1989 Jaguar XJ-S 5.3-Litre V12 Convertible

Conceived as a comfortable and long-legged Grand Routier, rather than an out-and-out sports car like the preceding E-Type, the XJ-S made use of the Jaguar XJ6/XJ12 saloon platform and running gear. Shorter in the wheelbase than its saloon siblings, the XJ-S debuted as a V12-powered Coupé. It was not until 1988 that a full Convertible became available, and it was a marvel of engineering. It is fair to say that Jaguar took their time to perfect the convertible mechanism, and such was its durability, it was adopted by Aston Martin for the DB7 Volante. The 5.3 V12 Convertible produced between 1988 and 1991 is acknowledged as the XJ-S Convertible in its purest form.

As confirmed by a letter from Jaguar Cars Ltd., this XJ-S was bought by our vendor’s grandfather, known as JJ, from T.W.R. Jaguar Ltd., of Coventry on 23th February 1989, and was first registered as JJ 184, which stayed on the car until 2005. Unusually specified for the time with Glacier White coachwork over navy blue leather and a matching dark blue mohair hood, the car has remained in the family from new. The accompanying service book records initial services by T.W.R, and following a period of being off-road due to JJ’s ill health, the car then passed to his son. It was locally serviced between 1999 to 2001 at the approved service centre Victoria Wood Oakham Ltd., Rutland, and displayed the mileage of 16,765 on 23rd February 2001.

In October 2020, our vendor’s father commissioned the renowned marque specialists, Classic Motor Cars of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, to commence a programme of works to bring the car back to its best. The accompanying invoices note the mileage at commencement of 19,716 miles. The meticulous attention to the car’s suspension, brakes, gearbox and sundry auxiliaries are methodically receipted and amount to over £20,000. Later transferred, in July 2021 to our vendor’s name, the car has been professionally stored and has covered just 98 miles since, as confirmed by the current odometer reading of 19,814 at the time of cataloguing. Presented to auction with the aforementioned Jaguar Cars Ltd. copy letter, historical and current receipts, previous MOT Certificates, tool kit, a selection of cassettes for use in the original player, period washer fluid, TWR tax disc holder and the embossed green book pack that includes the manuals and service book.

Today’s classic car market has matured to respect the raffish lines of the XJ-S and prices acknowledge the Convertible’s status as the only car that offers the best of British, namely silky smooth performance and a traditional interior. Built in an era when luxury British grand tourers were either hyper expensive wallowing land-yachts or low-volume production cars prone to faults whilst sporting parent company parts-bin switchgear, the XJ-S Convertible is in a class of its own. The perfect car for the first-time classic owner, and equally, the ideal choice for the aging British heritage enthusiast who wishes to upgrade to a capable luxury cruiser.