Description

1987 Jaguar XJ-SC 3.6 Cabriolet

Smart example of this classic Cabriolet; 96,450 miles; last serviced 3,200 miles ago; Waxoyl treated; believed to be one of very few produced to this specification

Not only does Jaguar’s wonderful XJS pull off the tricky feat of getting more handsome as every year goes by, it also has that magic carpet ride that no longer seems to exist in the cars of today. Launched in 1975 it was initially only available as a V12, but soaring oil prices meant that a smaller engined version was soon on the cards.
In 1983 it became the first model to receive Jaguar's new 225bhp 3.6-litre AJ6 engine, a very smooth and potent unit that was not far short of the V12 in terms of outright performance and was in a different league for economy. "It is the 24-valve engine's flexibility that impresses most," wrote Autocar. "Such is its low-down pulling power that, in town and urban conditions, one rarely needs more than 2,000rpm to keep up with the traffic flow." Capable of hitting 60 in a whisker over 7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 137mph, at a steady 56mph it could still deliver 36mpg.
Fresh detailing and better build quality also helped restore the XJS’s lustre and Jaguar turned to creating an open-topped version. In engineering terms, Jaguar's first version of an open-top XJS was somewhat conservative. The car had not been designed with an open version in mind, so a Targa-top roof was adopted. This used a substantial roll hoop to maintain rigidity in the absence of a fixed roof and the two removable roof panels could be stored in the boot. The coupe’s rear seats were removed and replaced with a pair of luggage lockers topped by a parcel shelf.
Widely regarded as the best-looking XJS of all, only around 5,000 cabriolets were built before it was replaced by the full convertible in 1988, and good ones are increasingly sought after today.
Dating from October 1987, this XJS-C is definitely one of the good ones. It has covered some 96,450 miles to date and, although the handbooks have gone missing, it comes with a good sheaf of invoices to show upkeep over the years. The most recent service invoice is from Jaguar dealership Harwoods of Basingstoke at 92,269 miles in August 2013 which included cleaning the fuel injectors.
The air conditioning system was also overhauled in 2016 and it had new front and rear suspension springs in 1997 at around 70k miles. The bodywork/structure was rust-proofed with high pressure Waxoyl in 1996 and an AutoWatch alarm/immobiliser has also been fitted at some time.
As you can see in the photos, the car looks very presentable with a nice blue leather interior, good bodywork and attractive Starfish alloys shod with a matching set of quality Toyo tyres. An online MOT history check shows that the car has been very sparingly used in the last few years and that it has a current MOT until June 2022 with 6 advisories recorded (check online, enter the reg at https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/) For more information contact - will.daniels@brightwells.com