1978 Jaguar XJS Pre HE

This pre-HE 1978 Jaguar XJ-S is, we think, in good condition overall and is a solid and eminently usable classic.

The car starts, runs, drives and handles as it should and has been a reliable and consistent performer while in the vendor’s care since 2018.

The automatic gearbox is fine and delivers the mighty engine’s power smoothly. The car holds it temperature well and is not prone to over-heating.

There are no clunks or squeaks to speak of save for a faint rattle coming from an exhaust mounting bracket that just needs tightening up a bit.

Prior to 2018 the car was living, somewhat improbably, in the Faroe Islands.

Our knowledge of the Faroe Islands being somewhat patchy, we consulted some well-known online purveyors of knowledge and discovered that the archipelago consists of 18 islands, many of which are connected by bridges or tunnels, and is home to a population of 54,000 people.

So, not just wind, rain, puffins and pickled herring then.

Mercy.

More importantly (given that we were wondering what sort of motoring might be available to the Faroese classic car enthusiast), the islands boast over 600 kms of fabulously scenic and twisty roads that are never, ever, clogged with traffic.

It seems that the islands are also home to some seriously talented restorers.

Yes, it was in this isolated Danish enclave of storm-lashed rocks that this splendid vehicle was given a new lease of life thanks to a full restoration that addressed all sorts of bodywork, mechanical and interior issues and changed the car from its original black to the mellow russet brown you see today.

The car comes with over 120 photographs of the restoration work in progress.

So, there you have it – this is a car that lived in and around Newbury until 2004, then went off on a Faroe Islands adventure, had itself expertly restored, then returned to the UK in 2018 for a few years of very sparing use around Pangbourne and environs.

Don’t be fooled by the Bonneville sticker on the windscreen. This car has not been to the USA. Another car (a Jensen) made that trip and the sticker found its way onto this car.

The car has covered no more than 2000 or so miles while in the stewardship of the current vendor.

He has put his hand in his pocket a few times in the cause of furthering this car’s quality and condition.

He has replaced and uprated the air-con system, fitted new EBC front discs, pads and calipers, installed new front coil springs, replaced the radiator, fitted new cooling fans and new front coils, renewed the injector hoses, filters and pintle caps, and furnished the car with a full set of new Dunlop SP Sport tyres (complete with painted on, and therefore removable, white stripes), and new carpets in the boot and the front footwells.

The boot contains a spare wheel (with a new tyre), the original tool kit and the original cooling fans, complete with shroud and all required bolts.

The original Jaguar radio is in its proper slot beneath the dashboard clock but is not currently wired in or connected, but all wiring is present and working for a modern unit should the new owner prefer.

The bodywork looks pretty good, in the main, and is devoid of any big dents or creases.

The panels and shut lines are clean, even and consistent. All chrome work is mostly shiny and bright.

The wheels appear to have been kept at a judicious and sensible distance from kerbs or other obstacles intent on harming them, but there is some blistering to be found here and there.

There are some scuffs, dinks and dents around the rim of the n/s/r wheel arch.

The brown paintwork is largely good but there are one or two issues.

We’ve found some bubbling at the base of the n/s/f wing and in the sill beneath the n/s/r wing ahead of the wheel.

There’s also a little bubbling in evidence beneath the vinyl on both ‘C’ pillars.

There are some cracks and splits in the paint on the roof and on the n/s/r buttress.

The ‘B’ pillar trim on the offside has a couple of scratches, there are a few scratches and stone chips on the bonnet, and there are some scuffs and a little corrosion on the inner rim of the o/s/f wheel arch.

Beyond that, we noticed some ripples in the paint on the bonnet and a scratch on the o/s/r wing behind the door.

We also noticed that the fuel filler cap doesn’t seem to close completely flush with the bodywork.

The black interior is really very well preserved and is a fine place to spend some quality classic motoring time.

The upholstery in the front is in very fine fettle, having been refurbished by some Faroese leather whisperers at the time of restoration.

The rear seats, being wholly original, have a little more patina but are also in very good nick, having been shown plenty of cleaning and feeding products.

The carpets and mats are good throughout, as is the headlining.

The door cards are decent, although the layers of material on the storage pockets are beginning to separate from one another.

The cover on the centre armrest storage space has a small split in it.

There are a couple of ring-shaped marks near the cigar lighter of a size and shape that suggest they were probably created by the cigar lighter.

A section of trim is loose beneath the glove compartment and there’s a scuff to the trim beneath the ignition key slot.

The dashboard, steering wheel, handbrake, instruments and dials all look to be in good condition.

The radio aside (it just needs connecting to the right wires), we’re assured by the vendor that, to the best of his knowledge, all knobs, switches, buttons and toggles do what they’re supposed to do.

Save for a bit of carpet that’s come loose the boot is in very decent condition (and contains some spare carpet material, which might prove useful in some unknowable way to the next owner).

There are a few spots of rust here and there underneath but the overall impression is one of structural integrity and solidity. Clearly, you’ll want to see for yourself and reach your own conclusion.

The engine bay looks good, and everything appears to be clean, tidy and in its right and proper place.

The car doesn’t currently have - or require - an MoT certificate.

What it does have, however, is a Jaguar Heritage Certificate of Authenticity, an original XJ-S handbook and a variety of bills, invoices and receipts attesting to work done over the last few years.

It has been HPI checked and cleared.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos and paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

We think this pre-HE XJS V12 is a good example of an increasingly rare model.

Most of the heavy lifting has been done by the vendor and, to a greater extent, by his predecessors in the Faroe Islands.

So, while there are still jobs to do with this car and the bodywork and paint need some attention here and there, we think it has more than enough underlying quality and potential to more than repay the time and effort required to reacquaint it with its former glory.

Or you could decide to do no work on it whatsoever and just enjoy it for what it is – a usable, driveable and hugely enjoyable classic with a magnificent V12 engine at its heart.

We’re confident to offer this vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £10,000 to £14,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, 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’.