“ A late model XJS is one of the best ever from the marque, benefitting from 20 years of production refinement, and millions of pounds of investment by Ford. ”
This is an excellent example from the Isle of Man.

Background
First unveiled in 1975, the XJS lost its hyphen as part of the 1991 refresh, work that only minimally changed the car’s good looks. It also gained a revised version of the AJ6 engine plus outboard rear disc brakes, 2+2 seating for the convertible, sleeker bumpers, and XJ40-style instruments.

The 4.0-litre, straight-six engine churns out 238bhp and 281lb.ft of torque, enough to propel the XJS to a top speed of 147mph after passing 62mph in seven and a half seconds. Of course, the AJ6 engine also gave the Jaguar considerably better fuel consumption than the single-digit V12…

For all the tweaks, evolution rather than revolution was the name of the game and why not? After all the Jaguar XJS was, by then, one of the few cars to have attained genuine classic car status while it was still in production, leading to many buying them with an eye to hanging on to them as they knew their like would probably never be built again.

And this is important because it has guaranteed a rich source of low-mileage, carefully conserved cars such as the one you’re looking at here.

Overview
A limited edition to mark Jaguar’s 60th anniversary as well as the end of the XJS’s 21-year production run, the Celebration gained contrasting piping to the Oatmeal hide, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, different bumpers, and diamond-turned alloy wheels. This one is also finished in British Racing Green, a time-honoured colour that suits the XJS’s lithe lines very well.

Wonderfully, it’s been in the same hands since the seller bought it as a treat for herself back in 1994. She then used it as her daily driver for the next 30 years, albeit accruing just 51,000 carefully-driven miles.

She’s now downsizing and will only have room in her garage for one car, so has reluctantly decided that now is the time to let it go.

Exterior
Our assessment of the XJS’s exterior gets off to a great start by way of consistent and tight shutlines and perfect panel alignment, demonstrating that there really wasn’t anything wrong with Jaguar’s build quality in the mid-90s.

Yes, they’d had a couple of decades of practice by the time this one rolled off the production line but any opinions you hold to the contrary have more to do with the poorly maintained examples that hope to ride the coattails of examples like this than poor quality control at Brown’s Lane.

Because even the smaller details, like the chrome trim around the boot and rear lights, lines up perfectly – and the quality of its curation means there are no ripples along those long flanks either.

Three of the four corners are free of scuffs and scrapes too, as are the door mirrors. Mind you, having spent its life on the Isle of Man, it hasn’t had to deal with the congested cities we have here on the mainland.

The paintwork is good too, and while a professional machine-polish would help revive its original gloss, you’ll be improving its original finish rather than having to start from scratch by applying fresh paint; after all, a car is only original once and we think it’s important to keep it that way for as long as possible.

The black roof rises and falls at the touch of a button, transitioning between the two states smoothly and elegantly. It also fits very well when it is raised, with no wrinkles or looseness and certainly nothing as vulgar as a hole, rip, or tear.

It also tucks down neatly and can be hidden beneath a cream cover when it isn’t needed, at which point the XJS’s flowing profile shines.

The rear screen is made of Triplex toughened glass and as it’s fitted with a demister element, driving in foul weather remains a pleasure.

The lamp lenses are all in great shape too, and it’s nice to see the headlamps are still the original oval units. These are starting to get scarce leading cheapskate owners to fit US-spec quadruple round headlamps to save a few pounds, which ruins the look of the XJS in the same way impact-bumpers did for cars such as the MGB.

The diamond-turned alloy wheels are free of scuffs and kerbing marks too, although they have started to dull and peel, so you may want to consider getting them refurbished when you next change the tyres.

Those tyres are matching 225/60ZR16 Pirelli P6000 by the way, and 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.

As for damage, there is a small dent on the nearside rear wing, a few stonechips to the front, and a scuff to the nearside rear corner of the bumper.

Rust is just starting to form on the leading edge of the offside sill and the lower edge of the front wing. Some of the inner wheelarches also show corrosion, and while it looks relatively minor at the moment, it would be as well to catch it sooner rather than later.

View car and current price bid HERE