1989 Jaguar XJ-S Convertible

With just two former keepers and only 25,000 miles on the odometer, this Jaguar XJ-S comes with an advisory-free MoT and an impressive stack of invoices for servicing and maintenance.

The XJ-S’s first owner was none other than around-the-world yachtsman Serge Paris, who obviously spent a great deal of his time at sea, which helps explain the low mileage.

Its second owner bought it from the 2014 Bonhams' Beaulieu Sale. Something of a Jaguar collector, he asked Classic Motor Cars Ltd to give it the onceover, which resulted in a bill for £6,000.

1) Of course, nothing is free and the price you pay is turning a blind eye to the fact that advertising departments now insist that, just like primary school children, everyone must be given a prize and no-one is ever told off. Not even BMW for the X6.

He kept it stored with Smallman Hall of Bridgnorth and only drove it for a thousand miles or so. Despite this sparing use, he still managed to run up another £6,000-bill with Jaguar Coventry.

Our seller bought it in 2020 and has maintained that same tradition, covering around the same mileage and spending another couple of grand on keeping it running perfectly.

Finished in Solent Blue with a cream leather interior, ‘F493 OPC’ is one of the best examples we can recall seeing, making it one for the enthusiast who simply refuses to settle for second-best.

One of the many advantages of buying an unrestored car is that you get to enjoy factory-quality paint and alignment – for good and bad.

In this case it’s all good; Jaguar had had a decade and a half to get its eye in by the time it built this one and it shows: Admire the shutlines, which are as tight and consistent as any we’ve seen on the model; admire too the ripple- and dink-free flanks that have retained their factory pinstripes, the result of fastidious curation and carefully-chosen parking spots; and take note of the lack of scuffs and scrapes on the XJ-S’s extremities like the four bumper corners and the door mirror caps.

Feast your eyes too on the wonderful sheen of the Solent Blue paintwork, which is free of the runs, peeling lacquer, overspray, and other nasties you’ll find on examples that have been cheaply tarted-up for sale.

It’s nice to see the original oblong Cibie headlamps too, an increasingly rare sight now supplies are drying up. Luckily, these are in good shape too with no chips, cracks, or other damage.

The rear lamps are genuine Lucas units, and the rest of the lamp lenses are in the same fine condition, including the fastening screws, which are bright and free of rust, something that doesn’t happen by chance.

Nor do perfectly aligned exhaust tailpipes, blemish-free headlamps wipers, and brightwork that is shiny and straight without a hint of rust, pitting, or tarnishing.

The black folding roof rises and falls smoothly at the press of a button. Up, it fits snugly and gives pretty much the same weatherproofing as the tin-tip Coupé, and a glass rear window helps extend the XJ-S’s usability to all four seasons.

But the Jaguar comes into its own with the roof down; tuck it beneath the (very good) cover and the side profile is every bit as elegant as you’d expect. Sights, sounds, and smells are magnified, and you’ll draw nothing but admiring glances from a public that’s never fallen out of love with the XJ-S.

Its condition is also excellent: Peer as closely as you like and all you’ll find is mm-perfect contrast stitching and taut virtually-unmarked material. The headlining is clean and undamaged too, and what little of the frame is visible is free of peeling paint and rust.

As for the 15-inch lattice alloy wheels, which are completely free of scuffs, scrapes, and other kerbing damage, the only issue we can see is the odd spot of alloy corrosion beneath the silver paint.

They’re also fitted with matching 235/60R15 Pirelli P600 tyres, which have good tread left on them even if they do date back to 2013.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

Flaws are few and minor: We spotted a couple of small stonechips on the bonnet plus a chip on the trailing edge of the passenger door. The rear wing has a couple more chips near the taillight, the sills have quite few small chips and marks, and the boot lid has a short scratch to the right of the ‘V12’ badge.

This leaves the dent in the driver’s door as the only significant blemish along with, perhaps, the tarnished black triangle that sits behind the nearside door mirror.

The interior is every bit as well preserved as the coachwork but then it has seen fewer than a thousand a miles a year of use – and even that has been in the hands of just three careful owners.

This means the seats show nothing more than a light patina of creases; still firm and very comfortable, they look the part but could probably be further improved by professional deep-clean followed by a feed.

That is if you can be bothered to do even that because they still look great and sit well against the impressively-preserved burr walnut veneer that’s been used extensively throughout the cabin and hosts vividly labelled switches that still operate with a crisp precision.

The four minor instruments in the main binnacle, which is a textured black rather than wood veneer, are the old-style vertical ones, which is lovely to see; after all, if you’re going to drive a classic sportscar then you want the full experience, right?

Other notable features include good brushes either side of the gear lever, shiny chrome controls, heated and electrically adjustable seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, and the original removable radio-cassette player.

The useful storage cubby behind the seats is lockable and lined with carpet. Other storage space, something that’s even more important in a grand touring car than it is normally, includes a flat carpeted surface behind the seats, a lockable glovebox, a small compartment under the central armrest, door pockets, and a good-sized boot.

The latter is as well-trimmed as the cabin, and hosts a full-size spare wheel, another feature you won’t appreciate until you’ve been stranded waiting for the AA because the manufacturer has saved money by not installing one…

That spare wheel and tyre also matches those fitted to the car in both style and the make of tyre. The XJ-S also comes with a battery trickle charger.

As for work to do, lifting the (very good) carpets reveals a light smattering of surface rust. It appears to be both minor and limited in scope for the time being, so it would be as well to get it treated before it gets any worse.

The only other significant flaws are a crack in the front face of the instrument binnacle, plus another in the trim above the radio. That appears to be the extent of the issues though because everything else is in good shape and works as it should.

The seller asked Townsend Motors, his local garage and a place with a soft spot for an older Jaguar, to service it in October 2022. This work, which also included new sparkplugs, front brake pads, camshaft cover seals and gaskets, manifold gaskets, and an oil pressure switch, set him back £1,858

Other recent work includes new steering rack bushes on the 29th of August 2023, new headlamp adjusters on the 26th of August 2021, extensive brake and other work on the 6th of September 2019 at a cost of more than £6,000 with Jaguar Coventry.

Another £6,000 was spent on fettling by Classic Motor Cars Ltd in 2014. This included mechanical work and rustproofing; please see the attached invoice for details.

There is also a letter on file from Serge Paris, a previous owner, confirming that it has “been serviced on a regular basis by Jason Mann, who previously worked for HA Fox Jaguar in Guildford”.

It is probably fair to say that this is a true money-no-object example.

As you can see, the big V12 engine starts with a barely perceptible roar and settles into an even less perceptible purr. It revs with surprising alacrity and does it all without triggering any warning lights or making any odd noises.

While most folk would be happy to leave the engine bay as it is, some might be tempted to treat it to a new coolant tank to replace the yellowing original followed by a professional valet to bring it up to the same high standard as everywhere else.

Peering underneath reveals the presence of a genuine Jaguar exhaust system. Of course, as you’ll already have spotted, no MoT tester has ever felt the need to mention structural corrosion, and the underseal is both fresh and neatly applied.

Which means the only job for the new owner is to wire brush before painting some of the steel brackets.

The Jaguar’s MoT certificate, which is valid until March 2027, was issued with no advisories, just like the previous one.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes the Jaguar book pack, old MoT certificates, expired tax discs, and some invoices for repairs and maintenance.

Ask a classic car enthusiast to picture their ideal XJ-S and most would conjure up a convertible finished in a discreet metallic colour, probably trimmed with leather in a timeless colour, and preferably sporting a good history with only a few owners and a modest mileage.

Many would expect a good MoT history too, while those in the know would add smaller details like matching tyres, O/E headlamps, and working puddle lights.

With nothing but ticks on that long list of desirable traits, we suspect this XJ-S will fetch between £16,000 and £21,000, which won’t make it the cheapest example to go under the hammer this year, but it might just make it the best value.

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’.