1987 Jaguar XJ-SC Competition Car

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, much more rigid than the subsequent full convertible and even the saloon.

Only 1,130 examples of the six-cylinder XJ-SC were built and we can’t recall ever having seen one converted to a race car, certainly at UK club level, and this striking car certainly looks the part. It was originally built to be eligible for the Standard 'Class A' of the popular Jaguar Enthusiast Club GT Championship, usually run over twelve rounds across six weekends of the season at some of the UK’s top circuits, including Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donington Park. It would undoubtedly be a welcome addition to the grids at a number of other UK Championships and, being road-registered, opens up the possibility of entry to hill-climbs, sprints, road rallies and even the occasional track-day.

In our vendor’s words: “A bit over two years ago, a race-winning Jaguar XJS race preparer fitted new race suspension bushes, custom roll-cage, outboard rear discs, a Topline automatic fire system, fabricated fuel tank, new Schroth Profi II ASM race harnesses worth about £900 plus all the other FIA regulation safety requirements. He then lightened the car by removing the air conditioning, carpets and noise padding, fabricated lightweight aluminium door and interior panels, fitted twin specially commissioned new Corbeau Sprint Excel race seats worth £1,900, a period Momo removable steering wheel, appropriate period aluminium wheels, and much more.”

External modifications to the top lip of the boot lid as well as the bespoke slim-line bumpers front and rear give the car a more pleasing outline. Our vendor feels it’s a little reminiscent of some of the early design studies by Malcolm Sayer, Jaguar’s legendary aerodynamicist and designer of the C, D and E-Types and who was responsible for the initial work on the XJ27 (XJS) before his untimely passing at age 53. His sleek low-nose style didn’t survive as a result of US headlight and ‘fender’ requirements and Sir William Lyons’ own preferences.

The car presents well in what appears to be Adriatic Blue with white roundels and stripes enhanced by a new Navy Blue soft top (£2,200) and black five-spoke alloys. There are one or two areas where there has been a paint reaction (see images) where the bodywork was not prepared properly. The original interior is available if required but is in France so a courier would be required, and the appropriate registration number, C7 XSC, will remain with the car.

Our vendor unfortunately sustained a long-term leg injury a week before the finished car was delivered, so this good looking Jaguar has never been raced. This is a super opportunity to enter the world of Jaguar Club Racing in a rare, possibly unique, road-registered racer that, apart from a spanner check, looks ready to go and, on offer at 'No Reserve', could be remarkable value.