2018-03-09 12:10:36 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 3/18
themarket.co.uk/listings/jaguar/xjs-40-hatchback/f0d68873-8bf1-4f36-954e-f8fb53c ...
Car has a Buy Now Price: £19,000

Auction description:
1993 JAGUAR XJS 4.0 Hatchback Coupe

Location: Coventry
Mileage: 118000
Chassis Number: SAJJNAED3EJ189748
Engine: 3980
Gearbox: Auto.
Color: Kingfisher Blue
Interior: Doeskin Leather

Having worked for Jaguar since 1979, the owner and inspiration behind this coachbuilt XJS had been obsessed with the idea of creating a hatchback version since 1981. Taking inspiration from previous Jaguar coachbuilders - not least, Lynx with its gorgeous Eventer estate conversion - he spent decades planning how he would create the car you see here.

Starting the project in 2008 with a clean, standard XJS AJ6 4.0-litre automatic with cloth upholstery and an impeccable history, he spent a further two years studying the car in the flesh to confirm that his plans were workable, safe and strong; his role as an homologation manager for Jaguar means he knows a thing or two about engineering safe and aesthetically pleasing vehicles...

He carried out some of the work himself, outsourcing the rest to a series of craftsmen who shared his passion, enthusiasm and uncompromising approach to creating the perfect hatchback.

Only being sold to fund a new project, this is one of the most interesting and carefully conceived conversions we've ever seen; we'd say it is indistinguishable from a factory job but we're pretty sure it might be better than that.

We displayed this beautiful XJS at the London Classic Car Show this weekend, and amongst the engineering and aesthetic compliments, we had a number of people who realised this conversion allowed them to own an XJS. Those whose life includes a mountain bike, a golf trolley, a wheelchair or even a large dog could now feasibly own one of Jaguar's large coupes.

The rear coachwork and hatchback conversion was completed by James Sidwell Classic Cars, chosen not only for the quality of the work (he is renowned in Jaguar circles for his work on the XK120, XK140 and XK150) but the enthusiasm he showed when the owner unveiled his plans for the project.

The work took 55 hours, plus however long it took the owner to painstakingly strip the rear in advance of the work starting. The engineering drawings for the Lynx Eventer were used to assess whether any further strengthening was needed (it wasn't) and the tailgate was constructed around an MGB GT rear screen. The tailgate also incorporates a high-level rear brake light and follows the lines of the XJS's buttresses perfectly, an XJS design feature he was keen to retain.

Steve Natt of Brookfield Paint in Hinckley then painted the car, taking the opportunity to tidy some delamination on the roof as well as repairing some rust around the wheelarches and windscreen. The result is utterly stunning, there is certainly no join.

The bodywork and paintwork remain in fabulous, unmarked condition as do the 18-inch alloy wheels. Taken from a 1998 Jaguar XJR, they are shod with good quality, low-profile tyres and while the seller tells us they do tramline a little at speed, we agree that this is a small price to pay for wheels that fit the arches better than anything that was ever fitted in period.

Eagle-eyed readers will have spotted that the car is fitted with the oval exhaust tailpipes from the Celebration model in place of the round standard pipes. This is just one of dozens of examples of the attention to detail paid throughout the creation of this extraordinary car.

We have looked over this car and the level of engineering and craftsmanship is supremely impressive, please feel free to visit and see for yourself.

The depth and breadth of the interior work is no less impressive: GB Classic Trim undertook the work, which included modifying the rear seat backs into the split versions you see here.

The load space was trimmed in the original carpet material and the rest of the boot, roof and rear passenger compartment followed. The false boot floor is fitted with a gas strut to help with raising such a large piece, a seemingly small piece of engineering that took an awful long time to calculate and install properly...

All-in-all, the work took 58 hours and, again, the quality is probably better than that of the original. Other highlights include aftermarket cruise control and the interior wood trim, steering wheel and gear knob from the Celebration model.

The only niggles are a driver's seatbelt buckle that sometimes doesn't latch first time, non-functioning passenger door mirror, a couple of dashboard bulbs that have blown and a missing badge on the steering wheel. The latter is, however, supplied with the vehicle and just needs fitting.

The straight six engine remains untouched, but is in fine fettle and remains leak-free and free of known faults, as are the rest of the mechanical components. The owner tells us that the car drives "superbly", returning around 26mpg on average. The car's service history is comprehensive and exhaustive, and the car has wanted for nothing over the years.

The custom-built stainless steel fuel tank gives a range of approximately 350 miles and utilizes the existing fuel tanker sender unit, which ensures that the gauge still gives an accurate readout of the amount of petrol in the tank. The fuel filler nozzle is the small 'unleaded' type and the seller tells us that this sometimes causes splashback if the tank is filled in a hurry; he believes that opening this up to the full width to let the air in the tank out more quickly would cure it of this problem.

The XJS comes with a vast quantity of receipts and invoices, old MOT certificates, fully stamped service history book, owner's handbooks, and V5 registration document. The service history and receipts go right back to day one. The car will also be accompanied by a complete history of the conversion, including a photo album, original design sketches and drawings (the first of which were done back in 1981...), copies of the magazine articles written about it and all the receipts associated with the work. Please visit the 'Gallery' section of this listing to see just some of them.

The car also benefits from the displayed registration 30 OXJ and lifetime free membership of the XJS Club.

How do you price a one-of-a-kind car like this? Well, you can start by looking at prices of Lynx Eventers, which start at £40,000 plus. You then need to factor in the vendor's experience with, and knowledge of, the marque (along with almost forty years of planning...) as well as the vast sums of money he has ploughed into converting what was already a very well-preserved standard XJS.

After hours of tapping away on our calculators and applying a little 'man maths'....we are still not sure! For once we can only say this is worth what someone will pay for it; needless to say, the current owner is looking for a premium over a standard car, and funds to complete the next one. One thing for sure, this truly is an unrepeatable car from an impeccable source; if you were to try and recreate it well, we simply don't think you could. Not without his help.

Once bought, this well-known vehicle would be welcome at any Jaguar show or event in the world. It could also be enjoyed as an uber-practical grand touring car, or form the centerpiece of any discerning collector's collection; with the revived interest in classic Jaguars - thanks in no small part to the company's interest in monetizing its heritage via a series of limited edition recreations - we think it should be a safe place to put your money, too.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at Patina HQ in Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the 'Contact Seller' button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our 'Frequently Asked Questions'.

2021-08-25 10:38:19 | pauls writes:

Car returns to auction 9/21

www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-44---1993-jaguar-xjs-40-hatchback/&so=0&st=jaguar&sto=0&au=501&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd ...

Auction description:

1993 Jaguar XJS 4.0 'Hatchback'

Lot 44 (Imperial War Museum Duxford, Wed, 8th Sep 2021)

Estimate £16,000 - £20,000

Registration No: 30 OXJ

Chassis No: SAJJNAED3EJ189748

MOT: Sept 2022

Unique XJS 4.0 with professional hatchback conversion

119,500 recorded miles and 5 previous keepers

Offered with photographic record and detailed drawings of the conversion

Subject to a previous brake overhaul and collection of invoices

Offered with bookpack, handbooks and service book with 20 stamps

Private registration number included and retrimmed in Leather by GB Classic trim

Original set of 4 16" Jaguar alloy wheels included

This unique XJS 4.0 features a professional conversion to a hatchback making it even more of a practical grand tourer. The owner of the car was a Homologation Manager at Jaguar and had been intending to produce such a design since 1981. Starting in 2008 he spent two years studying the car to ensure his idea was safe and strong. The actual conversion was completed by Jaguar specialist James Sidwell Classic Cars involving 55 hours of labour. Constructed around an MGB GT rear screen, a high-level brake light is incorporated whilst the rear lid blends perfectly with the buttresses which are so intrinsic a feature of the bodywork. The car comes with a photographic record of the works and detailed drawings of the design. With some 119,500 miles recorded on its odometer, it registers five former keepers and has been subject to a previous overhaul of the braking system. The interior has also been retrimmed in Doeskin leather by GB Classic Trim who split the rear seats at the same time. Offered with its book pack, handbooks and service books (containing 20 stamps), cherished registration mark ’30 OXJ’ and an original set of four 16" Jaguar alloy wheels (the car now riding on 18” alloys) plus an MOT certificate into September 2022.

2022-02-03 11:22:53 | pauls writes:

Car returns to auction 2/22

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1993-jaguar-xjs-40-sport-hatch-ndBMN8

Auction description:

1993 Jaguar XJS 4.0 Hatchback Conversion

Colour Kingfisher Blue

Odometer 119,370 Miles

Engine size 3980

Town Kettering

Location Northamptonshire

Country United Kingdom

One-off hand-built XJS ‘Sport Hatch’

Beautifully executed and properly engineered

Registration number included

Incredible, comprehensive history

First registered as L971 JVV, the XJS was originally supplied by Marshall Jaguar of Kempston and was used as a company director’s company car, racking most of its 119,000 miles in the first five years of its life. Since then, it has been enthusiast owned and maintained, and has been meticulously serviced with stacks and stacks of bills to back up its provenance.

In 2009, it was acquired by Mike Sharman from a classic car dealer in the Midlands and was taken back to Mike’s Coventry home to start its new chapter. 

Mike set out his plans in a document, including project waypoints and targets like any professional engineer. He also sat down and worked out measurements of various parts, the correct angles for the boot lid conversion, the length of tailgate strut required and what materials he’d need for the load bay.

Over the next two years, with the assistance of respected specialists GB Trim and James Sidwell and Co – a classic Jaguar restoration company – he set about the conversion sourcing parts from other cars and getting other components bespoke-built for the ultimate quality in his conversion. Mike’s vision was to make the XJS looks as good as if it had come from the factory – and he did. 

It was acquired by the vendor, who bought it from Mike in 2016, but a combination of a lack of space and advancing years have made him decide to scale down his car collection, meaning the XJS has to go.

The Paperwork 

The history file with this car is phenomenal – even before the conversion, it was clearly well loved and the service book is stamped all the way from pre-delivery inspection to 116,971 miles, less than 2,500 miles ago. 

It has recently had over £2,000 spent on new tyres and service maintenance to ensure it remains as well kept as it has been used to all of its life. 

As well as the service book, there’s a huge folder of receipts, a handbook, some old tax discs and a Jaguar wallet, whilst in addition there is a photo album featuring a complete record of the hatchback conversion from the initial purchase of the car to the project being completed. 

The registration number – 30 OXJ – is included in the sale and the car has an MOT test until September 2022.

The Exterior 

At first glance, the XJS looks just like any other – but that was Mike’s original vision. From the front and in profile you can’t tell that it’s a conversion at all. 

At the rear, it takes a few seconds to notice as unlike other conversions it retains its original Jaguar tail lamps, badges and bumper. 

The tailgate is a work of art. Crafted from scratch, it uses the rear window from an MGB GT and is tapered to match the curvature of the XJS’s distinctive rear pillars. It eve incorporates a high-level brake light. If Jaguar had created a lift-back GT from the XJS, you can’t help but think it may have enjoyed some success. 

The bodywork is extremely well presented with a deep shine and very few imperfections of any note. There are a couple of tiny marks, but nothing that stands out or detracts from its exceptional appearance. 

It sits on 18-inch XJR alloy wheels, which are shod with nearly new tyres all-round, but is also supplied with its original 16-ich alloys so the new owner can choose their favourites.

The Interior

The interior of any XJS is special but this one is even more so, especially at the rear. 

The luggage area is trimmed in colour-matched carpet, plastic and leather to the rest of the car and was built to order on Mike’s behalf, the absolute key being getting the measurements and materials absolutely correct, right down to the stainless steel luggage runners to protect the carpets. 

The seats were retrimmed at the same time as the conversion, in oatmeal leather, as the original seats had cloth inserts and weren’t in keeping with Mike’s prestigious vision, while the rear seats are split in the middle, allowing them to be folded down completely to increase rear luggage capacity. It’s a clever system, entirely of Mike’s own design. 

Otherwise, the rest of the cabin is also superb with all of the major controls working as they should, and excellent wood veneers.

The Mechanics 

The AJ6 engine has a displacement of 3980cc and develops 240bhp. It's a lively unit that really suits the XJS’s character.

The engine starts easily and settles to a very distinct sounding idle which is typical of the Jaguar straight-six - a kind of muted burble that's almost waiting to be prodded from its slumber. Open it up and it sounds utterly glorious and exceptionally smooth, helped in no small part by an aftermarket stainless steel exhaust. 

Power is fed to the rear wheels via the notoriously tough four-speed ZF automatic gearbox.

We were able to drive the car on a 10-mile test route and can confirm that it is a really good example, with taut handling, responsive steering and good brakes, and that the rear body conversion does nothing to affect the car’s torsional stiffness. It really does feel like a factory standard car.