Registration No: G888 VYE
Chassis No: SAJJNADW3DB168017
MOT: June 2022
Launched in 1975, Jaguar's XJ-S was never envisaged as a direct replacement for the E-Type. More of a soporific grand tourer than an out-and-out sports car, it was designed to seamlessly blur borders rather than blast down back roads. To this end, it was equipped with automatic transmission as standard. Though, when fed the quoted 295bhp and 318lbft of torque developed by a post 1981 H.E. (high efficiency) 5.3 litre V12 engine, this still resulted in a claimed top speed of 150mph and 0-60mph in less than eight seconds. Introduced at the 1988 Geneva Motor Show, the long awaited full convertible version featured a reinforced floorpan, frameless doors and sophisticated electric hood (complete with heated glass rear window). Underpinned by the same all-round independent coil-sprung suspension and power assisted rack and pinion steering as its fixed head coupe siblings, the soft-top came with anti-lock brakes as standard. Priced at some £40,000, a waiting list was quick to form.
Beginning life as a demonstrator for Henlys of London Ltd, chassis SAJJNADW3DB168017 was bought by a captain of industry when it was just four months old and re-registered as ‘KOO 35’. Correspondence on file reveals that Henlys might have regretted the sale if only because the buyer was a gentleman used to getting his own way who had the Convertible returned to Browns Lane for a bare metal respray under warranty and complained about its noise levels at illegal speeds! Nevertheless, he returned the XJ-S to Henlys for servicing eleven times up to 69,099 miles. Entrusted to Jaguar Borauto SA of Alicante briefly thereafter, the last recorded UK service was at 81,705 miles (the odometer now shows some 83,000). Finished in striking Westminster Blue with Magnolia leather upholstery and a Navy Blue soft-top, ‘G888 VYE’ is described by the vendor as being in ‘very good’ (bodywork, interior trim) or ‘excellent’ (5.3 litre V12 engine, automatic transmission, electrical equipment, paintwork) condition. Said to be ‘a lovely original car with zero visible corrosion that has had minimal paintwork and drives very well’, this handsome XJ-S is offered for sale with full book pack, large history file and fresh MOT certificate.
For more information, please contact:
Damian Jones
damian.jones@handh.co.uk
07855 493737