2005 Jaguar XJR V8 S/C Auto

We like a Jaguar XJR, we really do.

Across all of its various model iterations, there was really nothing else like it on the road.

To the untutored eye, it looked pretty much like a normal, run-of-the-mill XJ; that’s to say it looked sleek, elegant, classy and possessed of all the grace, space and pace that Sir William Lyons originally intended for his firm’s flagship saloon. 

But to the cognoscenti, those who’d spotted the mesh grille and the discreet badging, there were reliable tell-tale signs that the car was something altogether different from the standard fare. 

The XJR wasn’t just a bit quicker than it’s normally-aspirated stablemates, it was usually quite a lot quicker than virtually anything else on the road that wasn’t made in Modena or Zuffenhausen.

It was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and you could choose which to unleash with the merest twitch of your right ankle.

That’s why we like a Jaguar XJR.

And here’s why we particularly like this one.

This 2005 X305 XJR is in absolutely time-warp condition, has had just two previous owners from new, and has a mere 16,681 miles on the odometer.

That’s an annual average of just 794 miles.

We’ve got pairs of socks that have covered more ground than that.

We’re struggling to imagine how you could get your hands on a better one without breaking into the JLR museum in the dead of night and releasing one of their prized exhibits from its hermetically sealed display case.

The car is in first-class condition, inside and out, and it really can’t be faulted dynamically, mechanically or aesthetically.

We have driven this car and can attest to its exceptional levels of quality and preservation. 

We can also confirm that it has lost absolutely none of its ability to start, go, stop and, most memorably, hurtle towards distant horizons like a nervous cheetah at a fireworks display.

Even today, a properly fettled and sorted X350 XJR has got enough visceral grunt under the bonnet to leave many ‘sportscars’ in a wheezing heap of embarassment.

And this one, in case you hadn’t noticed, is properly fettled and sorted.

Being the sticklers for honesty and transparency that we are, we normally dedicate most of these write-ups to telling you about a car’s faults, defects, deviations from perfection, etc.

This could well be one of our shortest write-ups.

The car presents exceptionally well from every angle and is in outstanding condition even for its low mileage, let alone its age. 

There are no dinks, dents or creases anywhere that we can see.

The panel gaps and shut-lines are crisp and exact, and the doors close with plenty of weight and precision.

In the sunshine, the metallic black finish really pops and dazzles, and even entirely standard stone chips or light, swirly scratches are far more notable for their absence than their presence.

The following observations are firmly in the realm of nit-picking, but that’s our job, so here goes.

There are one or stone chips to the front bumper, valance and bonnet; the odd light scratch on the boot lid; a scuff to the middle of the rear bumper; and a few light scratches and marks at the top of the o/s/r door.

That’s it.

The bits of black plastic trim that tend to fade on lesser examples have steadfastly refused to do so. 

Even the black paint on the windscreen wipers is intact and fine, and that usually starts peeling off before the car has left the factory.

The chrome work is bright, shiny and free from any foxing, pitting or tarnishing anywhere that we can see.

All four 20” alloys are evidently unacquainted with kerbs or other obstacles and are shod in matching Pirelli P-Zero rubber with plenty of life left in it. 

The lights, lenses and all other exterior fixtures and fittings look like the rest of it, squeaky-clean, minty-fresh and more or less as good as new.

Jaguars of this vintage are pretty hard to beat when it comes to the classy ambience of their interiors, and this car’s cabin is no exception.

The X308 XJR that preceded it was marred, some would say, by its use of dark, ebonized wood on the dashboard and black leather on the upholstery, which somewhat detracted from the gentlemen’s club ambience people wanted and expected to find in an XJ.

Thankfully, the X350 reset the dial and this interior showcases a full and welcome return to rich glossy veneers and acres of hide. 

Wholly unsurprisingly, the interior is every bit a match for its exterior counterpart in terms of quality, condition and preservation.

The light cream leather upholstery has barely a crease to show for its years of minimal use and the seats, front and back, are comfortable, supportive and fully functional.

The wood veneers are in fine fettle. Everywhere you look they are glossy, unmarked and possessed of a real depth of shine and lustre.

The door cards are beyond reproach, as are the headlining (a known Achilles’ heel in these cars), carpets and mats.

The steering wheel, gear selector and handbrake are following exactly the same script.

Aside from a very light crease or two to the outer bolsters on the driver’s seat and a couple of marks (of the easily removable kind) on the leather trim surrounding the centre console, all is good, all is well, and all is fine.

As far as we’re aware, all switches, dials, buttons, levers and instruments do exactly as they’re told without hesitation, repletion or deviation.

The huge boot is every bit as pristine as the rest of the interior.  It contains a spare wheel of a different, 19” design, shod in Pirelli P-Zero Asimmetrico rubber. The only thing we found not working was the rear blind.

There’s not much to look at under the cowls and covers in the very full engine bay, but rest assured that underneath them resides a fearsomely powerful unit that has the capacity to bring a very big smile to your face in a very small number of seconds. 

Everything in the engine bay looks as clean, dry and correct as you’d hope and expect to find on a car that’s been so well cared-for and curated.

The undersides of the car appear to have a great deal of structural integrity and we’ve seen absolutely nothing untoward anywhere.

The car comes with a full and comprehensive service history from new, and any longer gaps are entirely accounted for by the car’s very low mileage during those intervals.

• Stratstone Jaguar Solihull                   - 2,454 miles - 21/04/06
• Stratstone Jaguar Solihull                   - 5,345 miles - 26/04/07
• Stratstone Jaguar Solihull                   - 8,262 miles - 02/07/08
• Stratstone Jaguar Solihull                   - 11,504 miles - 30/03/11
• Stratstone Jaguar Solihull                   - 14,112 miles - 23/10/13
• Listers Jaguar Solihull                         - 15,271 miles - 28/11/17
• Marshall Jaguar Abingdon                   - 16,503 miles - 18/07/22
• Birks Motorworks (marque specialist) - 16,663 miles - 01/05/26

The car comes with full sets of keys, its original book-pack, a recent, clear HPI certificate, a V5C and an MoT certificate - with no advisories whatsoever - that’s valid until 18th May 2027. 

This is a car that’s equally at home pottering to the Dog & Duck on a Sunday afternoon, transporting captains of industry to a business meeting, or leaving more overtly sporting pretenders in a cloud of tyre smoke, bewilderment and shame at the traffic lights.

It is a very angry warthog, but one that’s been to the right school and is wearing a beautifully tailored Savile Row suit.

More or less immaculate condition? Tick.

Fabulous history? Tick.

Miniscule mileage? Tick.

Three owners from new? Tick.

As you can see, it’s ticking all the right boxes for us.

We’re confident to offer this fine car for auction with an estimate of £23,000 - £25,000. 

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’.