Description

1988 Jaguar XJS 3.6 Automatic

Only 33,800 miles from new; ex-demonstrator with just three private owners, the current since 2008; always garaged; highly original; heated seats; air con; very nice indeed

When Jaguar’s sleek new XJ-S was launched in 1975 it proved somewhat controversial, Malcolm Sayers’ innovative ‘flying buttress’ rear end styling proving too radical for some tastes. However, as with all great designs, it has stood the test of time outstandingly well, pulling off that tricky feat of getting better looking with every passing year.
Conceived as a comfortable and long-legged Grand Tourer rather than an out-and-out sports car like the preceding E-Type, the XJ-S made use of a shortened version of the fabulously refined Jaguar XJ saloon platform, endowing it with a magic carpet ride that no longer seems to exist in the cars of today. The sales figures told their own story and it continued to fly out of the showrooms for a remarkable 21 years, making it Jaguar’s longest-running model.
Initially only available as a V12, soaring oil prices meant that a smaller-engined version was soon on the cards, and in 1983 it became the first model to receive Jaguar's new 225bhp 3.6-litre AJ6 engine. A smooth and potent unit that was not far short of the V12 in terms of outright performance, it was in a different league for economy.
"It is the 24-valve engine's flexibility that impresses most," wrote Autocar. "Such is its low-down pulling power that, in town and urban conditions, one rarely needs more than 2,000rpm to keep up with the traffic flow." Capable of hitting 60 in a whisker over 7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 137mph, at a steady 56mph it could still deliver 36mpg.
Delivered new to Taggart’s Jaguar of Glasgow in January 1988, this lovely XJS 3.6 was retained by them as a demonstrator until August of that year when it was sold to its first private owner who was to keep it for 11 years. The second owner bought it in 1999 and kept it for eight years, our vendor acquiring it to join his collection in 2008 at which point it had still only covered 26,200 miles.
Now showing 33,800 miles, it comes with a good service history comprising nine stamps in the book up to 26,211 miles in May 2008, the first six at the supplying dealer and the last at classic car specialists Marksdanes of Somerset from whom our vendor acquired the car. There are nine MOTs on file, the current ticket valid until March 2022 with no advisories recorded. In fact it has not had any advisories since 2006 apart from a rear number plate light bulb failure in 2010 – pretty impressive by any standards.
As you can see in the photos, the car is in excellent and totally original condition throughout, with the exception of the headlining which was replaced when the original began to sag – a common problem with all Jaguars of a certain age. The wheels were also refurbished in 2008 due to lacquer peel.
The original Silver Birch paintwork still gleams, the only blemish of any note being some slight bubbling at the base of the n/s/r wing, as shown in the photos. The magnolia hide interior is equally good with a nice patina and that classic Jaguar smell. It also benefits from heated electric seats to keep you nice and warm in winter with air con to keep you cool in summer, the latter serviced and uprated to modern gas by Marksdanes before they sold it in 2008. The original tool kit is still present in its case in the boot, as are all the original handbooks in the original Jaguar wallet.
We are told that it goes as well as it looks and has taken the current owner on tours of Europe and the North of England with the effortlessness you’d expect from such a low mileage example. It has certainly been starting promptly and running beautifully as we have moved it around on site, with good 60psi oil pressure.
Kept garaged as part of a large collection of classics, it is only offered for sale because too many other cars have led to increasingly infrequent use and it has barely covered 150 miles in the last six years. With a weekend’s worth of engine bay detailing and some minor paintwork correction, this could easily be an absolute show-stopper – it really is that good.
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email [email protected]