Lot 012: 1976 Jaguar XJS 5.3 Coupe

The XJS has come of age. The E-type was always going to be a hard act to follow, but the replacement coupe launched in September 1975 retained the mighty 5343cc V12, endowing this grand tourer with silken thrust. It rode on typically Jaguar independent suspension: double wishbones up front, and the William Heynes-designed independent rear suspension that ingeniously uses the driveshaft as the upper suspension link, saving space. Comfort and pace were unrivalled. At first, buyers had the option of a manual four-speed gearbox or a three-speed automatic, but all XJSs were automatic from 1978. There were soon engine upgrades to more efficient HE spec and eventually 6 litres, and the choice of a 3.6 and later 4.0-litre straight sixes. In 1991 the XJS was facelifted with revised rear styling and new front and rear lights. Replaced by the XK8 in 1996, it was in production for longer than the E-type and sold in greater numbers. Time has been kind to the XJS's looks, and now prices are rising as its popularity increases. As many have rotted away, good ones are increasingly harder to find. There are no such worries with this car. The vendor bought this early XJ-S V12, with rare manual transmission, in 1989, and immediately subjected it to a thorough two-year restoration including, unusually, fitment of a new Jaguar bodyshell. The engine was extensively overhauled and the car was retrimmed in black leather by Gary Wright. The electrical equipment is described as "excellent". The owner says "we really went to town on it" and bills for the refurbishment totalled more than �20,000. Since then, the car has covered only 3000 miles, the odometer now standing at only 67,542 miles, or an average of only just over 2000 miles for each of its 32 years. With its asking price a fraction of its restoration costs - and much less than this car would cost to repeat today, even should you be able to source a new bodyshell - this rare early manual XJS looks fantastic value.