(first posted 3/2/2012) Jaguar. The name conjures up many images. Classic luxury cars like the Mark II and XJ6. Memorable sports cars like the XK 120, D-Type and E-Type. It can also scare away many an admirer with tales of poor quality control, high-velocity depreciation, dodgy electrics and boat-anchor V12s. Then there’s the XJS, which had some very big shoes to fill but wound up enjoying over twenty years of production.
The Jaguar XJ-S was introduced in 1975. While not a direct replacement for the legendary E-Type, it occupied a similar place in the lineup. Initially available only as a coupe, it retained the V12 and was considered more of a luxury tourer than an out-and-out sports car. As Jaguar had become part of infamous British Leyland in 1968, the XJ-S was designed, engineered and produced during questionable times to say the least. The XJ-S persevered, however, and not only outlasted BL but survived several years after Ford Motor Company’s purchase of Jaguar in 1989.
My family has not had much experience with British cars. During most of my childhood, my dad drove Volvo 240, 740 and 940 sedans, and my mom had 240 wagons, 740 wagons and Dodge Grand Caravans. Dad did own a British racing green Triumph TR-4 for a time in the late ’60s, but the constant oil leaks and Lucas electronics that took frequent coffee breaks ensured it would be his last. He switched to Porsche 356s as his weekend cars and never looked back.
The XJS my parents wound up owning was known to my family since new. In the early 1990s, my folks bought a cabin on Lake Carroll, a 600-acre man made lake about an hour southeast of Galena. Dave and Sue were the first neighbors to welcome us, and my brother, sister and I got along well with their kids. Since they lived in Burr Ridge and we were in the Quad Cities, we really only saw them at the lake, but we always got together when we would go up during the summer.
In 1995, Dave and Sue bought a new Jaguar XJS convertible to celebrate their 25th anniversary. It was purchased at Westlake Jaguar in Elmhurst. They got a good deal on it because the general manager of the dealership had been using it and it had a couple thousand miles on the clock. There was another black XJS on the lot, but they didn’t care for the tan convertible top. Dave didn’t drive it in the Chicago area much, because “it isn’t much fun below 100.” The back roads and two lane highways up at Lake Carroll were much more suitable for driving this kind of car than in gridlock on the Dan Ryan, so that’s where they kept it.
One of my best teenage memories was when, shortly after getting my license, Dave let me take this car for a spin around Lake Carroll Boulevard, the main road encircling the lake, a scenic twenty minute drive. This was one of the flashiest cars I had ever driven, and I loved it! I felt like a Hollywood bigwig driving it. Driving that car, looking at that burled wood instrument panel below the sweeping hood and hearing the motor rev up when you stepped on it was pleasant sensory overload. I was hooked.
Since it sat in the garage and they usually only came up to the lake on weekends, it didn’t get driven often. Occasionally Dave would give me the keys and some cash and have me take it to the automatic wash in Lanark, a task I relished. He was always happy to let me take it for a ride, since it didn’t do the car any good to sit. In about 2001, he started talking about selling it, but he wasn’t in a rush. At about the same time, the new two-seat Thunderbird came out. My mom really liked them, and one was being raffled off locally, so my dad bought a ticket. As you might guess, we didn’t win the T-Bird. Dad talked to Dave and ultimately bought the Jaguar from him in the summer of 2002. It had under 15,000 miles on the odometer.
My mother was immediately suspicious. “You bought this car for yourself, didn’t you?” “No, it’s for you!” Ultimately, Mom took Dad at his word and used the car as her own. She had less conspicuous daily transportation, though, so the Jaguar wasn’t driven all the time. The funny part is my mom never drives it with the top down, as it messes up her hair. She rarely uses the sunroof on the other car either.
Since the car was now in my family, I volunteered my car-washing services in exchange for driving privileges. Fifteen years after first driving this car, I still love it. This car has the 4.0 liter inline six, not the temperamental V12, which is a very good thing. Despite the less than stellar reputation Jaguar has for reliability, this car has been very good to us. While it isn’t driven every day, it is not a garage queen either. Since we’ve had it, it has only needed tires, brakes and oil changes. It currently has 44,000 miles on it.
The XJ-S had a very long life for a specialty British grand tourer. A full production convertible finally joined the coupe in 1988, replacing an odd landau and targa-roof semi-convertible XJ-SC that had been made from 1983-88. In 1991, the car was slightly facelifted with new tail lamps, revised quarter windows on the coupe and it was re-designated XJS (from XJ-S). The AJ6 inline six cylinder engine was now available in addition to the V12. In 1994, new wheels and redesigned color-keyed bumpers were added. Also in 1994, the convertible added a useless rear seat, replacing a parcel shelf and storage compartment. One person can possibly ride in the back if they sit sideways and the top is down, but that’s the only way. My best guess is the rear seat was shoehorned in to lower insurance rates, as a two-seater is probably more expensive to insure than a 2+2. In 1995, a revised version of the AJ6, the AJ16, was added. 1996 was the last year for the XJS, and it was replaced the following year by the V8-engined XK8 coupe and convertible.
Some of you may be wondering why the car’s license plate says CUDA 44. It is not a reference to my mom, and she is not a lawyer either. My brother had a 1973 Plymouth ‘cuda 340 as his first car. Long story short, it was a bad choice for daily transportation, particularly in the winter, and he got a Dodge Dakota at about the same time my folks got the Jaguar. Since the truck got new license plates, my dad transferred the ‘cuda’s plates to the XJS.
A reliable Jaguar? In our case, yes. Stranger things have happened, I suppose.
I don’t know why, but everytime I see an XJS, I imagine the driver being a swarthy, heavyset guy with gold neck chains, bracelets, and a gaudy huge watch. A disco kind of guy.
On the other hand, an XJ6 or 12 sedan conjures up a refined gentleman, possibly wearing a snap brim cap, driving gloves, and maybe smoking a pipe.
I looked at a 74 XJ12 about 12 years ago. It hadn’t run in years, it would need to be towed, the owner told me. The car actually looked good, but 3 carbs kinda scared me away. Even at $ 2000, I knew this car was far beyond my capabilities, who knows what this car would need. I bought a 78 Eldo soon after.
The three carbs aren’t the scary part. The four fuel pumps are. And if one of them quits, they all quit – and you get to figure out which one is the broken one. Hearing this scared me away from buying an XJ12 sedan about ten years ago. I love Jaguars. Absolutely adore them. Yet every time I’ve gone Jaguar shopping, I’ve ended up chickening out and buying a BMW. Or, most recently, a Porsche.
An XJ12 with 3 carburetors would be a bit scary, as one carburetor would be missing.
“I don’t know why, but everytime I see an XJS, I imagine the driver being a swarthy, heavyset guy with gold neck chains, bracelets, and a gaudy huge watch. A disco kind of guy.”
Funny, because thats exactly what I imagine to be the typical ’78 Eldo driver as well… 🙂
I don’t like the headlight and grille treatment. I’d have much preferred the quad round lights and centre grille. Sharp car otherwise though. You’re a lucky guy to have your mom drive this (and its not breaking down:-).
beautiful car. i am glad to hear that with proper care and low miles, you have not had problems. i agree the six is probably the reason for that. the convertible is nice but i think this car really shines in the coupe form with the flying buttress rear window treatment. there is a shop in england that specializes in rebuilding jags and sorting out the gremlins. james may did a piece on them.
http://www.kwecars.com/
I’ve always loved the XJS, from day one. Those flying butresses, the way the rear fenders curved up into the trunk lid…wow. I think this is one of the few designs that improved over time, well at least for a while, until the very last set of revisions. The bumpers sure got better (I prefer the black rubber with the chrome trim, which I think debuted on the H.E. version), and I prefer the shape of the original taillights and rear quarter window to the latest versions. Amazing how many years they kept this in production and were able to keep selling it.
Your mom’s car is a beauty, and if I’d ever consider one of these, that’s probably the one to get – late model, six cylinder.
Thanks for the great write-up.
+1. I remember clearly the first red XJS coupe I saw here in SoCal when they came out and how great it looked and sounded. The only thing that didn’t seem right was a kind of dainty looking T-bar shifter for the automatic. Didn’t the early models have two gas tanks with fillers on each side like the early XJ sedans? Great story, especially without a service nightmare sidebar to share, beautiful car.
Last weekend I was a local guy, a swarthy heavyset fellow, polishing his XJS V-12. It was a late one, a beautiful car. I asked him, “Why aren’t you out driving in on such a nice day?” His reply was, “It doesn’t beak as often when I don’t drive it!”
“The funny part is my mom never drives it with the top down, as it messes up her hair.”
According to legend, this is why the hardtop was invented! The president of Buick’s wife got a new connie every year, but she never put the top down – she just liked the airier feel compared to the typical tankish closed cars of the late 40s.
And the fact that it looked upscale and suave.
Always loved these cars. And I don’t mind the revised headlights as much as the tail lights that look like they were lifted right from a Grand Marquis. C’mon, Ford, really?
I like full width taillight panels but I agree with you on these they don’t quite blend in properly and do look way too much like leftover GrandMa units. On second though actual GM units might look better with their curve on the sides of the vehicle rather than the out of place corner that tries to blend them to the body line.
The V-12 XJ’s have always tempted me since they are about the cheapest 12 cylinder car you could probably buy, there are some real cheap examples on craigslist. The logical side of my brain always seems to over ride the buying one. They were some of the best cars Briitish manufacturing could build when the workers weren’t outside buring garbage cans.
Of course, you have a “reliable” Jaguar! It has under 50,000 miles!
I’ve got the AJ16 in my SWB VDP- a brilliant torquey, bulletproof powerplant, and I only wish that it had a MT backing it up. My shooting buddy has the XJS with the AJ16 and 5-speed, and it is a treat. Those Cibie (Valeo?)-designed headlamps were a real advancement c. 1975 when they went into the XJS.
The original lights were Cibiè — the ones on facelifted U.S.-spec cars were Carellos, although they look similar.
@ Jeff
Built in 95, this car has a plethora of German engineering inside it- ie., electrical and transmission. The AJ16 engine will easily run 400K km on synthetic with little or no issues (beyond coil packs). Keep it out of the IL/WI salt, and it will be around in another century.
The six-cylinder engine (in 3.6-liter AJ6 form) actually became available in the UK and Europe for the 1984 model year, although the only 3.6-liter cars to come to the U.S. were a handful of development cars, some of which were later sold to Jaguar employees.
What intrigued me were the XJR-S, which quite a few people think had the best balance of ride and handling, and the Lister conversions. The Lister Stage 3 was very expensive, and I’ve mixed feelings about the aesthetics of the body kit, but it had a claimed 475 hp and a Getrag five-speed, which starts to sound like a very interesting proposition.
(I wrote about the origins of the XJ-S at length on Ate Up With Motor last April.)
One of my best pre-teen memories was in 1984 when my late great-uncle bought a 1982 XJ-S HE, in the brightest yellow I think I’ve seen. It replaced a VC model Holden Commodore SL/E (which had in turn replaced his previous SI and then SII Jag XJ6 sedans).
I was at my grandparents when my uncle rang to say he and my aunt were popping over in something called an XJ-S, so we immediately hunted out the most recent Daily Express World Car Guide annual and searched to see what an XJ-S was. Wow! I was smitten! It was even better in real life, as the low, low roof height was even more apparent.
It was another year before I got to ride in it, but I still remember that day: cycling over to my aunt and uncle’s, having afternoon tea with them and chatting away, all the while knowing that I was going to be given a ride in the XJ-S. The anticipation was immense…and when the time came, the reward was sooo worth it. Such a low, comfortable, smooth, fast car – a world away from my parents’ 1980 Cortina wagon.
My uncle liked driving fast, and the XJ-S proved phenomenally thirsty, so their Vauxhall Chevette was used around town. Surprisingly though, the Jag was a reliable touring car – although the rear brakes overheated and caught fire on one occasion. The thirst grew too much though, so the XJ-S was replaced in 1985 with an Audi 200-T sedan – the source of another of my best pre-teen memories! (so fast, with such appalling understeer!).
I still love the XJ-S today, and often gaze longingly at the cheap ones on trademe – just the 6 cylinder ones though, the V12 looks like a small nightmare under the bonnet! Although they’re not conventionally pretty, I love the styling – especially the hardtop’s flying buttresses – the convertibles are still great-looking though. The original tail-lamps are my favourite, but I do like the full-width facelift ones a lot. The facelift dash with conventional instruments is better than the original though. One day I’ll pay tribute to my uncle’s memory and the huge passion for cars he instilled in me, and buy an XJ-S…one day…
A Chevy LS engine swap easily solves all the V12 woes. Fit it with a quiet pair of mufflers and no one would be the wiser.
Sacrilige! But yeah every time I start looking at Jags I either look at the newest one I can afford or one of the 80s models that can easily have a SBC swapped in.
Wise strategy, but there’s something about the ’76-’77 XJS–the black-plastic trim and faux-Rostyle wheel trims, not to mention the (rare) factory four-speed manual/5.3L V12 combo–that makes me want one badly. Its BL heritage and the fact that it was considered such an unworthy E-type successor in its day adds Malaise cred, too.
They’re not faux Rostyles and not wheeltrims, they’re “Kent” alloys made by GKN. Rostyle didn’t make alloys as far as I know..
“…Lucas electronics that took frequent coffee breaks…”
Wouldn’t that be tea breaks?
I believe US-market Jags took coffee breaks, while those that stayed in Great Britain took tea breaks. Jaguars in Germany took bier stube breaks.
Love my ’95 xjs rag top Just turned 70K and I have spent more money on it than I could ever get back if I sold it, but I don’t care, the car makes me feel like a millionair with I drive it. Even after all these years I still get comments where ever I drive it, I’m going to keep it forever and enjoy every time I sit behind that beautiful wheel. One of the most beautiful Jags ever built, and she’s all mine…..
My name is Ron also- I have a chance to trade into a Classic 95 XJS convertible with 90,000 miles original. Dark Green /Tan top. really good condition. Drives great no body marks/damage. Question? Maintenance on the 6cyl/4ltr motor ? Is it a nightmare and is it expensive to tune-up or basic maintenance. Just looking for an honest opinion ?
Darn it, now you’ve got me looking at XJS’s on autotrader.
And there is a high milage ’96 for $5k an hour and a half away from me. Uggh. So much wood!
Start making friends with Nigel the mechanic and remember there’s no such thing as a cheap Jaguar.That $5000 is just the down payment,doesn’t stop me wanting one though!
My youngest brother has an XJR-S; this was the factory hot rod in the late ’80s and early ’90s. His didn’t have many miles on it, but it drove like a dump truck with a flat tire. Just nothing sporting about it. Maybe you had to get about 100, but at 70 and less, it was nothing to write home about. His ’65 XKE coupe I found him out on the left coast was a much better driving car.
Nice cars I shot one recently for the cohort its still there for sale where I found it mint cond 18K NZ pesos if anyones keen
+1,Bryce has your doctor worked his magic on one of these yet?
Very enjoyable article. I’ve been an XJS fan since the late 70s when Ian Ogilvy drove one in the “Return of the Saint”.
I believe most owners will tell you that by the early 90s they had things fairly well sorted out and the major maladies were a thing of the past.
I’ve always liked the XJS, flying buttresses and all, and the late convertibles with the revised tail treatment do look particularly clean. Sounds like you’ve found a rarity with one that doesn’t have an insatiable appetite for repairs either–what a nice part-time tourer!
Such a beautiful car. Even if it didn’t run, it would be worthwhile owning just to keep washed and waxed in the driveway for curb appeal.
I too have a 95 vert and used to have a 95 coupe. I found the coupe more practical. Each has their own beauty. I put 20k on my coupe and only had one coil pack split. 5 gbp for a used one from England. I find them much more reliable (the facility) that any of the 8 BMW’s and Audi’s I’ve owned.
All great comments about the Jaguar. I have a 1995 XJS and I have owned it since 1997 so nearly 23 year’s. I have the 6 cylinder with 85,000 miles, black and tan with the convertible top, absolutely love it have had almost zero problems. I drove it everyday while living in Florida, I loved driving it up and down the beach, so much fun. The comments I get every time I drive it are unbelievable. I will say if you have the opportunity to ever own one I would highly recommend it. Now is the time to purchase one because people are starting to realize what they are really and how nice they are. I think the value will only continue to clime but I really don’t care because I truly just enjoy driving such a beautiful automobile. It makes me feel good each and every time I drive it. I will pass this car along to my children and I only hope they enjoy it as much as I have.
I love Jaguars, I had a 2000 XK8 convertible that I bought used that I sold with 150000 miles on it. Now I have a 2007 XK convrt that I have owned for 6 years and it has 105000 on it. These cars are just as reliable as most newer cars.