By the time 1996 rolled around, the writing was on the wall for the classic Jaguar XJS. Despite being occasionally maligned for quality control issues (more of an issue with earlier cars than later models), the XJS was a steady presence on roadways in the USA and overseas, where it’s still a fan favorite with British brand loyalists. I wonder if those enthusiasts would want to get their hands on this donated final year XJS, as special editions model usually carry actual meaning for these individuals knowing this marked the end of an era. Find this Jaguar here on eBay with bids to $5,405 and no reserve.
The final year of any model is typically a fairly big deal to enthusiasts. For one, the major bugs are worked out, mechanically at least, making for the most reliable version of a specific car. The other detail to look for are revised or refreshed cosmetics, usually marking an improvement of some kind over prior years’ models. By this time in the XJS’ run, the safety bumpers had been dramatically improved to integrate more cleanly into the body. Smoked taillights were wholly unnecessary but looked just plain sinister. The headlights were also upgraded to the European style, losing the tracky “dual round” look. Aside from some failing clear coat, this XJS looks quite clean.
This XJS is sitting in a large lot of donated vehicles, and while it may seem like easy work to buy and flip cars, they rarely look this nice. The XJS appears to have a crack-free dash and seats in gorgeous condition, with attractive piping. The dash and console wood trim are in spectacular condition. The round wooden shift knob is part of the so-called final year “Celebration Model” edition, along with the airbag steering wheel with wood inserts. Other features include the flat-faced wheels with a “diamond-turned” finish. Despite having over 70,000 miles, the interior remains in outstanding condition, down to the carpets and wood inlays in the dash.
One of the most overbuilt elements of the late-production XJS is the lovely 4.0-liter AJ16 inline-six engine. This engine is celebrated throughout the industry for its durability, but the seller alludes to a worrisome overheat issue that was observed in a temperature gauges that seems to sit too high. That would truly surprise me given the reputation these engines have, but who knows? That could be the reason it was donated. When running well, the AJ16 produces 237 horsepower and 282 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s a wonderful mill, so hopefully this one really does just have a faulty gauge versus a looming head gasket issue.
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