1988 Jaguar XJS V12 Convertible

Timeless British elegance, effortless V12 power and sublime open-top grand touring.

Paint

The red paint finish has a smooth lustre and an impressive shine. Apart from the occasional touched-up chip on the nose and some very minor marks on the body, the paint retains a pleasing appeal with a consistent tone and an even hue throughout.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Bodywork

The exterior presentation is impressive, with no notable panel damage, discernible corrosion or issues with consistent panel fit. The shut lines are even, with no problems opening or closing the doors. The driver's side door sticks out slightly at the base, but overall the exterior has been well preserved.

The underside looks solid with a protective coat of inhibitor, and no issues were noted on the floor pan, suspension mounts or jacking points. The wheel wells, engine bay and boot floor are all clean.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Dashboard

The dashboard is smartly presented, free of any wear or marks on the padding. The veneer shows a few signs of age, with some fading and a minor fracture on the centre console, but overall it presents well. The switches, dials and controls are in good condition, and all are said to work as they should.

The trim by the passenger footwell has small plastic discs covering drill holes from a former car phone, but otherwise the cabin trim has been well looked after.

The door cards are tidy, and the soft-top headlining is presentable; whilst there are a few surface marks, it is free of rips and entirely consistent with the age of the car.

The boot shows evidence of careful use.

The drive

The legendary Jaguar V12 engine originally debuted in the E-Type, tracing its development roots directly back to Jaguar's ambitious 1960s Le Mans racing prototype programme. When packaged into the grand touring XJS, this magnificent, race-bred powerplant delivered unparalleled, turbine-like smoothness and effortless high-speed cruising dignity. The introduction of the High Efficiency (HE) V12 engine transformed the XJS into a remarkably refined grand tourer, improving fuel economy while increasing power and torque.

The engine pulls with a deceptive, linear surge of power. Acceleration feels completely seamless, with no hesitation, sputtering, or negative feedback from the engine. Roger demonstrated how effortlessly the car cruises at 50 mph; the cabin is heavily insulated, and the engine is so smooth that the car is deceptively fast. The interior was pleasingly quiet, with no significant noise heard from the wheels or trim.

Roger told us that the steering is smooth, positive and tracks straight without requiring correction at the wheel. The car glides with effortless grace, undisturbed by uneven road surfaces or imperfections. The gearbox comes into its own on the open road, with comfortably long gear ratios that suit relaxed touring.

The oil pressure and engine temperature remained consistent throughout the road test, with Roger reporting no historic issues. Following our spirited run, the cooling fan ran for around a minute to ensure the engine cooled down correctly.

Glass and trim

The glass and seals are in good condition, although the windscreen has a crack on the driver's side. It is above the driver's line of sight and has not worsened over the four years of Roger's ownership, but it is flagged as an MOT advisory.

The lights are in good condition; there is a minor crack on the offside rear lens, but it is purely cosmetic.

The trim is in good shape, with no issues regarding the bumpers.

Wheels and tyres

The 15-inch lattice mesh style alloy wheels are in good condition, free from significant road wear.

The front and rear of the car are fitted with Pirelli P600 tyres, showing a spec of 235/60/R15; the rears are over 20 years old, and the front pair are date-coded from 2015. They all have legal tread, although the rears are flagged up as MOT advisories.

Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

Seats and carpets

The cream leather seats are in good condition, although the driver's side shows age-related wear on the bolster and base.

The carpets are clean, with no signs of water ingress or dampness.

Engine and gearbox

The 5.3-litre V12-cylinder engine fires up instantly without heavy or pumped throttle input, settling into a smooth, eager idle free of unwanted knocks, ticking, or rattles. The dashboard warning lights all remained unlit; oil pressure starts at around 50 PSI when cold, settling to around 30 PSI as the engine warms up. Standard cold-engine condensation is present at the exhausts, but there was no unwanted smoke throughout our visit.

The engine bay is cleanly presented, with good hoses and ancillaries. The car has benefitted from a regular maintenance schedule in recent years. The engine showed no evidence of fluid leaks in Roger's garage and remained problem-free during our visit.

The three-speed automatic gearbox operates with smooth, predictable and confident changes, running silently in all gears. The kickdown functions quickly, cleanly dropping down a gear to provide prompt acceleration.

Electrics and other

The hood operation was faultless, with the electric motors raising and lowering the soft top effortlessly.

The catches are easy to operate, and the tonneau cover is in excellent condition.

History and paperwork

First registered in October 1988, the car comes with a comprehensive history file containing invoices, MOT certificates and receipts. These cover routine maintenance, sundry items and 10 instances of servicing going back to 2002, documenting the mileage at 37,855. Recent expenditure exceeding £2,000 over the past four years includes fresh coolant, replacement anti-roll bar links and a new trailing arm. The brake calipers were replaced in 2020, and the car was last serviced in May 2024, approximately 300 miles ago. A comprehensive collection of historic invoices documents a further £7,000 of investment.

The car is supplied with an MOT valid until May 2027, the original owner's handbook, two keys and its complete tool kit.

Please note that whilst the registration plate is set to be placed on retention, Roger is open to sensible offers for it.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Suspension and brakes

The ride is exactly as you would expect from an XJS, combining effortless bump absorption with supple yet planted cornering. We heard no significant knocking from the wheels as the car absorbed uneven road surfaces.

Braking felt firm and progressive, bringing the car to a dead-straight stop with no squealing, squeaking or scraping noises.

Steering wheel gear stick

The steering wheel and gear lever are consistent with the overall pleasing presentation of the interior.