1992 Jaguar XJS 5.3 V12 Convertible

The XJ-S debuted as a V12-powered Coupé and Jaguar's first response to demands for an open-top version was somewhat conservative in engineering terms. The XJ-S had not been designed with an open version in mind, so the Targa-style arrangement was adopted during the mid-1980s for the XJ-SC, essentially an exercise in niche marketing to test public reaction. By 1988 and now convinced that there was indeed a market for a full convertible and having engineered an electronically retractable hood, the new car was launched.

An instant hit, it helped secure the model’s production for another eight years, the 5.3 V12 was standard for the Convertible until a re-launch under Ford in 1991. Having now dropped the hyphen, the new XJS was mildly facelifted with smoked rear light clusters and a new instrument layout. Now available with a 4.0 six-cylinder engine, buyers either chose this all new engine or waited for the 1992 introduction of the 6.0 V12. As such, this car was to be one of the very few 5.3 V12 Convertibles to be ordered new during 1992, and among the last so produced.

Ordered in the beautifully traditional, and rare for the period, combination of Jaguar Racing Green and magnolia interior with cream hood, the car was supplied by Dutton-Forshaw of Preston to Mr Anthony Lofthouse of Blackpool on the 1st August 1992. The Lofthouse name has been synonymous with one thing since 1865, a lozenge that we know as the Fisherman’s Friend. It gained worldwide popularity when Mr Lofthouse’ wife, Doreen, saw its potential for export in the early 1960s. Mr Lofthouse died in 2018, and Doreen left £41,000,000 in her 2021 Will to charitable causes.

The car was sparingly used by Mr Lofthouse with service stamps showing main dealer visits on 11th April 1994 at 917 miles and 16th April 1998 at 2,990, miles with incremental mileage increases until he sold the car in 2013 having covered some 9,800 miles from new. Bought by a Mr Barnes of Lytham St Annes who used the car even less, covering a couple of hundred miles until the purchase by the third and current registered keeper, a Mr Mursell of Essex on 10th October 2021. Patently well cared for, the car presents beautifully today with an odometer reading of less than 10,500 miles at the time of cataloguing.

Presented to auction with a history file including receipts, bookpacks, sales brochure, owner’s cassette tape, Dutton-Forshaw tax disk holder, both sets of keys, toolkit, previous and current V5C documents. The car will be freshly serviced by a Jaguar main dealer in readiness for the auction and the advisory free MOT history is up to date, with the current certificate valid until 3rd March 2024.

This car is of interest not just as the final curtain call of the legendary 5.3 V12 nor the long term ownership funded by a Fisherman’s Friend but as a low mileage car to grace the open road or a serious collection.