There's a rule of thumb for Jaguar sports cars, one that stretches back more than half a century. Put simply, it's that the original is, styling-wise at least, by far the most appealing. Over the extensive production runs of everything - E-Type, XJS, XK, even F-Type - Jaguar has seen fit to meddle and modify where it really isn't needed.
Spoilers, skirts, scoops and spats are added, spoiling the purity of what were originally very nice designs. Naturally there is a desire to keep up with trends, especially when one model must be made to last so long - though it often seems that that Jaguar way of doing it is clumsier than others. Look at Series 3 E-Types, the XJSs of the 1990s, the XKs before its 2014 demise; they've all just been made fussier, without necessarily being better. Fortunately it seems that the message has gotten through - because the latest F-Type's facelift is a very successful one - but even that didn't escape scot free, with one or two dubious bodykits before then. And the new one's rear diffuser...
Anyway, point is that it's earlier the better for any of the Jag sports cars, at least from a design point of view. Nowhere is that better evidenced than with this XJS, a survivor from the third year of production (meaning it's more than 40 years old) and looking better than it ever has in red over cream.
Now, because the early versions of all these Jaguars tend to be the more desirable, they're also often the more expensive - E-Types being the perfect example. However, that isn't so with this XJS, as it's for sale at just £7,495.
Which, even allowing for the car's pitfalls - all of which are extremely well documented by now - looks like an alluringly cheap way into classic (and stylish) Jaguar ownership. It's a V12 automatic, which the majority of XJSs are, but as one of the early cars it goes without the High Efficiency tweaks that came later; or, as the advert puts it, "unhindered by the fuel saving restrictions" of HE versions. Still the issues around timing chains and an auxiliary air valve, raised in a recent Brave Pill, apply, as well as other XJS maladies (anyone ignorantly going into cheap XJS ownership now really only has themselves to blame).
The seller here freely admits a less than perfect exterior, suggesting the XJS "represents an ideal basis to improve upon or enjoy as is." There's appeal and merit in both choices; with money invested this could be one of the nicest (as well as oldest) XJSs around, while diving around in its current state means the next owner wouldn't have to be too precious - and can just get on with enjoying it.
Projects of any kind take a fair amount of commitment, leave alone those involving classic British sports cars and a V12 engine. Certainly, an XJS that's this affordable warrants closer inspection, and some considerable courage even with an all clear. But look at what stands to be gained: one of the best looking XJSs seen over its 21-year production run, a V12 engine and a price thousands less than anything comparable from the era. Risk and reward have seldom been so finely balanced - who dares take the plunge?
SPECIFICATION - JAGUAR XJS V12
Engine: 5,345cc V12
Transmission: 3-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 290@N/A rpm
Torque (lb ft): 294@N/A rpm
MPG: let's hope for double figures
First registered: 1977
Recorded mileage: 52,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £7,495
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