In recent months, there has been a great deal of chatter about how Jaguar has lost its way. It’s not inaccurate, as after years of ho-hum vehicles and a disastrous rebranding campaign, many loyalists were left genuinely confused about where the company was heading. There’s been no dramatic shift in recent months, so what we’re left with are memories of how gorgeous and purposeful its cars used to be. The Jaguar XJS is a perfect reminder of how the British used to build fantastic GT cars with appointments and power that matched the exterior styling. This 1992 XJS listed here on craigslist is later-production coupe with excellent colors and the reliable 4L inline-six.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip. I have long wanted to find a 1993 model with the rare 5-speed manual, and when I see listings like these, I want to re-start the search. The XJS in its later years just matured absolutely perfectly: the U.S.-grade safety bumpers were smartly masked into the bodywork; the European-spec glass headlights became standard equipment; and the smoked taillights looked absolutely killer. The lines of the coupe were always beautiful but these cosmetic upgrades did wonders for the U.S. market vehicles. This XJS has the added benefit of wearing smart (and rarely seen) paint that I believe is called Solent Blue Metallic. 

Correct me if I’m wrong on that color wheel guess. The interior shows some light signs of age but nothing dramatic. The only real downside to European car interior styling from this era was the airbag integration. No manufacturer had cracked this nut yet, so steering wheels just tend to have a huge bulge in the middle with no apparent attempt to cleanly integrate. The automatic is a lazy-shifting ‘box, so you won’t be going anywhere in a hurry when paired with the sturdy I6; the V12 would perhaps make the slushbox more entertaining. However, if I get my wish and find a manual transmission model, I’ll be sure to report back on the driving experience.

When equipped with the I6, the XJS made a respectable 219 horsepower and almost 280 lb.-ft. of torque. The AJ6 is known for being incredibly easy to live with and far less costly than the V12 to maintain. And while I referred to it as a bit of a slouch, it’s not the engine’s fault; those GM transmissions, while generally reliable, were not geared for quick acceleration – so blame that, and not the motor. Still, it has more than enough torque for highway interstate merges and will make owning a British classic such as this a joy. I wish I had jumped at the chance to buy the last manual XJS I saw, which I even wrote about here on Barn Finds!