Jaguar XJ-SC Manual Cabriolet

A rare manual XJ-SC with 30-year ownership...In 1983, Jaguar débuted a new 3.6-litre, straight-six engine-the AJ6-as well as a new cabriolet version of the XJS to be known as the XJ-SC. The coupé's rather small rear seats were eliminated making the new model strictly a two-seater. The XJ-SC was not a full convertible but had a non-removable centre Targa-type structure and fixed cant rails above the doors. Demand for a convertible XJS was strong throughout the 1970s but proposed US convertible regulations had delayed the process. The desire to peel the lid off was great, famously, Lynx converted a number of XJS' into convertibles, but Jaguar's first open XJS took nearly a decade to appear after the car's launch. Requiring a cross brace hoop over the cabin to effectively replace the roof structure, a "perimeter frame' around the cockpit, a slightly reinforced rear bulkhead, and a bracing frame across the body-shell under the rear suspension, the end result was, ironically, a much more rigid car. Six-cylinder XJ-SC' are rarer, with only 1,130 made, the majority of which (1,027) had manual gearboxes.

This beautifully maintained XJ-SC, was bought less than a year after first registration by our vendor in 1987. The soft top, panels and tonneau are all original as is the leather interior but last year Cheshire Classics refurbished the seats using the original leather. Jaguar Main Dealer serviced up to 40,000 miles, the car was then given to a capable garage close to the vendor's home who have looked after it for the past 20,000 miles. Presented to auction with the original tool kit, manuals and service books, a fresh service and a new MoT, the car will be driven from the vendor's home, a journey of over 120 miles, to the auction.