1986 Jaguar XJS-C

Finished in Jaguar Racing Green and a saddle hide interior, ‘C450 GKK’ is fitted with the 221bhp 3.6-litre AJ6 engine and five-speed Getrag manual gearbox, a combination that allows the driver to access the 240lb.ft of torque on offer at the flick of the wrist.

Built on the 18th of December 1985 and well maintained over the years, the seller bought it in 2013, taking over from a chap who’d cared for it since 2004.

The seller had it restored a decade ago at a cost of around £15,000 and it continues to present well. Recent work has focused on recommissioning it; he struggled to find the time to use it, and he doubts he’s covered 100 miles since it was restored.

Offering the scope for its new owner to add value with each job they tick off the short list of tasks that remain, this XJ-S Convertible is also being offered with no reserve, so will be going to a new home no matter what.

The Jaguar Racing Green coachwork, paint code HER, is in a fine condition, with a healthy sheen on the well-aligned panels. There are no ripples along the flanks either, just straight metalwork that allows that iconic colour to shine.

The fabric roof, part of which was replaced recently, is in a decent condition, although we note there is a hole on the nearside and it’s coming away above the nearside windscreen. Also, the new section, which cost around £1,500 plus fitting, is a slightly different colour to the targa frame and front section.

The 15-inch wheels were refurbished and powdercoated by BK Alloy Wheels in April 2024, and they remain in a very good condition with no scuffs, scrapes or other kerbing damage. They are also fitted with a matching set of 225/60R15 Nexen Radial 2000 tyres, all of which have decent tread left.

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.

The top-tinted Sundym windscreen, which was replaced during the restoration, is free of obvious chips and cracks.

The XJS hasn’t got much chromework, but what there is is in good order with no damage, rust, pitting, or heavy tarnishing. The black rubber inserts on the bumpers are plump and undamaged too, even if the nearside end of the front one has come adrift; the front bumper is also crooked, which may or may not be related.

The headlamps are the hard-to-find original oblong Cibie ones, which is pleasing to see. They’re in good shape with no chips and cracks too, as are the rest of the lamp lenses with the exception of the nearside numberplate lamp, which is missing its cover.

Apart from the usual stonechips and polishing swirls we noted the following; two chips to the nearside rear wing; a scratch on the boot lid; two chips to the offside door; and a chip on the offside front wing. The alloy A-pillar trims are scratched and some of the rubber window seals, including the one for the windscreen, have perished.

Finally, the only dents we found are to the front of the nearside door and along the driver’s door swageline.

Originally fitted with a Cotswold Tweed interior, trim code AFX, the Jaguar has been retrimmed in saddle-coloured leather, a colour and material that works very well with the light elm veneer.

And it’s in good shape too.

The front seats, for example, are still plump and comfortable, with their heavily bolstered edges still being nice and firm. The face fabric is also good and tight, with the leather having only developed the lightest of creases.

The same colour leather has been used for the door cards, rear quarter trim, roof frame, transmission tunnel, footwells, and gearlever gaiter and this too is in fine fettle. Give it the odd dollop of hide food and it should remain so for many years to come.

The steering wheel and gearknob are both finished in black leather, and both are still in a good condition.

The headunit is a rather nice Blaupunkt Skagen DAB radio that also streams Bluetooth and can be used with your phone.

The wood veneer trim is in a decent condition, although the varnish has started to lift and bubble on some panels. The new black carpets are in a good condition too, as are the pedal rubbers.

The rear is also trimmed in black carpet giving you extra luggage space for things like coats. The bases lift up too, giving you semi-hidden compartments for smaller items. These might come in handy; while the boot is a good size, some of its cargo area is taken up by a full-size spare wheel.

The boot also contains a few spare parts: Please see the photos for details.

As for flaws, the leather is peeling away from the offside door aperture, the door cards have warped a little as have the panels on the rear of the front seats, the speedometer is slow to react and the odometer sometimes sticks, there is a cigarette burn to offside carpet, some of the leather trim shows moderate water staining, the panels above the door apertures and the rear quarters have mildew on them, the headlining is drooping and coming away from the rear pillars, the trim panel is missing from underneath the nearside of the dashboard, the front floorpans have surface rust, and the electric windows are slower than they should be.

More urgent are the wipers, which do not work.

The straight-six engine starts first time and idles well; balance a pound coin on the rocker cover and it would stay there no matter what angle the rev counter is at. The oil pressure takes a moment to build but when it does it rises in line with the revs. The battery shows a good charge too, and the engine doesn’t make any odd noises or produce excessive smoke from the exhaust.

The engine bay would benefit from a professional valet, after which you could sort out the surface corrosion on areas such as the air filter housing and the coolant tank, and perhaps replace the missing underbonnet sound insulation.

An MoT in 2022 revealed the need for some structural repairs to beef up the rear of the underside, after which it gained a clear pass. However, the underseal has cracked elsewhere, revealing areas of rust. Corrosion has also broken out on the bottom of the rear wings.

The previous restoration, which we understand was carried out between 2015 and 2017, is supported by handwritten notes, a printed summary of the schedule and, of course, many invoices.

The seller tells us that these total around £15,000 and cover the bodywork and the interior as well as many of the mechanical components.

There are also multiple invoices from Wraith Continental, an independent Bentley specialist, for recent work to the exhaust, braking, electrical, and cooling systems as well as the window mechanism and the engine. The same firm also replaced the roof, radio, and starter motor.

The history file contains the service history book with stamps spanning the years from 1986 through to 2004, invoices for routine servicing and maintenance work from 1991, and expired MoT certificates from 1992 onwards. It also contains the Jaguar wallet and book pack including the original pre-delivery inspection paperwork.

The Jaguar’s MoT certificate expires at the end of June but as last year’s sole advisory was for a numberplate light, and the previous two were clear passes, getting another might be straightforward.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

Our guide price of between £6,000 and £10,000 reflects the need for a little work, including investigating what lies beneath the underseal.

However, none of the last three MoTs have mentioned structural rust, so the problem may not be as bad as you fear – and as a further incentive, the seller is happy to offer it with no reserve, so it’ll be going to a new home once the first bid has been placed.

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’.