1992 Jaguar XJS

‘J12 AFK’ has been in the care of the seller for about a year and it is only being offered for sale because he was so impressed with this one he went out and bought a 5.3-litre manual XJS to up his classic Jaguar game…

Finished in Signal Red with an Oatmeal leather and cloth interior, this four-litre manual coupé still shows only 68,000 miles on the odometer, something its online MoT and incredible service history backs up.

All of which makes this a fine buy for anyone looking to get their hands on a manual-equipped example of this iconic British sporting coupé.

With straight panels and ripple-free flanks, the XJS’s excellent shutlines reinforce the impression of this being an above-average example. The paintwork shines beautifully too, and anything it lacks in the understated elegance a more subtle metallic might have brought is more than made up for by the Signal Red’s period vibrancy and in-your-face sportiness.

The details are just as good. What little chrome there is is in a good condition, as are the black rubber bumpers and subtle front spoiler.

The headlamps were replaced with American-spec twin jobbies back in 2004 and the smoked rear lenses freshen up the rear end nicely, subtly modernizing it without being so OTT as to ruin that iconic shape.

A matching set of 225/60R15 Continental EcoContact 6 tyres cloak the 15-inch crossspoke alloy wheels, a design that is the epitome of 1980s and early 1990s cool and are in a very good condition; in fact, even the wheel nuts are in great shape and free of rust, which might be a small detail but it is one so many owners neglect.

Plus 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. 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.

The inner lips of the wheel arches do have some light rust starting, so you’ll want to take a look at that. The underside shows some overspray too, so someone’s freshened the bodywork up at some point but the fact it’s a non-metallic finish will make future localized repairs like this much easier than they would otherwise be.

Another, smaller, point to note is a scuff to the nearside corner of the front bumper.

You might think you want a leather interior but it’s worth reminding you that leather was originally used for driver’s seats only, the place exposed to the elements and the one that needed the durability a natural hide can provide. The passengers, the ones who had bought the car and were paying the chauffeur’s wage and the running costs, sat snug in the back on fabric seats…

Which gives context to the choice of leather and fabric here, a rare option that not only treads a well-trodden path but also provides a much nicer experience than the full leather everyone thinks they want; warm in the winter and cool in the summer, using fabric for the centre panels also gives more grip than leather, so is better suited in a sportscar like this.

The electrically adjustable front seats are in great shape too, being firm and supportive and very comfortable. The rear seats might not offer acres of legroom but their condition is even better than the pair up front, so #swingsandroundabouts, eh?

The (good) grey/brown carpet is protected by oatmeal overmats, a combination that looks much better than it sounds, partly due to the main carpet being piped in a matching oatmeal trim.

But then this is a very nice interior. With Zebrano wood veneer rather than the more usual walnut, it’s suitably striking given the choice of Signal Red for the coachwork.

The headunit is the factory Jaguar radio-cum-tape player, which is also nice to see.

The boot is home to the full-size alloy spare wheel, CD-multichanger, and battery, which doesn’t leave as much space as you might think for luggage but everything is beautifully trimmed and very clean.

Even more importantly, lifting the carpets shows nothing other than solid metal underneath.

All of which means that the work you’ll need to do is limited in scope: the outer edge of the driver’s seat shows some scratches and wear, so you might like to get that looked at; and the headlining looks like it’s starting to loosen up a little.

The ultra-fastidious will also note the driver’s side overmat is a little frayed around the locating holes but that’s very much a project for Future You than anything more pressing.

As the video confirms, the straight-six engine starts well and shows both good oil pressure and a healthy charge to the battery.

It also ticks over nicely and revs mightily but then its condition is only to be expected as the service history is voluminous:

• 28.09.1992 and 926 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 03.03.1993 and 2,658 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 13.07.1993 and 3,981 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 13.12.1993 and 5,551 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 13.06.1994 and 6,645 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 12.12.1994 and 7,551 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 27.06.1995 and 8,596 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 18.12.1995 and 9,450 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 16.07.1996 and 9,876 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 15.01.1997 and 10,242 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 14.07.1997 and 10,541 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 02.02.1998 and 10,804 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 13.07.1998 and 10,948 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 08.01.1999 and 11,058 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 05.07.1999 and 11,326 miles – service by Hatfields of Sheffield
• 22.05.2001 and 15,231 miles – service by Appleyard Jaguar Edinburgh
• 29.03.2004 and 20,487 miles – service by Rossleigh of Edinburgh
• 29.06.2005 and 24,213 miles – service by T.L. Autos
• 19.10.2007 and 33,106 miles – service by Racing Green Cars Ltd
• 06.03.2009 and 45,182 miles – service by TLC Jags, independent Jaguar specialist
• 17.02.2011 and 54,861 miles - service by Arun Limited, independent Jaguar dealer
• 02.06.2017 and 59,080 miles - service by Arun Limited, independent Jaguar dealer
• 15.08.2019 and 63,715 miles – service by DF Autos of Saffron Walden
• 11.08.2020 and 63,113 miles – service by DF Autos of Saffron Walden

The vendor also had the car serviced this year.

The presence of a sticker with the chassis number on an inner wing, which matches that stamped into the metalwork and the one behind the windscreen plus labels on the HT leads give reassurance that the car is both original and has been well looked after – but then the stamps in the service history booklet confirm the latter anyway…

Said to be “lovely to drive” the seller says there is “nothing untoward of note” following some recent work that included new track-rod ends among other bits and bobs.

As for the engine bay itself, it is grubby so you’ll almost certainly want to get your valeter to give it the onceover.

The underseal looks generally good but does need touching up in places. Some of the suspension components have surface rust on them too, so the fastidious among you might like to paint, or even refurbish, them while you’re under there.

The Jaguar’s MoT certificate is valid until July 2024 and the recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

It also comes with the book pack and a plethora of old invoices and expired MoT certificates plus the well-stamped service history book we referenced earlier.

The Jaguar XJS’s time might have been a long time coming but there’s no doubt now it’s a bona fide classic and prices across the range have started to rise.

But, this is not a model to jump into on a whim because a poorly maintained and rotten example is capable of breaking you and your bank balance faster than anything else in its price range.

We think this one shows all the signs of being a good one: With an unimpeachable service history, this one looks to be in rude good health and looks fabulous.

It’s a great colour scheme too, and has a rare and highly desirable interior, all of which makes our guide price of £13,000 to £18,000 look like one of the few remaining modern classic bargains.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|CarsOnline HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.