1989 Jaguar XJS

A post-facelift, full-convertible example, this blue-over-ivory XJ-S V12 was purchased by the current owner in June 2020, and has proven itself to be a reliable and dependable weekend toy, as well as a plucky ‘daily driver’ during winter 2021, when it happily completed the vendor’s daily 75-mile round trip every weekday for four months, with no reported issues.

Not only has it been excellent on a day-to-day basis, but has also provided the current keeper with numerous exhilarating journeys into the highlands of Scotland, journeys that are in the region of 400 miles in total, and the car has not missed a beat.

Part of this mechanical reliability is due to an intensive programme of mechanical fettling and upgrades carried out whilst in the care of the vendor, with a total expenditure on the vehicle in the region of £5,200 in the last couple of years, with all work being carried out by marque and model specialist ‘Just XJS cars’.

Now, with the usual problem areas addressed and other components (such as the brakes, cooling system and subframes) addressed, refurbished and replaced where required, this XJ-S V12 Convertible is ready to enjoy for the rest of summer, and - as the vendor has proven - far beyond into the winter months also.

Still as striking as it was when new and sporting an upgraded quad-headlight front end, this XJ-S still cuts an impressive figure to this day, particularly with the roof down.

The bodywork looks to be in good condition overall, with no signs of any accident damage, impacts or large scuffs, and no heavy wear beyond the usual minor ‘pin’ dent or stone chip.

Similarly, the paintwork retains a good depth and shine throughout, though the bonnet in particular wears a number of ‘ghost’ marks within the clear coat, seemingly from a previous owner or detailer using a machine polisher incorrectly. These should be able to be rectified by a competent home detailer, or well-respected professional valet company.

Looking closer, the usual signs of wear-and-tear are visible to areas such as the edges of doors (small chips in the paintwork) and the front end wears a brace of stone chips, particularly along the lower edge of the bumper ‘air dam’ which also showcases some corrosion in its centre intake area.

Elsewhere, we noticed some lacquer peel below the coach line graphics on the nearside rear wing, though this is purely cosmetic. There is also some patina / pitting visible to the various chrome trims, badges and fixtures, though all are still in good order and there are no missing items as far as we could see.

Up above, the mohair roof is in very good condition, sporting only a couple of scuffs and no other signs of wear. The heated rear window is in good condition with no damage, cracks or discolouration.

All four of the five-spoke diamond-cut wheels present well, though a thorough refurbishment would no doubt elevate their appearance even further.

Inside, the cream leather interior presents well, with the usual characteristic creases and wear visible to the front seat bases and backrests, all part of the charm of a classic car.

Speaking of the seats, it should be noted that the rear of the driver’s seat requires some attention, as the backrest panel has come apart from the seat frame, and requires re-attaching.

Down below, the over-mats are in good condition with some typical wear visible to the driver’s item, and under the front mats the soundproofing material has seen better days, though it does not affect the comfort or usability of the cabin.

In the rear, the back seats present in good order throughout, whilst the various switches, touch-points and high-traffic areas throughout the vehicle display a light commensurate usage patina.

Regarding the electrical systems, there are a few ‘gremlins’ to address, though none of which prevent the next owner from using and enjoying the vehicle. Specifically, we noted the following issues:

- Nearside front window only travels around 1/2 way down before jamming.

- Mirror adjustment system inoperable

- Stereo inoperable

- The electric aerial requires attention (the vendor suspects a blown fuse)

- The fuel gauge gives an accurate reading at idle, but movement results in the fuel gauge displaying varying readings, whilst hard acceleration results in an empty tank indication and the fuel light illuminating.

Up above, the folding roof system works perfectly on the way down, though on the way up it displayed a tendency to get stuck around half way, requiring some gentle manual persuasion to complete its cycle.

The ‘high efficiency’ V12 engine at the heard of this XJ-S cabriolet is a true masterpiece of packaging, as under the bonnet there appears to be barely any room to poke a screwdriver, let alone give access for anything more involved.

That said, we could find no obvious faults from a visual standpoint with the engine, and during our test drive and photo shoot, the engine and gearbox performed without fault - it’s easy to see where the money has been spent on this drop-top V12 GT car.

Being very picky, we did note that the car had a tendency to ‘drift’ to the right when out on the road, so perhaps an alignment would be beneficial. We also noticed a slight rattling noise from inside the cabin when traversing broken roads or speed bumps, which appeared to be coming from the nearside front area, though this has not been tracked down.

Looking underneath, the recent Dinitrol application and work to the subframe is evident, and the chassis overall presents in decent condition for a vehicle of this age and mileage.

The most recent MoT exam - dated 21 April 2022 - shows a clean first-time pass with no advisory items. The vehicle was also last serviced at 55,437 miles, including an oil and filter change, new air and new fuel filters.

Included with the vehicle is the V5 registered keepers document showing a total of eleven former keepers, one set of keys, and a number of invoices from the current keeper, who has methodically worked through the vehicle with marque specialist Just XJS Cars.

As ever, all of this documentation has been included in the gallery below, but for those looking for a quick run-down of the major works carried out:

- Major service at 55,437 miles including gearbox oil, all filters, crankcase breather mesh, and a full coolant flush

- New front brake callipers, pads and Flexi hoses

- Attention to the central locking system (now fully working)

- New ARB bushes, speed transducer, attention to the steering column

- Welding work to the NSF floor, NSR sill, subframe, OSR radius arm and other trouble areas

- Dinitrol treatment

- Repairs to the cruise control system

- New heater matrix

Having proven that drop-top V12 motoring doesn’t depend on warm, sunny weather, this well-maintained XJ-S V12 has been significantly mechanically overhauled and continually maintained whilst in the care of its current owner, and has proven itself to be dependable, reliable and enjoyable whatever the weather.

Ready to use as it sits, yet offering potential for further aesthetic improvements and tweaks, we estimate this desirable drop-top GT car to fetch in the region of £11,000 to £15,000 when the hammer falls. As if that isn’t enticing enough for any potential bidders, we’re also pleased to offer this example for sale with NO RESERVE.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 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’.