Registration: P496EVJ
Chassis: SAJJGAED3AR005862
Odometer: 133,000
Transmission: Automatic
MOT: January 2027

• The subject of a very professional restoration
• Excellent colour combination of Antigua Blue and Magnolia
• Probably one of the best available
• Sure fire modern classic

In March 1996 Jaguar launched their new grand tourer, the XK8, at the prestigious Geneva Motor Show, which went on sale in September the same year. Interestingly, the Geneva launch car was exactly the same colour and specification as our XK8; a shared good taste we think.

Our vendor, Mike, is the owner of a diagnostic and programming company, suffice to say that the word ‘motorsport’ is in the title of his firm, so safe to assume he knows what he’s doing as he’s been in business since 1983.

Like many people in the motor trade, the Jaguar was not the only one that Mike had around him, so it only had minimal use over several years. Then something called Covid arrived in the UK, we all kept ourselves to ourselves and of course most businesses were forced to close. Mike had an empty workshop, a fair selection of shiny tools, oh, and a Jaguar XK8. The XK wasn’t in bad shape but one thing led to another and what was supposed to be a general tidy up turned into a full restoration; a bare metal respray, re-dye of the Magnolia leather interior, powder coating the wheels and fitting new tyres, and an engine service to include the timing chains was also completed. There was much more that took place, but you get the idea, Mike was busy. During the restoration, he came across the date 28/11/96 chalked on the inside of an interior panel and this leads us to believe that this is indeed a very early production example.

We have had, and are offered, quite a few XK8s, and this is without question one of the finest we have seen in a long time and is worthy of closer inspection. Mike should be proud of himself, a terrific job all round!