2001 Jaguar XJR 100

Finished in the wonderfully menacing Anthracite Black with a Charcoal leather interior, this 2001 specimen is one of only 500 XJR100 cars built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Sir William Lyons’ birth.

In addition to the colour scheme you see here, the XJR100 also features red contrast stitching to the hide interior, birdseye maple veneer trim, a leather-covered steering wheel and Momo gear knob, plus upgraded Brembo brakes snugged inside 19-inch BBS Montreal alloy wheels.

Believed to be one of just 89 for the UK and Ireland market and one of only two in Ireland, it was first registered in the UK and is still showing just 73,000 miles on the clock.

The owner is a long-time Jaguar fan and tells us he’s heartbroken to be selling it, something that a downsized garage is forcing.

Colours like this are the most unforgiving of all, highlighting every single imperfection more ruthlessly than Simon Cowell with a hangover.

And yet, as appears from the images, few shades are more flattering when the panels are as good; with straight flanks and tight, consistent shutlines, this XJR shines in every sense of the word.

The Anthracite Black paintwork appears good and it gives the Jaguar a low-key menace to back up its staggering performance while still being discreet enough for you to be able to take your dear mum out for Sunday lunch without frightening the old girl.

The chromework might be limited but what there is appears very good – and don’t you just love the two huge chrome tailpipes peeking out from under the rear bumper?

The metal sunroof, which slides fore and aft at the touch of a button, is excellent, sealing tightly and operating as it should.

The BBS alloy wheels are in a fine condition with no signs of kerbing or other damage thanks to having been recently refurbished. Even better news comes with the realisation that they’re shod with matching Pirelli P-Zero tyres, all of which are new.

We will never get tired of telling you 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. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Flaws? Well, apart from the usual small stonechips and scratches every car collects along the way, a few of the bolts on the alloy wheels are rusty (i.e. #6 and #9), there are two chips in the windscreen (#134), there’s a small dink in the door frame (#77), some peeling lacquer on the bonnet (#130) and missing paint (#211), some corrosion starting to break out (#206), a scratch on the offside front wing (#229), and an indentation on the nearside front wing (#92).

The black leather seats, with their distinctive red stitching, appear in fine fettle and have only gained light cracking in the 21 years they’ve been fitted.

The rear seats are heated, just like those up front, and they have sunblinds fitted behind them too, which means all four seasons can be taken care of.

The sill plates, confirming the car’s status as one of the limited-edition XJR 100 models, are present and correct, as are the Momo gear knob and leather-rimmed steering wheel, both of which have the same red contrast stitching as the seats and door cards. There’s also a decal on the veneer above the glovebox.

The headlining is clean, and the door cards and carpets are all good, as is the birdseye maple veneer.

There’s a period Jaguar-branded Motorola car phone in the centre armrest. It works too, accepting the PIN so if you’re handy with that kind of thing you might even be able to coax into making a call.

The boot is as clean as it is capacious, and it’s home to a space-saver spare wheel, warning triangle, and first-aid kit.

Work that needs doing is minimal. The centre seam on the base of the driver’s seat is easing open (#53), there are some marks on the front passenger seat (#112), the offside front speaker grille is cracked (#110), and the rear of the headlining is coming loose (#118 and #176), a very common issue for Jaguars of this era.

If it were ours, we’d sort the headlining and not worry too much about the rest.

As you can see, it starts beautifully and ticks over as it should. We obviously haven’t been able to drive it as it’s in Dublin but the vendor reports that it drives well, and is “very, very fast” and “an absolute sweety”.

The engine bay is very clean and a credit to those who’ve been looking after it over the years.

The Jaguar’s NCT certificate (the Irish equivalent of the UK MoT) is valid until the 18th of November 2022 but the vendor says he’ll be putting a new one on it.

First registered in the United Kingdom with the registration number EO51 ZXR, the DVSA’s online MoT history does show one MoT having taken place here in 2005, so if you wanted to bring it back, re-registering it should be straightforward.

The Jaguar comes with one key and the book pack plus a couple of historic servicing invoices.

NB: It is registered as a Cat D insurance write-off, something the owner is at a loss to explain as he purchased the car after the incident occurred.

The seller is in Dublin should you want to take a look before bidding, and he’s a lovely chap and would, no doubt, do all he can to make your flying visit as painless as possible.

As for the car itself, it’s a slice of supercharged British history and the sort of thing we’ll probably never see offered again thanks to the ever-strident demands of modern emissions regulations.

In a good condition but with room for improvement should the new owner want to maximize its investment potential, we estimate it’s going to fetch somewhere between €10,000 and €15,000, and it's No Reserve!.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the seller, Ireland to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.