruments are said to be working correctly, and the odometer shows a reading of just 302 miles, but more of that later. All of the switchgear appears in good order with only minor signs of age. The air conditioning blows cold, though, as previously mentioned, the roof does not lower.

The carpets are in good condition in both the cabin and the boot. A set of mats is fitted in the front, and inside the boot, the spare wheel and tool bag are present.

Powered by the later AJ16 4.0-litre, 24-valve straight-six, the engine starts up without hesitation. The engine bay presents well, with only the soundproofing showing signs of age. Having recently undergone recommissioning, the Jaguar is running as it should, and with its low mileage, it should have plenty of life left in it.

The four-speed automatic gearbox shifts smoothly, and the 4.0-litre straight-six pulls strongly throughout the rev range. The suspension absorbs bumps well, with no reported knocks or bangs from any corner of the car. The brakes bring the XJS to a stop in a straight line, with no juddering reported through the pedal.

The underside of the car is relatively clean and tidy. There have been a couple of small welding repairs, which have been repainted in black stone guard to protect against the elements.

With regards to the hood being put down we noticed a hand-written note from the vendor which says "the handbrake switch was sometimes reluctant to recognise that the handbrake was on and was adjusted to resolve. When the handbrake is engaged, there should be a handbrake light illuminated on the dash. If the light doesn't come on, it usually means that the microswitch on the handbrake lever hasn't quite recognised the lever movement. Even wiggling the lever a bit might resolve it?" The commissioning agent has confirmed that the roof and windows were working prior to despatch, so it is likely that it may require adjustment of the handbrake lever switch to resolve the situation."

The Jaguar comes with both sets of keys and three immobiliser fobs, though only one appears to be working. Additionally, the remote locking fobs do not function - possibly due to dead batteries, though this has not been confirmed. The central locking, however, operates correctly via the key.

The original owner's manuals are included, along with the service book, which boasts 15 stamps up until 2020 and a current MoT is valid until 7th February 2026 - the only advisories being the condition of the tyres.

The car underwent recommissioning in November 2024 with nearly £1,000 spent - invoice is in the gallery.

The commissioning agent tells us back when the car was Mot’d in March 2020 it was noticed that the speedo wasn't recording further mileage. A new speedo was sourced and fitted by Surrey Jag Centre. The mileage is therefore as follows:

“At time of Mot: 52,790 miles
Plus 28 miles driven home and then returned to Surrey Jag Centre for speedo fitment
New speedo had 7 miles on it
I picked the car up and had it transported to my place at 290 miles.
I drove about 10 miles as part of the recommissioning
When I had the car MoT'd a few weeks ago, it then had 300 miles on speedo
Speedo now reads as 302

Total is therefore: 53,103.”

A fantastic opportunity to own a great 2+2 cruiser, just in time for summer. While there are some cosmetic issues to address, along with the roof the requires repair, they do not impact the car’s mechanical integrity, as it has been recommissioned and put through an MoT, with only slightly perished tyres noted as an advisory.

For those willing to tackle these issues, this represents an excellent opportunity to acquire one of the final-run XJS Celebration models with low mileage and recent maintenance. We estimate that this desirable example could be acquired for between £7,000 - £12,000 - a potential bargain for such a sought-after classic.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays 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’.