2021-09-02 11:09:48 | pauls writes:

Car at auction 9/21
www.classiccarauctions.co.uk/events/2021-auctions/the-practical-classics-classic ...

Auction description:
Year of manufacture: 1989
Make: Jaguar
Chassis number: SAJJNADW3DB165250
# of cylinders: 12
Transmission: Automatic
Engine capacity: 5343
Body colour: Westminster Blue
MOT Expiry: Wednesday 27 October 2021
LHD/RHD: Right-hand Drive
Registration number: G337 UTC
Engine number: 8S071065SA
Interior colour: Oatmeal
Odometer Reading: 79013 miles

A Series II Convertible powered by the 5.3-litre 'HE' V-12 and a ZF automatic box
Supplied to our lady vendor on the 29th September 1989 in Westminster Blue with Oatmeal leather piped blue
Acquired on the spot whilst waiting for her husband’s Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow to be serviced at Hartwells, Bristol
All the usual Jaguar refinements including heated seats, air conditioning, power steering, windows and hood
Used mainly for jaunts to their holiday home in Brittany, the car’s story is told in an article in the Jaguar Enthusiast Magazine in October 2018
This much-loved car has had many thousands spent over the years with a new mohair power hood, new carpeting and a professional respray
Marque specialists, Swallows, overhauled the mechanicals in 2020 at a cost of £4,000 and the car wears 5 Pirellis tyres fitted 110 miles ago
Presented to auction with the original radio/cassette player, tool kit, service book, history file bursting with receipts and an odometer reading of 79,013 miles (atoc).

2022-10-11 09:30:31 | pauls writes:

Car returns to auction 10/22

themarket.bonhams.com/en/listings/jaguar/xj-s-v12-convertible/47c6b955-784c-4716 ...

Auction description:

Sellerventuri300

Location: Steventon, United Kingdom

Seller Type: listings/auction-view.Trade

Odometer Reading: 79,455

Chassis Number: SAJJNADW3DB165250

Engine: 5343

Gearbox: Auto

Steering position: Right-hand drive

Colour: Dark Metallic Blue

Interior: Oatmeal Leather

Estimated Price: £12,000 - £18,000

*This XJ-S Convertible is being sold with No Reserve*

The included V5c document notes three owners from new but this is most definitely a one-owner car; allow us to explain…

Bought new by a hotelier couple in the days when it was still worth placing your own cars in the company name as a part of their business, they were subsequently prohibited from selling it to themselves when the time came to move it on into private ownership. In came a friend who took brief ownership, before swiftly selling the XJ-S back to our couple. This is backed up by notes in the history and the invoices (and there is an impressive amount of them in the car’s History File, see below) which are all in the original registered owner’s name.

Another thing to be aware of is that this car has wanted for nothing; it’s always been garaged, and it’s always had money spent on it when required and at main dealers and reputable specialists.

It isn’t concours because it has been used and not pampered, but because of that ‘money no object’ outlay it does remain in top driving condition. The body had a respray in France around 10 years ago (the owners had a house in France at the time), with a new roof fitted at about the same time and the alloy wheels refurbished.

It also has a very good service history from day one that can again be viewed in our Photo Gallery, below.

Our hotelier couple are now retired, and the XJ-S was hardly being used; they’ve loved the car, but have passed it to a friend in the trade, our vendor. Now is the time for someone else to snap up this well-loved and well-looked after V12.

On the Outside

As an original example with no signs of accident damage, you won’t be surprised to find that panel gaps are even and tight (Jaguar had sharpened things up come this generation XJ-S). The pinstriping on both flanks lines up nicely and the colour is a fabulous sparkly metallic blue.

You can detect that it’s had a respray from the bonnet shuts, but it is a smart job and one that’s still holding up very nicely; there are also one or two very small bubbles here and there, but they’re only discernible up close.

The wheels were refurbished about 10 years ago and remain smart and two new Pirelli tyres were fitted in 2018; all have plenty of life remaining and no obvious issues. Body plastics including on the bumpers are generally fade free, except the little triangular caps at the bottom corner of each front quarter window.

It’s a classic car you can happily drive in its current smart condition without the worry of leaving it in a pub car park, as you would a concours example.

On the Inside

The Oatmeal leather piped dark blue provides a very pleasant contrast to the dark exterior colour and lends a touch of luxury to the interior. That is further enhanced by the light wood veneer, which makes for a smart combination.

The leather seats have survived well; there’s very little wear to the outside bolster on the driver’s seat, which is good to see, and each seat has a nice patina. The wood is generally good, but the ‘ski-jump’ (the wooden panel on the centre console) is cracked and will need repair or replacing. Door cards are clean as well, and carpets good. There are one or two marks here and there and the centre column armrest/storage lid is a bit grubby and could do with a deep clean.

The original radio is present and works, as does (you’ll be glad to know) the hood mechanism. A new quality mohair soft top was fitted around 10 years ago and remains very presentable after a fresh waterproof; there are two tiny wear crease points behind the driver’s shoulder but no marks on the headlining to indicate a lack of watertightness, which inspires confidence.

There are a couple of faults to be aware of: all electrics, including the windows and door mirrors, function except the front fog-lights so some investigative work will be required there. The same applies to the air-conditioning; during the car’s recent check-up it was recharged and functioned, blowing nice cold air. However, a couple of days later the fluid charge had departed, indicating a leak in the system.

A nice tonneau cover is included, as is a full car cover and tool kit. The boot has the wrong colour carpet, possibly replaced after a shopping leakage or something of that ilk.

Underneath

The vendor has driven the car for around 250 miles without issue; it’s reported as being smooth, powerful, and taut on the road. Everything that you would expect from a well looked after example of Jaguar’s big cat.

The engine bay is clean and appears leak-free and the underside is a touch dirty with a bit of surface rust here and there. The next owner may wish to have one or two areas tidied up and some fresh underseal applied to ensure it is spot on for the upcoming decade and beyond. The vendor reports that there is also a minor leak from one of the power steering pipes.

A previous MOT test noted a rusty front subframe as an advisory, which could be quite a scary thing to see on an XJ-S ticket. However, to allay any such fears the vendor had it checked out recently by a specialist and it confirmed the following:

‘Front subframe has surface rust, but no significant issues found. Underside of car is sound, one repair patch found inside offside rear wheel arch, otherwise no other welding repairs visible. No welding required. Car appears genuine and original with no accident damage visible.’

Peace of mind when buying a classic car does not get any better than that.

History Highlights

In amongst a considerable pile of invoices (and Service Book stamps) all arranged in date order, you’ll find reassurance. Perhaps the most important document in the XJ-S’s file is the very recent invoice dated August 26, 2022 confirming the solidity of the car’s underside, therefore you’ll find it front and centre (second photo in the document section of our Photo Gallery).

The comprehensive service history is worth taking your time to flick through and demonstrative of the long-term owners’ approach to maintaining the car. Even though the car only drove a thousand or two miles annually in the later years, the car was regularly treated to a service including a request to fix the faulty incidental items. All the XJ-S original manuals are present, as is a lovely article that the gentleman half of the ownership team wrote for the Jaguar Enthusiasts magazine.

There’s an assortment of expired MOT test certificates (and it’s just had a fresh one popped on it), as well as an old tax disc or two.

Again, it is very worthwhile spending time looking through the assorted invoices as these show the significant outlays made by the owners on the car throughout its lifetime. These include:

· Brake, cooling, and suspension work (£4033.68, 07/08/2020)

· Service and general maintenance (£835.99, 20/04/2012)

· 2 x Rear plus 1x spare Pirelli 235/60R18 tyres (£765, 05/07/2018)

· Refurbishment work €3119.16, 02/09/2010)

· Refurbishment work €4449.16, 30/08/2008)

The invoices going further back are also all present in the folder with respective dates and totals displayed.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has a comprehensive service and maintenance history from new and has been maintained to an excellent standard.