1993 Jaguar XJS

This facelift model XJS 4L Coupe was supplied new in 1993 by Jaguar Dealers Arlington Motor Co (Blackburn) Limited. Arlington also took care of the car’s first service, 1,052 miles and a month later. The first owner seems to have retained the car for a couple of years with the second owner acquiring the car in August 1995.

As is often the case with sports cars, quite a number of owners came and went between then and now. There are a couple of reassuringly long ownership periods noted, however. The third owner kept the car for a full 16 years and the previous owner kept it for 8. The current owner acquired the car in January 2022 with the intention of keeping the XJS for the long-term. As a small business owner, however, business matters have dictated otherwise.

Two commonalities unite all the owners of this XJS to date. The first is a record of low mileages having been covered. The XJS’s odometer currently records 63,578 miles which equates to just 2,120 miles per year on average. The second is their penchant for fastidious and regular maintenance. The service book documents an impressive 17 services at the hands of both main dealers and independent specialists.

The changes to the XJS’s bodywork associated with the 1991 facelift appear to be modest. Despite this, 180 of the XJS’s 490 panels were either new or modified. The key driver of these changes wasn’t a new look but, rather, a new manufacturing process with Ford laser focussed on improving the build quality of the XJS and other Jaguars.

Our car presents in bright and vibrant Flamenco Red which is a much-loved staple for XJSs of this vintage. The condition of the original paintwork is very good indeed, again, pointing to fastidious ownership across all its owners. The panels exude a lustrous shine, and the paintwork appears thick and smoothly applied. There is the odd light mark in evidence if you look very hard, but it remains impressive for a thirty-year-old car.

Ford’s steps to improve quality can clearly be appreciated in the fit of the panels. Everything opens positively and closes with an appreciable “thunk.” All panel gaps are tight and symmetrical and noticeably better than on earlier cars.

Light lenses, and those original front ellipses are a purist’s dream, are clean, clear and undamaged. The cabin glass is equally good with the subtle, original “XJS” decals noted on the rear edges of the rear side windows. All the original marque and model badges are present and a chromed Jaguar leaper is fitted to the bonnet’s leading edge.

The XJS rests on the original 7J x 16-inch, five spoke light alloy wheels. These appear to be in an excellent overall condition with no significant kerb-rash or dings noted. These are centred with Jaguar head centre caps and a matching set of Accelera tyres in a 225/55 configuration.

Like the exterior, not too much changed in the cabin with the advent of the 1991 facelift. The most immediately obvious change is the instrument binnacle looking much more akin to the XJ40’s article than the XJS’s earlier, aircraft style gauges.

This example is finished with soft Magnolia hued leather. The deeply bolstered front sports seats are arranged into horizontal, padded box pleats for optimal support and comfort. The condition of the leather is excellent with even the, usually vulnerable, driver’s bolster being free from wear. The front seats are electrically adjustable by multi-button controls situated on the doors. The rear cabin is identically trimmed and in excellent condition. The rear seats look like they’ve never been used, which they probably haven’t due to their compact dimensions.

The top and bottom rolls of the dashboard are finished in a magnolia hue. The central section is finished with luxurious looking burr walnut veneer. The XJ40-esque gauges sit behind the original, four-spoke black Jaguar steering wheel. The centre console houses the heating and ventilation controls, and the original Jaguar head unit is also fitted here.

Door cards are finished in leather, walnut veneer and panels of crimson carpet. The headlining has been subject to more recent replacement and, hence, looks pristine. The original woollen carpets are finished in a fetching, deep crimson shade. The deep boot is finished in its original fitted carpet set. A CD changer unit is housed here, as is a full-sized spare wheel and tyre and tool set.

Under the long, sleek bonnet lies the 4.0-litre AJ6 engine that was first seen in the XJ40 from 1989 and replaced the 3.6-litre AJ6 engine in the XJS from 1991. The extra displacement was achieved by lengthening the stroke of the 3.6, which increased the power from 199bhp to 223bhp. To increase refinement, the engine featured redesigned pistons and a forged steel crankshaft instead of cast iron, while a revised cam profile with increased lift and reduced overlap improved both low-end torque and idle stability. The 4.0-litre had the option of the Getrag’s 290 five-speed manual or, as in this case, ZF’s new 4HP24 four-speed automatic transmission.

The under-bonnet presentation of this XJS underscores the care and attention it seems to have received with everything here looking clean and fresh with no leaks in evidence. The engine bay’s inner panels appear robust and undamaged. The underside of the car looks to be in keeping with the age and mileage of the car. Some professional welding has been undertaken in its current ownership to take care of some MoT advised corrosion.

It should be clear by now that this XJS has been serviced to within an inch of its life. In some instances, there are just a few hundred miles between the services documented by the service book. Combine this with the car’s low mileage and it will come as no surprise that the car started instantly during our visit and idled smoothly. It’s a fine sounding unit too, which doesn’t let its innate refinement get in the way of a purposeful growl.

A big box file containing a car’s paperwork, especially a low mileage example, is always a good sign. Such is the case with this Jaguar. The current V5 in the name of the owner is present as is the current MoT in hard copy. This is valid until December 2023. Loads of previous MoT hard copies are also present. The original book pack is also included. This contains the all-important service booklet filled with those 17 service stamps.

There is a fascinating document present detailing every service, MoT, repair and maintenance activity between 1993 and 2006. There are numerous invoices included covering all periods of the car’s ownership. Two original Jaguar keys and alarm fobs are on hand.

One of the reasons that the XJS became so well thought of later in its life is that it was always a good car but the production methods and workforce of the mid 1970s and early 1980s didn’t do it justice. One of the benefits of its long production life was that the developments kept coming and, under Ford, the production methodologies finally caught up. For many the 4L coupe represents the most complete and satisfying exemplar of the breed.

This is a very fine XJS. It presents in one of the best and most popular colourways and is highly original in every respect. Its low original mileage and, clearly, light use results in an example which presents very well. The maintenance history is hard to fault, too, with services regularly undertaken regardless of mileage. If you have always promised yourself an XJS then this is the right model from the right period with the right history so bid today. We estimate it will sell for between £9,000-£12,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Royal Leamington Spa. 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’.