1990 Jaguar XJS V12 by KWE

Knowles Wilkins Engineering (KWE) Limited was founded in 2002 by Chris Knowles and Paul Wilkins. Their aim was to build a business based on "re-manufacturing' luxury cars. KWE are now possibly the world's largest restorer of the XJS, having processed over 200 cars. Of this 200 around half have had the full KWE suspension/brakes/steering renewal and upgrade, and nearly all have had significant engine work.

In 2004 James May of BBC Top Gear fame chose a KWE XJS to prove that the Jaguar XJS should be regarded as a World Heritage car! This certainly put KWE very quickly onto the map of classic car specialists.

Jaguar produced the XJS from 1975 to 1996. It was a "Grand Tourer' in the true tradition, so it never achieved the sporting image of the out-going E-Type. Interestingly it was in fact rather more aerodynamic than the E Type. During its life 115,413 cars were produced. Then in 1996 it was replaced by the XK8.

The initial package was clearly extremely sound so it became an ideal model for KWE to develop and improve.

The XJS we have here today went through KWE hands in 2010, when around £20,000 was spent on the car. Possibly the most significant improvements were to the suspension which was rebuilt and re-engineered giving the car better handling than when it left the factory. Something that James May highlighted with the car he drove. The brakes and steering were also attended to along with a full electrical service. The air conditioning was renovated and a new wood veneer console fitted. To suit modern driving conditions the headlamps were upgraded to HID Xenon units. To look after the car's long term future the underseal was replaced and a full cavity wax injection was done. Since then it has covered 3,000 miles of enjoyable, trouble free motoring, the only thing that went wrong was the heater matrix and that has been replaced.

The XJS was a fine "Grand Touring' car and KWE have made it better still.