1989 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Coupé - Press Car and Top Gear-Featured

Please note this car now has an MOT, with no advisories, to 16th October 2024.

This is a remarkable example of Jaguar's long-lived XJ-S. It presents really well in Arctic Blue with a Saville Grey leather interior, that's not remarkable -there's a few of those around. It was featured on a very old episode of Top Gear, when a very young, posh and fluffy Jeremy Clarkson came to light reviewing this very car - he even opened the bonnet. Interesting, but not exactly remarkable (well the bonnet bit might be). No, what makes G70 WHP remarkable is its story and the fine detail contained therein over three decades, despite the fact that it's never really been anywhere and has lead a charmed life of heated garages and expert mechanical attention.

The full story is in the history file but our vendor has provided a precis:

• June 1989 - Leaves the factory for first owner - Jaguar Cars Ltd.
• Early 1990 - car featured on Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson
• December 1991 - car with new owner in Bognor Regis with 12,813 miles on the clock
• November 1993 - main dealer service HA Fox, Guildford 17,136 miles
• January 1996 - work at Harwoods of Sussex 18,864 miles
• December 1996 - new owner from Newbury buys at Blackbushe Auctions, 19,862 miles, £11,050
• May 2000 - MOT 22,821 miles
• June 2001 - MOT 22,927 miles
• June 2011 - car comes to me (the vendor) via specialist, MOT shows 23,158 miles
• August 2011 - Service and fettling at KWE 24,381 miles, moves in to heated garage in Wimbledon Village
• July 2012 - MOT 25,575 miles
• July 2013 - MOT 28,571 miles
• July 2014 - MOT 29,294 miles
• July 2015 - MOT 29,758 miles
• June 2016 - service and extensive recommissioning work at KWE including new EBC discs and Green Stuff pads all round, coolant change, cavity wax filling and underlay refresh, air-con service and a new starter motor. MOT 30,342 miles
• July 2017 - MOT 30,534
• September 2018 - MOT 30,644 miles
• April 2019 - service and work at KWE 30,644 miles
• November 2019 - MOT 30,836 miles
• August 2021 - MOT 30,905 miles
• March 2023 - MOT 30,937 miles

This late-model pure Jaguar V12 XJ-S represents the swan song of British development and engineering - there is an unbroken line of automotive DNA between this car and the 1950s MkVIII and MkIX, passing through the glories of the C-type and D-type racers, the legendary Mk2 and Mk10, beautiful E-types and XJ6s from the 70s. Look into the engine bay of this car and you are seeing history.

Originality is key to value, but to renovate a tired XJ-S to this standard could cost over £80,000, and that's if you could find one with this low-mileage to begin with. And then after all that it wouldn't be original. There is no doubt that the XJ-S is going to continue to fulfil its potential as an appreciating asset, and I doubt there are many out there as good in terms of condition, mileage and history as this one.