1978 JAGUAR XJ-S V12 (PRE-HE) COUPE

This 1978 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Coupe is a striking example of the elegant and practical British classic, finished in its factory hue of Cotswold Yellow and benefitting from careful storage and maintenance over the last 18 years. In its unmolested and largely unrestored original condition, this classic car is ready to drive and enjoy, having had approximately £4,000 spent over the past two months to bring it to excellent condition both mechanically and cosmetically.

Under the bonnet is the pre-HE 5.3-litre V12, which drives the rear wheels via a GM400 three-speed automatic transmission. The odometer displays just 52,602 miles from new, as borne out by the car’s service records and past MOT test certificates. The seller states that the amount of supporting documentation speaks volumes about the car’s heritage and pedigree, with no unaccounted-for gaps in its history.

First registered on 25 January 1978, this original UK-market right-hand drive XJ-S is an early example of the model, pre-dating the introduction of the ‘HE’ (High-Efficiency) V12 in 1981. To date, the car has had only three keepers from new, and has taken part in various marque events over its lifetime. These include the 1989 Jaguar Driver’s Club East Anglian Concours d’Elegance, where it won first place for a road-going XJ-S; 1995’s National Jaguar Day in Scunthorpe, where it was chosen to represent its year of manufacture in a ’20 Years of XJ-S’ line-up; and the 2004 Jaguar Enthusiast Club’s 20th Anniversary event at Thoresby Park, where it was specially selected to represent the pre-HE XJ-S model.

The seller acquired the car in 2003 and has kept it in a secure, dry storage facility ever since, only bringing it out to take part in a couple of car shows and for routine maintenance.

Thanks to its keepers’ careful ownership, the bodywork has never suffered any significant accident damage and is in good, solid condition. While the seller notes that a stone was thrown at the car in September 2003, causing minor damage to the rear quarter panel, this was repaired to a good standard. The vibrant Cotswold Yellow paintwork presents well overall, with a few small blemishes and chips in line with its age, and some very minor bubbling on the front driver’s-side sill/wheel arch.

In March of this year, at a cost of £1,260, slightly mismatched areas of the car underwent professional respray to achieve full colour uniformity, namely the entire driver’s side of the car, the boot lid, and the passenger-side wing. Elsewhere, the exterior trim has an attractive, time-earned patina, though there is a crack at the top of the passenger-side tail light. The car rides on the correct set of 15-inch alloy wheels, which have some general age-related blemishes and bubbling to their surfaces, and would benefit from refurbishment in due course.

Moving inside, the cabin presents handsomely, with only modest wear to its upholstery and surfaces, but no visible damage. Clad in black leather, the seats are in good order for their age, with some wear and creasing on the driver’s seat in particular. The leather-wrapped steering wheel shows similar signs of use, but the rest of the interior trim is very smart, and the car features a period-correct Philips 860 radio/cassette player. All of the switchgear is believed to work without fault, and there are no warning lights displayed on the dashboard.

Among the most recent routine maintenance carried out in February of this year was an extensive service by Autostore at 52,589 miles. Prior to this, Autostore has serviced the car on a regular basis throughout the seller’s 18 years of ownership, ensuring that it has been kept in good mechanical order. Furthermore, the air-conditioning system was updated in November 1994 to use R134a refrigerant, and it still blows cold.

The car’s last MOT test was conducted on 11 February 2021 at 52,589 miles, which resulted in a first-time pass with advisories for some corrosion to the nearside front suspension component mounting area, a minor oil leak, slight corrosion to the underside of the vehicle, and cracked or perished tyres. All four wheels are shod in Pirelli P5 tyres in size 215/70 VR15 which, due to their age, might benefit from replacement depending on how the new owner wants to use and present the car.

Accompanying this XJ-S are its original owner’s handbook, car show accolades, every MOT test certificate from new until 2006 (except for one that has been misplaced), and invoices for the car’s maintenance over the years.

This 1978 Jaguar XJ-S V12 is a smart example of the pre-HE coupe, which has been well-cared for throughout its life and has had only three keepers from new. While the next owner could choose to make some minor cosmetic improvements, the car remains faithful to its original factory specification, and will make a charming addition to any collection.

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All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.