This 1987 Jaguar XJ-SC is the rare targa-style roof model that allowed occupants to have their cake and eat it, too, if they so desired. In other words, you could drive it as a standard coupe-style body, or remove the targa-style roof panels and lower the rear soft top that operated like a traditional convertible. Up front, you got V12 power like much of the XJS lineup, and the same level of opulence inside. These hybrid targa/convertible hardtops were a bit of an oddball, and never sold in particularly huge numbers, but they seem like a good idea in retrospect. The seller has listed this rare Jaguar here on craigslist with 58,000 “senior-owned” miles and an asking price of $7,000 or best offer.
The Jaguar may look like a traditional XJS convertible from this perspective, but it’s way more complicated than that. It actually seems like a good idea in theory, with the roof structure staying in place to at least preserve some structural rigidity. Anecdotally, some Jaguar fanatics have pegged total production at a little over 5,000 cars, which seems likely given how infrequently they show up for sale. The bodywork on this example looks quite clean, with no evidence of major dings or dents and all pointing to a car that has lived a pampered life. The chrome trim on the bumpers looks near-perfect, and the same goes for the wire wheels.
The interior is trimmed in gray leather with matching carpeting, and an aftermarket wood steering wheel graces the cockpit. I don’t hate this look, as it’s period-correct and the standard XJS steering wheel is nothing to write home about from a design standpoint. The seller doesn’t reveal any flaws from inside the car, but if there are, spares remain in generous supply thanks to the XJS’ lengthy production run. Finding replacement panels for the complex roof mechanism, however, may prove more of a challenge. Curiously, despite the novelty of the roof, the traditional convertible that came later was a much bigger sales success than the XJ-SC.
The V12 is certainly known for being a maintenance-hungry beast, but assuming the careful ownership went beyond simply keeping the paint buffed, I would assume it’s equally-healthy under the hood. Of course, even well-loved examples need ongoing attention, so I would still ask for maintenance records up front before taking the plunge. Despite the rarity and limited supply today, I doubt the XJ-SC will ever become a major collector car solely on the basis of the roof design – but it does beg the question as to why more manufacturers don’t explore this configuration when considering a model with a disappearing roof. Would you throw an offer out for this XJ-SC or hold out for a more traditional coupe or convertible?
I always liked these. The V-12 is somewhat more common than the 3.6 liter inline six There are even a few (rare) six cylindar cars with manual transmissions. https://xjs-soft-tops.com/articles/xj-sc-cabriolet/
I guess I’m reaching the age where the looks now appeal to me, but the complicated top seems to be the worst of two body options instead of the best.
the top configuration hides the fact that jaguar needed a convertible in the market to compete with mercedes-benz but didn’t want to re-engineer the chassis to strengthen it to compensate for cutting the car up. back when these were new, I was selling mercedes and these jags had really bad resale, no one wanted the 12 cylinder especially, a slug of an engine. this is one nice car, and I would think for the condition and miles, if one wants a complicated car, this would be the one.
Complete rubbish. It was built mostly for the US market where legislation was going to be passed banning convertibles, this was there way of getting round it.
A bastardized design, sold very poorly and quickly replaced by the factory convertible, as the Hess and Eisenstaedt conversion was outselling it.
The sort of car a gold chain wearing divorced developer of a certain age would drive to the country club with his latest inappropriate big-haired arm candy.
“Big-haired arm candy” is NEVER inappropriate!
It’s still a older jaguar which means in another couple of miles the timing chain tensioners will need to be replaced.
I would start negotiations at around $4500 and work from there. Not a fan of the steering wheel or the wire wheels-definitely the first items to address. I would put the hard top on and leave it, freshen up the suspension, update all of the engine maintenance and then enjoy-apparently while wearing gold chains while forcing my wife to wear a Peg Bundy wig when visiting the yacht club and pulling a Rodney Dangerfield.
Ditto…this looks like the one to take a chance on.
It’s interesting that a BMW Baur is quite valuable.
We had a friend in Carmel, CA with a triple black covertible with wire knockouts. One of my Uncle’s had a boss who drove v12 coupe.
Ok with the steering wheel…source some alloy wheels.
LOL
Literally. RichardinMaine and G Lo had me rolling with those comments!
Even my wife (not a car nut) got a good laugh.
Thanks guys, a fun way to start the day.
Does this really qualify as a targa or is it just a removable roof section with a folding rear roof? I would think a real targa rood would be completely open from door sill to the opposite door sill with frameless door glass and no roof structure between the panel and the doors.
I hear the comments as I’d rather have a coupe with alloy wheels too but it looks to be in great shape. Might be worth checking out if you live fairly close as well maintained low mileage V12 XJS’s aren’t that easy to find.
Aw Darn! I wanted to see pictures of that roof lowered, but there aren’t any in the CL ad. Have never seen one of these IRL.
Yo Richard, G Lo. Hate the game. Not the Player.
Now if you will excuse me, shuffleboard starts in 10.
A very rare and lower mileage car. The first XJ-SCs were built at the Tickford Aston Martin sheet metal works and transferred back to Coventry.
US imported V12 Production was 500 in 1987; 815 in 1988.
http://www.xjsdata.com/catalog/registries/
And it is gone!
Stolen for $7k, it was a $60k car new and some buyers waited a year for delivery!