You can occasionally get accustomed to seeing Jaguar XJSs come up for sale. For years, this has been an entry-level classic for both British car fans and all-purpose vintage car enthusiasts, representing an entry point into affordable exotic car ownership. The XJS is still a striking design today, offering smooth V12 power with endless spares availability and plenty of cheap replacement parts on Rock Auto. This particular XJS convertible has clearly been looked after with excellent cosmetics and under 45,000 original miles. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the find.
In 1991, Jaguar was owned by Ford Motor Company, and with it came some significant updates to the long-lived XJS line. The 5.3L V12 engine was joined by a 4.0L AJ6 inline-six engine, and cosmetic improvements were made to attempt to withstand the test of time that was challenging the now-ancient model’s presence in the marketplace. This 1991 model represents a bit of a stopgap year before the introduction of significantly modernized bumpers and tail lamps that made the big cat look suited for an early 90s marketplace. This example retains the very 80s-appropriate styling cues of chrome fender arch trim and BBS-style alloy wheels.
The interior of the XJS was largely untouched from prior years and you have to love the old-world style of this early 90s Jaguar. The woodgrain dash, red piping on the leather seats, and the period-correct cell phone all point to a car that likely stood out as seriously cool when it first appeared on the streets. While the stock broker in your neighborhood may have been driving a Porsche 911 cabriolet, the real estate tycoon was likely piloting a Jaguar just like this. As shown here, the cockpit certainly reflects the low mileage claimed by the seller, as the leather and carpeting appear to be in mint condition.
While the I6 was a robust engine, it seems far more appropriate to have a V12 engine under the hood of a car like this. With 263 horsepower on tap, the Jaguar could certainly move out of its own way, but the 3-speed GM 4L80E automatic transmission almost certainly swapped a lot of the fun that this engine could have delivered with either three pedals or a snappier transmission. The seller claims he bought this XJS in 2007 and has looked after it ever since, and given how few of these cars seem to come out of long-term ownership anymore, I’d be giving this soft-top XJS a closer look if I was in the market. Edit: Thanks to some of our readers who pointed out we had omitted the link to the ad here on craigslist!
No link to the listing?
Here is the link:
https://nh.craigslist.org/cto/d/suncook-jaguar-xj-v-12/7756134725.html
Where is this car for sale?
No info? What’s up?
How much? And where is it located and advertised? Link please!
NO Listing
Forgot the Craigslist link Jeff
They’ve done us all a big favor by not including link info to this car – somebody might have actually bought it . . . and then the misery begins.
https://nh.craigslist.org/cto/d/suncook-jaguar-xj-v-12/7756134725.html
Listed for $15900 in New Hampshire.
It’s listed for $15900 in Pembroke New Hampshire.
I tried to post the link, but it looks like the powers that be at BF blocked it and deleted the post.
Nice Cat. The best thing I can say about this car is it’s all Jaguar. The worst thing I can say i about this car is it’s all Jaguar.
What, no recommendation for an LS? This is where it would be appropriate! Beautiful car, though.
Had access to driving one of these, it was a dog, to this V8 4 speed boy , very pretty in blue paint and tan interior though
Love these old Jags. I saw one or two tooling around the streets of where I live and always lusted after one. Tan interior would look better with British racing green but that’s just my taste. This looks like a very nice example and worth the price. V12 doesn’t make it a hot rod it’s all about smooth power on take off.
$16K??? Good luck with that! I only wish that my 90 was worth anywhere close to that, and it’s almost as nice. I paid $4K with 70K miles.
Nice car but certainly does not have a GM 4L80E transmission – unless of course a 4L80E was swapped in at some later stage. And in that case it would be a 4-speed (as the “4” refers to this and the “E” means an electronically controlled transmission).
If it still has the original transmission, then it would be the GM THM 400 3-speed, non-electronically controlled one.
My XK S has one.
Oops. Too quick on the send button!
I meant “XJ S”. Sorry.