2021-08-26 13:46:58 | pauls writes:

Car at auction 8/21
themarket.co.uk/en/listings/jaguar/xjs-v12-kwe-convertible/6d78312a-bda4-4772-86 ...

Auction description:
Location: Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Odometer Reading: 137800 (5,000 since restoration)
Chassis Number: SAJJNADW3DB163743
Engine: 5.3 Litre
Gearbox: Automatic
Steering position: RHD
Colour: Black
Interior: Tan Leather
Estimated Price: £22,000 - £32,000
This simply superb example has had a no expense spared restoration in 2014. It was commissioned by the current owner and cost him the tidy sum of nearly £90k – yes, that’s ninety thousand Pounds Sterling. It was certainly a project of passion, as he was not looking to create a concours entry, but a car that he would be proud to take on a grand tour – of which he did around the Mediterranean the year of completion.

His dream was to create the car that Jaguar ought to have created when they made it originally. It appears that dreams really do come true in this case.

The detail he went to is impressive: upgrading the sound proofing, stainless steel exhaust and even introducing new silicone brake fluid rather than the hydroscopic that it began life with.

The list goes on and one, in fact seems endless, do take a good look in the photo gallery for the detail he’s paid to the receipt documentation.

The vendor wanted to create a car that he could really rely on, and he says now “… it never skipped a beat over the 5000 miles we drove”.

Knowles-Wilkins Engineering (aka KWE), the renowned Jaguar Specialists who restored this vehicle, pulled out all the stops with this one, and created a proper modern classic.

On the Outside
The car is pretty spotless as you’d expect, with a new Tonneau roof cover and superb new canvas for the convertible roof. The paintwork is highly polished and excellent, save some minor blemishes by the passenger door handle, few tiny marks and a chrome door mirror slightly crazed.

The rubber is in good condition for the vehicle of this age and the Chrome bumpers and accessories are also in very good condition.

The chrome ‘XJS’ and ‘V12’ emblems still looking as they ought.

The distinctive rear brake and indicator light covers are in excellent condition.

The flat line of the boot has good paintwork really emphasising those lines.

The square door mirrors, placed beside the widows, show a great door fit.

On the Inside
The leather is excellent, and in superb condition, the driver seat seems to have had little use and the mahogany dashboard and side panels are glistening. The carpet is in great condition too.

The electrically operated convertible roof works as it should, with the hand brake on and after you unclasp the roof catches. The Tonneau cover fits snuggly on top.

All the electrics worked for us, including the seat panel switches.

There’s a jumble of accessories and spares in the boots, such as brake drums; fan belts and a small Jaguar tool kit complete with latex gloves and lights. As well as the usual wheel brace and jack in its own carpeted pouch - a gorgeous touch.

The chrome on the wing mirror switches, ashtray and handbrake – all places where the hand would normally interrupt the plating, - looks to be meticulously looked after. And it really shows.

The owner tells us he never took this car out in the rain, and we believe him. It is evidential that this car has not seen the UK weather and has as such kept it all in very, very good condition indeed.

Underneath
With a cavity wax, many new engine and undercarriage parts, this V12 is sound. And sounds glorious!

The engine bay is spotless. When you look at it there really is no room for it to become dirty it seems, as it is jammed packed with what drives this grand tourer for a perfectly smooth ride. And we felt it along the country roads in Oxfordshire: a terrifically smooth ride.

There’s a full set (including spare) of matching Falken tyres, all in very good condition. The rims are excellent too, we couldn’t see a scrape on them.

History Highlights
This car comes with a tome of paperwork: front stiffening Cross frame kit, air-conditioning unit tested and working, rear suspension disassembly and reconditioned, welding to under carriage, stainless steel exhaust, full 75,000-mile service, full 15,000-mile service, full 60,000-mile service and then, engine recon – so engine running period required, the list continues….rear shock absorbers, new left-hand bumper, cavity wax injection, xenon headlamp conversion… new hood and headlining….

The list is endless, do please read the details on the paperwork shown in the photo gallery, if you have a cup of tea and some time on your hands that is.

2025-01-12 08:14:55 | pauls writes:

Car returns to market 1/25

www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/listing/jaguar/xj-s/xjs-5-3-v12/1989/377339

Seller's description:

Classic & Sportscar Centre, Malton, UK

This is a fantastic Jaguar XJS V12 Convertible in a truly beautiful colour combination. Whilst presented in excellent condition, it has proven a brilliant overseas touring classic, and whilst we normally collect our vehicles in enclosed transporters, proving the point of reliability and usability further, we drove this car faultlessly 300 miles from Peacehaven, Sussex to Yorkshire. This XJS has had a staggering £110,000 spent on restoration work since 2014, over £90,000 of this in 2014 when internationally renowned engineering firm KWE Cars, specialists in restoration and upgrades of classic Jaguar and Aston Martins carried out a major rebuild with the brief create a brand new, better XJS able to undertake long continental journeys with total reliability and comfort for many years in the future. Then in 2021 when purchased by Actor and Comedian Steve Coogan, over £20,000 was spent with KWE Cars and XJS specialists Clarke’s Restoration before selling the car to one of his close friends, a friend and regular customers of ours based in the South East.

The restoration in 2014 is well documented in the history and includes a photo record. The rebuild project began in early 2014, and in the October the XJS left the KWE workshops and was immediately put to the test. The Jaguar was driven over to the island of Malta in the Mediterranean faultlessly and the car then used for long distance European tours before returning to the UK and being sold to Steve Coogan in 2021. During the restoration process the XJS was upgraded with Harvey Bailey front and rear chassis stiffeners to reduce scuttle shake, improved engine cooling and component heat management, a stainless steel exhaust system further wrapped in woven Kevlar to prevent heat ingress into the cabin, various sections of wiring wrapped in heat resistant silicone tubing, LED headlights, new reliable electrical systems, improved sound deadening and a full KWE engine rebuild. The XJS was also stripped down and re-painted, a new mohair hood fitted and a bespoke hand stitched leather interior made for the car. The results met expectations, and was quoted to drive as a factory fresh XJS built to a standard superior Jaguar originally achieved. The XJS covered 5000 miles on the Continent before returning to the UK and has now still covered less than 8000 miles completion.

During 2021 when owned by Steve Coogan, the XJS had a further £13700 spent with KWE and this included re-commissioning the air-conditioning and heating system, new ARB bushes, re-conditioning the steering rack, further upgrading lighting to Halogens, re-conditioning of the differential and replacing all the springs and dampers with KWE spec upgraded parts. The Jaguar was also cavity waxoyl injected. In 2022 almost £10,000 was spent with specialists Clarke's Restorations, the gearbox began slipping (not renewed at restoration point in 2014) so a re-conditioned gearbox and torque converter were fitted at a cost of over £4000 alone. The hood was again replaced, a rebuilt alternator fitted and various other work carried out. Since being with its last owner the XJS has been used on fine weather days down the South Coast and has not required any work over and above maintenance.

The XJS was manufactured on the 20th June 1989 finished in Jet Black and supplied new by Guy Salmon Jaguar, Thames Ditton. The car comes with its original manual and service book that contains an impressive main Jaguar dealer and Jaguar specialists service history. By 2014 when ready for its restoration, the XJS had covered 133,000 miles and has now covered 141,000. Of course with over £110,000 of expenditure, this is a rebuilt, restored car with mileage since rebuild in 2014 more relevant. However, although the car has an unbelievably impressive rebuild file, the detailed file of early invoices and stamped service history show this was a very well maintained car throughout the majority of its life. Ten years on since restoration the XJS is exceptional to drive, with its rebuilt engine, gearbox and upgrades it is very special on the road. The car still presents well, the Jet Black paintwork ten years on since re-paint has a nice finish, the bodywork is lovely and straight and the interior is truly outstanding. We have never seen an XJS that has had this level of expenditure, and without doubt this offers its next owner a fantastic opportunity.