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Closed Auction- Unsold

1988 Jaguar XJS V12 Convertible

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  • Mileage~77,040
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Engine5.3L
  • LocationBromley

AUCTION CLOSED

1988 Jaguar XJS V12 Convertible

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Introduction

Alan Stuart
Professional Consigner

The last of the old-school Jaguars, combining a glorious V12 with racing heritage - the XJS is stately, refined and has a huge cult following.

The XJS is a luxury grand tourer produced by Jaguar from 1975 to 1996 - it was based on the XJ saloon platform and was noted for the unique prominent rear flying buttresses with early styling drawn by Jaguar's best aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer. While this modern classic remains remarkable value for money they are quickly appreciating, especially convertible models. Considered as one of the best-looking and most desirable XJS models produced, the convertible was a proper open-top luxury GT, with an electric hood mechanism, strengthened front section and subframe.

This example comes to market featuring the 5.3L V12 finished in "Maroon Red", coming to market from ~23 years ownership. With ~77,040 miles on the clock and a good amount of service history, this should attract enthusiasts and collectors alike.

This listing was written from information supplied by Alan after meeting Gary the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I've admired Jags for as long as I can remember, having owned this one for most of its life, it's a car that I'll always love.

Having been an avid Jaguar fan since he was younger, Gary had his eyes set on an XJS for a few years before he purchased this one, "There's something about the style and design of these cars, I think they're stunning looking and it was always my dream to own one" he tells us.

With a new car on the horizon, the time has come for the current owner to part with his beloved XJS, "It's been part of my life for so many years so I'll be sad to see it go" Gary has his eyes set on a newer car which is where the XJS comes to market. Should any questions be required with regards the car, Gary would be happy to answer these below.

Gary
Vehicle Owner

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CONTACT OWNER

Exterior

Instantly recognisable, iconic and luxury sports car, the XJS has graceful lines, the convertible tends to be the most desirable form.

Wheels and Tyres

Jaguar branded 15" alloy wheels appear in very good condition with no significant curb marks and only very minor signs of wear. The centre caps still look good, and the chrome plated wheel bolts present well.

The wheels are wrapped with 235/60 Pirelli P600 tyres which look in great condition and appear to have plenty of tread remaining. Take a look through the gallery section to see more detail on the XJS.

Bodywork

Panels align nicely and we could see no visible distortion to these areas. Shut lines and panel gaps look good and both doors and boot section open and close well. During our visit to see the car we took a 360 tour around the exterior showing all angles in the light of day.

Looking underneath the Jag's bodywork, there were a few signs of corrosion to the underside of the sills which may be worth looking at by the future owner. We also noted a couple of sections where the paint had started to bubble, particularly on the boot edge to the rear and the front offside bonnet edge. We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in "Maroon Red" the paint really stands out from the pack with its contrasting beige interior. Looking closely at the finish, there were a few stone chips on the bonnet area and a couple of signs of rust to the drivers door edge also, although nothing major.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these hi-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

Windscreen, windows, and lenses all appear in very good condition with no cracks or significant scratching. The chromework is good and, apart from some minor scuffing the black trim presents well.

The tonneau shows in good condition as does the hood, showing some signs of age, and for a small mark on the section by the back window which we've highlighted in our exterior gallery. Looking around the roof interior, this shows really nicely having had a new lining installed. On our visit, the electrically operated roof came down ok, but needed to be manually lifted to go back in to place.

Interior

The XJS interior points to Jaguar luxury with its plush leather seats and wooden inlays in the dashboard.

Seats and Carpets

The beige leather seats appear in good condition showing only very minor wear to the driver’s seat outer bolster, very typical for the XJS. Gary confirmed for us that the front electric seating functions were also working as they should.

The carpets in the cabin are also in good condition, with minimal signs of age. Inside the boot is clean and tidy, and the spare wheel is present. The headlining is also in good order, with no sagging or staining having been previously relined. Please see the interior gallery for more detailed images.

Dashboard

The dash area across the XJS showed nicely with no scuffs, scratches or untoward marks that we observed on our visit. The drivers section was looking great set in the signature Burl Walnut dash, with instruments appearing clear and undamaged. The wood and trim present in good condition and look stunning combined with the beautiful beige leather seats.

We noted a few signs of cracking on the walnut finish closest to the gear selector, but this wasn't a major area of concern. Our interior gallery section takes you over some closer images of the Jaguar's dashboard, head over and see the cars interior in finer detail.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The original steering wheel is present with the Jaguar emblem proudly sitting at the centre, this area does show with some wear to the rim and finish.

The gear knob is in good order with a small amount of age related wear. We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

Mechanics

The glorious 5.3L V12 engine transfers ~273BHP to the rear wheels through the smooth 3 speed automatic gearbox.

Engine and Gearbox

On the cold start we found no issues, the Jaguar firing up without hesitation. You may note in the video that the engine drops between revs on initial start up, Gary lets us know this was due to the automatic choke and we noted this stops after the engine has warmed which we demonstrate after the cold start video section.

The engine showed no signs of struggle when driving and the 3 speed automatic gearbox working smoothly through its paces without issue. We took the car on a drive around some local roads with the current owner to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. On the drive we run through the gears and get an overview from Gary of how the car performs.

Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks, bangs or issue from the suspension when we were on the road in the car, and it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling. There was some suspension/steering related work carried out in 2020 as per the invoice.

The brakes bring the car to a halt in a straight line with no juddering reported to come through the pedal and worked as to be expected. The stopping power and control felt good and worked as to be expected.

The Drive

The incredible sound of a V12 soundtrack on the road is something that never disappoints. Capable of delivering 0-60 in ~8.4 seconds, the XJS can really push out some great performance with a satisfying engine noise to demonstrate its potential. Equally, the car remains at home on a casual journey through town and city.

With its light steering the Jaguar handles beautifully going through the motions out on the road without issue or complaint, "Its a real joy to drive the Jag, with a V12 under the bonnet there's more than enough power to give you the performance you know a Jaguar can deliver. Plus, the sound when its out on the road just makes me want to drive it more".

Electrics and Other

All switches, dials and gauges look in good condition. Gary confirmed that the cruise control was working correctly, however the air conditioning wasn't working at the time of our visit. We also noted that the oil pressure gauge was not functioning correctly. There is an aftermarket Kenwood sound system fitted which was working.

As mentioned previously, soft top retractable power roof was tested when we visited but was a little slow in its operation and didn't raise back up again, ideally this would benefit from some work by the future owner as we had to manually fold the roof back up after dropping it down.

History and Paperwork

Coming from ~23 year ownership with 3 former keepers, this XJS V12 has a long MOT and is waiting for a new owner to take over custodianship.

The Jaguar has been well maintained over its years with a great amount of work being completed in June 2003. These works included new gearbox mount and springs, engine drive belts, wishbone bushings, front upper shocks, 2 new bonnet struts and downpipes seals. Also fitted were new HT leads, rotor arm, cap distributer, spark plugs and new front pads and brake callipers all of which cost ~£1,000.

In June 2016 a new water hose kit was installed costing ~£325, in November 2006 a new offside door solenoid, downpipes seals, rear brake hose, rear brake pads and handbrake calliper rebuild was carried out, in August 2003 a reconditioned water pump with new gaskets, 2 radius arms and bushings were fitted. In July 2003, new front discs and pads and brake fluid were changed.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house. This is an auction on behalf of a trade seller and normal auction rules apply, i.e. there is no warranty, no return policy and bids are binding with more info in our terms and conditions.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
30.01.2023 MOT 76,970
28.01.2022 MOT 76,641
25.01.2021 MOT 76,501
28.01.2020 MOT 76,049
24.01.2019 MOT 75,688
23.01.2018 MOT 75,384
25.01.2017 MOT 74,795
27.01.2016 MOT 74,079
28.01.2015 MOT 73,670
31.01.2014 MOT 73,578
30.01.2013 MOT 73,436
26.01.2012 MOT 73,374
12.01.2011 MOT 73,161
20.01.2010 MOT 72,898
31.09.2009 MOT 72,664
11.01.2008 MOT 70,851
15.11.2006 MOT 68,911
20.10.2005 MOT 67,346
11.08.2004 MOT 66,064
08.08.2003 MOT 64,193
29.07.2003 Service 64,189
30.05.2002 MOT 61,449
24.05.2001 MOT 57,573
18.02.2000 MOT 55,267
Key Details
  • ModelXJS V12 Convertible
  • TransmissionAutomatic
  • Reg. Date03.05.1988
  • CC5,343
  • Mileage~77,040
  • HistoryGood
  • ColourRed
  • Interior ColourBeige
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #SAJJNADW3DA149447
  • Engine #8S058148HA
  • MOTYes. Exp 30.01.2024
  • HPi ClearYes
  • Former Keepers3
  • Tyre BrandPirelli
  • # of Keys2
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~23 years
  • Key FeatureLong ownership
  • Auction ID1574






Auction Closed

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This car didn't meet its reserve price and may soon be available as a private sale - please contact us for more information.

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Ask Questions
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6 Comments
wirebrush
wirebrush
1 year ago

thank you is the temp gauge still in the high part tho ?.

wirebrush
wirebrush
1 year ago

Hi Gary , just watching the on road testing video and the water light seems to be on and off and the temp gauge seems high have you had any problems with the cooling system ?
regards wirebrush

jono
jono
1 year ago

Hi Gary – can you confirm the handbrake is 100% effective please? Many thanks. Jon

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Vehicle Location

Bromley

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