1989 Jaguar XJ-S 5.3 V12 Auto

Remarks

The bodywork and paint are superb. In 2018 the car was sent to MV Classics for a full glass-out body restoration, including 28 hours of welding to fabricate and install new panels, leading to invoices for around £12,000. A new Jaguar Heritage bootlid had already been fitted. The overall effect is stunning. Photographs of the restoration are included on a USB memory stick. The owner at that time then found a new project and sold the car before finishing the final details. Consequently, the rear bumper top has had a small patch of chrome worn through by years of polishing and the off-side corner bumper top is slightly pitted, as are both door mirror casings.

Remarks

The interior was renovated in 2017 and looks very nice indeed. There is a new headlining (with board, supplied by Aldridge Trimming) in a significantly better quality material than was used by the factory and this is continued onto the A- and B-pillars, giving a more luxurious feel than the standard vinyl. The ski slope is new, as are some of the switches to ensure their graphics are fresh. The radio casette is the original Jaguar-branded unit and the carpets are in first-rate condition. A tiny tear in one of the seats has been professionally repaired by Aldridge Trimming, who also refinished (not re-leathered) the end of the grab handles where they are worn. The radio sounds as though it has lost connection with the electric aerial. In the boot, the original Jaguar jack pouch is in excellent condition and the car comes with the original Jaguar tool case with all the correct tools (even the touch-up paint), beautifully Jaguar branded and looking unused.

Remarks

Although the previous owner lives in Scotland, he had the car transported to KWE for engine and mechanical work (twice) because they have such a strong reputation with this model. The fuel injectors have been overhauled, the engine wiring loom replaced, the cam cover gasket replaced and several ancillaries were replaced to improve performance and reliability including ancillary wiring. Invoices from KWE detail a vast range of preventative maintenance, in total exceeding £10,000. Other powertrain work includes a full cooling system renovation at 61,000 miles as part of a £14,000 package of work at Hollygrove Jaguar, and the car is fitted with an AJ6 Engineering Stainless TT exhaust system and ‘super enhanced’ ECU. The sump gasket was replaced in April 2020 and the sump pan repainted, with a detailed photographic record of the work and the superb condition of the surrounding areas.

Remarks

A refurbished automatic transmission, supplied by jaguar, has been fitted.

Remarks

The majority of the £14,000 spent at Holygrove Jaguar (at 61,000 miles) covered mechanical work including a full suspension system and brake renewal (front and rear) with new, upgraded bushing, the removal and powder coating of the front subrame, new wheel bearings and a replacement steering rack. A photographic record of this impressive work is included on the USB memory stick. Vehicle dynamics are now excellent without significantly compromising ride quality.

Remarks

The KWE work included renewing much of the powertrain wiring (see engine section). The central locking is currently disconected as one of the door locks would not stay closed but it works well manually. The nearside door mirror adjusts side-to-side but not up-and-down. The passenger electric window motor needs attention as it was working well before winter storage but having been unused, now only lowers the window a few inches. A new Bosch S5A08 70Ah 760A battery was fitted in June 2020.

Remarks

Until 2010, this car led the normal life of a London-based Jaguar, confirmed by reguar stamps in the service book from main agents HR Owen, Stratstone Grays Inn Road and Stratstone Mayfair, covering a relatively modest mileage with very little additional information kept for the history file. But the first owner did keep the original documentation, including the pre-delivery inspection document from 01/08/89, the service book, handbook, sound system owners guide, various original data cards, a sales brochure and even the ‘Jaguar Stereo Radio Cassette Owners Guide’ audio cassette in its original box. From 2010 to 2020 the car was owned by a fastidious enthusiast who kept detailed records, both on paper and electronically, with photographs documenting the impressive body and running gear restorations. These are supplied with the car on a USB memory stick. There are MoTs and maintenacne receipts to validate the mileage from 2010, either side of a SORN period (2013-15) when the previous owner was working in the USA. The boxfile includes receipts since 2010 that in total exceed £38,800 plus notes of other items without receipts. Much of this expenditure is in the last few years. The car retains its original registration number, giving a continuos history and comes with a rare enamel Jaguar keyfob emblem, recently restored on a new mulberry leather fob.

Restoration Notes

Glass out, subrames off, with photographic record and receipts adding up to close to £40,000. Retrimmed, subrames powder coated, engine refreshed by KWE.