2005 Jaguar XKR-S

‘LF55 OHD’ is an ex-Japan ‘White Badge’ Jaguar XKR-S finished in Blue Mica with an Ivory Recaro hide interior and BBS alloy wheels, which adds at least half-a-dozen extra layers of desirability compared to the tired old X100s so many are touting as ‘investment-grade’ classics at the moment.  A UK market special edition (only ~60 cars believed to be made).  A celebrated 400bhp output from the AJ-V8 supercharged engine (normally 375bhp). Featured white R badging to distinguish it from the standard XKR (usually red).

Because no one – and we do mean no one – looks after their cars better than the Japanese. Obsessive in their determination to curate their cars to a superhuman standard anyway, the fact they don’t have road salt to contend with in the winter means they’ve already got a head start on the rest of us.

This one has only covered only 77,926 miles (125,000kms) too, and it comes complete with a full service history and a mileage verification certificate. It has also been recently fettled by an independent specialist, and is now kitted out to UK-spec, so you aren’t going to be offended by JDM number plate plinths and the like.

Rare and highly original, it is said to be still sporting its factory paint, split-rim BBS alloy wheels, interior trim, and matching-numbers components: While there’s probably a few years yet before the X100 becomes an appreciating classic, this is exactly the sort of example we’re all going to be clamouring for when the time comes.

As you can see, the Blue Mica paintwork is in great shape. It’s a gorgeous – and rare – colour anyway and is one we think suits the XKR’s svelte lines perfectly. 

But it’s also the sort of dark hue that highlights flaws almost as ruthlessly as black, so the fact this one looks as good as it does says only good things about its curation: As you can see for yourselves, the panels are free of dents, dinks, and ripples. They also align perfectly with impressive shutlines.

One of the first things the seller mentioned to us: “It has never been used on salted roads and has been carefully stored, so the bodywork is entirely rust-free.”

Which is a statement we can’t argue with as we found nothing that contradicts his assessment.

The overall air is of the wellbeing we’ve come to expect of cars like a provenance like this; we can’t see anything on the coachwork that needs refreshing or repairing.

As for the wheels, they’re the 20-inch, split-rim BBS Perseus jobbies it left the factory wearing. As you’d expect, they too are unmarked and their open design allows you to admire the upgraded Brembo braking system, including the natty red calipers that are fitted on all four corners.

Speaking of which, all four wheels are fitted with matching Pirelli P-Zero tyres, with 285/30ZR20 being used at the rear, and 255/35ZR20 on the front.  

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 rest of the XKR-S-specific exterior trim is present and correct too, including the deeper front bumper that is joined by a pair of sculpted side skirts. There’s a revised rear valance and a larger (but still subtle) rear spoiler too, plus the ‘White Badge’ on the bonnet.

The rest of the badges are in great shape too, as are the lamp lenses and window glass.

Leaving nothing for the new owner to do, just like we said at the beginning. 

The smooth Ivory Recaro leather sports seats feature contrast stitching, multi-way electrical adjustment, and heating. Supremely comfortable and supportive, their light colour lends the cabin a feeling of airiness – and despite what you might think, the colour doesn’t seem to have acted as a magnet for dirt, either.

Other performance-oriented items include drilled alloy pedals, an electrically-adjustable leather-stitched sports steering wheel, and a gearbox you can manually intervene with with ease.

Utility hasn’t been forgotten as Jaguar also fitted a heated windscreen, radar-assisted adaptive cruise control with automatic braking, a forward collision alert system, full climate control, and power folding exterior mirrors.

Opening the doors reveals polished aluminium door tread plates with the chequered-flag emblem, a feature which sets the tone from the very start. 

The cockpit itself is lined with high-quality hide or light wood veneer, and the combination of the two sets the tone nicely, balancing sportiness with indulgence as only Jaguar does. 

Just as importantly, both leather and wood are as impressively preserved as they are extensive, both being free of noticeable wear or damage. 

Rear legroom is minimal, so it’s best to think of the XKR-S as a 2+2. Still, that lack of space does mean that the rear seats have probably only ever been used rarely, which means they’re still minty fresh and free of even minor marks and wear. 

The carpets are dark blue piped with white edging and these too, including that used in the boot, are free of deterioration.

The headlining is taut and clean too, which is another very welcome bonus, and a dash-cam has been fitted on the windscreen next to the rear-view mirror.

The boot is a very good size, but then the XKR-S makes for an extraordinarily effective grand touring car. The luggage space also plays host to a space-saver spare wheel and a warning triangle.

The Pioneer Carrozzeria audio system, which includes a built-in sat-nav, is the one it was fitted with in Japan, so you could either have that altered to accept British frequencies or, more likely, you could replace it with a new headunit of your choice. The Carrozzeria speakers are top-notch though, so it would be false economy to buy a cheap one from Halfords #justsaying 

As for work you’ll need to do, the trim around the gearlever is cracked and broken but replacing that would be straightforward. 

Other than that, the only real wear we can see is a slightly softened outer lower bolster on the driver’s seat, plus some very gentle cracking to the leather surface on the outer edge. 

The 4.2-litre supercharged V8, deploys its 400 bhp and 553Nm through a six-speed ZF automatic transmission, a devastatingly effective combination that means even the 170mph speedometer doesn’t read high enough. 

Still maxing out the needle as you’re streaking along an Autobahn would make a great story, wouldn’t it?

And it could probably still do it because the seller tells us that the Jaguar “drives exactly as it should, with tight steering, strong performance, smooth gear changes, and superb braking.”

As the video demonstrates, it starts, idles and revs well, and the noise from the four exhaust tailpipes is nothing less than inspired. 

Cosmetically, the engine bay is as delightfully preserved as everywhere else. 

As for the underside, it would be worth popping along with a torch and crawling around on your back just to appreciate what a difference a salt-free environment makes to how well a car survives 20-years of use. 

The Jaguar’s MoT certificate is valid until March 2026 and, as you’d expect given its history, it passed with no advisories, so its MoT record is off to a flying start.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car and the XKR-S comes with the original book pack and the original remote and key.

As for the rest of the history file, the Japanese authorities take their obligations under GDPR so seriously that they usually confiscate any paperwork. However, someone slipped up here because the car has retained its service records.

It also comes with its European Certificate of Conformity, which would make registering it in Europe easier than it would otherwise have been; if you’ve got a place abroad, this would be the ideal car to register there so you can enjoy using your own V8-powered British sportscar while you’re on holiday or enjoying a well-earned retirement.

If you’re looking for an XKR-S – and let’s face it, an awful lot of us are starting to think about it – this example has a lot to commend it; it’s a rare and unusual colour, comes with a full service history, benefits from having lived a pampered and salt-free life, and, as a ‘white badge’ model, has rarity on its side as well as the sort of upgrades that turn it into a genuine supercar.

And, unlike its rivals from Germany and Italy, it’s affordable, for now at least.

Because our estimate is somewhere between £15,000 and £18,000, which is a situation that surely can’t go on for much longer, surely.

And even if prices don’t rise, they’ve been stable for a while now, so you might be able to get in and out for less money than you think – and then you’ll be able to look back at a motoring life that included one of the best sportscars of its generation.

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