Lot details
Registration No: JXI 479
Chassis No: 1T1855BW

- 57,000 recorded and credible miles

- Little use over last 13 years covering only 5000 miles

- Blue leather interior

- Webasto type sunroof

- Desirable automatic

- Described as very good overall

Jaguar launched its XJ model range in September 1968 and it was the last Saloon able to boast the input of the company's founder, Sir William Lyons. The XJ was the marque's flagship, the Daimler Sovereign derivative of which was introduced in October 1969 as a replacement for the Sovereign 420. Externally virtually identical to its Jaguar sibling, apart from its fluted radiator grille and Daimler badging, the new Sovereign was initially offered with the choice of either a 2.8 or 4.2-litre version of the ubiquitous XK DOHC engine. The output of the latter was 245bhp at 5,500rpm - sufficient to waft the luxurious new Saloon to 60mph in a very creditable 8.8 seconds and on to a top speed of around 125mph - performance figures that left its rivals trailing. The new Daimlers/Jaguars drew almost unreserved praise from the motoring media, with Motor magazine saying: "The company has produced results which we believe every competitor throughout the world, from Rolls-Royce downwards, cannot afford to ignore". The monocoque body featured all-round independent suspension by wishbones and coil springs at the front and a version of the wishbones, coils and trailing arms set-up already fined-tuned on the MK X at the rear. Braking was by discs all round and steering by an Adwest power-assisted rack and pinion system. Initially, purchasers had the option of a four-speed manual gearbox with Laycock de Normanville overdrive or a Borg-Warner Model 8 automatic transmission. Early in 1970, the latter was replaced with the new Borg-Warner Model 12 box that allowed drivers to enjoy a degree of manual over-ride when desired. Retrospectively dubbed the Series 1, the first generation of Daimler Sovereign, Daimler Double-Six, XJ6 and XJ12 had a five-year reign, during which total production reached 82,126.