You’re still around! I was a bit surprised to see this the other day, parked against an apartment building. I wouldn’t necessarily have expected that, given that the projected future lifespan of an iridescent Jaguar XJS V12 with a For Sale sign is not exactly very long. And that was five years ago. But then, I doubt this Jaguar gets out much, if ever. But it makes a nice contrast to the ordinary cars in the parking lot; an ornament of sorts, even if it’s an immobile one.
Here’s how it looked back then, obviously still running. I never cottoned much to this car from the first time I saw pictures of it in a magazine. This was supposed to replace the XKE? After that iconic car and the very handsome XJ6, this was a very different sort of cat.
The tunnel-back styling seemed rather retro-grade, given that this fad had long run its mojo.
The 1965 Dino Berlinetta Especiale was the first to let its sail panels really sail. GM picked it up for its 1966 intermediate coupes. And the 1970 Dodge Charger was the last to wear it in the US. Some exotics continued with it for a few more years, but its time was essentially over by the time the XJS.
The OCD German licensing authorities wouldn’t give the XJS type approval because they felt that the buttresses impinged too much on rear visibility. Imagine that happening nowadays! German buyers had to get their cars approved individually. I suspect there weren’t many anyway. The KJS got off to a rocky start given its arrival not long after the first energy crisis. And its looks were almost universally panned. Like so many British projects, it took way too long to gestate; the project to replace the XKE was first started in the late 60s.
And the V12 was mostly a troublesome affair. When it was running right, it was a gem. But it developed a rep for all sorts of issues. Maybe those custom louvers are an attempt to keep it cool. Warped heads and coolant getting into the open-deck block was one of its vices.
I wondered if it still had its original drive train or whether it had been Chevy-ized, like quite a few of its ilk. But the stock gear shift strongly suggested originality.
I noticed that the hood was not latched, so I tipped it up to confirm my suspicion. Sure enough: a V12 is buried somewhere under those hoses and manifolds. And my guess that this is not a running car is starting to look more like a good one. Wouldn’t you like to plunge in and deal with all that dry rubber and cracked wiring insulation? No big deal…you’ll have it purring like a kitten in no time.
And I’m sure the junk yard will have the replacement window.
Shall I knock on the door and find out if it’s still for sale? You know you want it.
I’m an amateur, but aren’t those headlights indicative of a grey market car/
Maybe? , But with all the trashy modifications some clown did on this car changing out the headlamps may well have been his/her idea of cool.What a train wreck!
Later US-market cars had composites also, rather than the quad round sealed-beam units of the early cars. However, if these are a different sort of composites, then perhaps it is.
I love these. The flying buttresses, the V12, the sporting yet traditional front end, the rarerly topped XJ6 ride/handling combo. Sir William Lyons was at least still consulting so Jaguar didn’t have to farm it out to people who just don’t understand.
Lot of E types sitting around unloved in the eighties with all their complicated problems and dated swinging sixties style. Those who took the challenge and showed some love were amply rewarded. There will always be a Britain, when a British masterpiece is available for cheap, take advantage. To paraphrase Carly Simon, “Nobody does it better, makes me feel sad for the rest”
I could’ve sworn the Dart Swinger/Valiant Scamp hardtop coupe had flying buttesses. Nope, but it did have a reverse-curve rear window that was very much influenced by that look, sort of flying buttresses “lite” (some Latin American variants had them though).
The paint I can handle, it’s those wheels that hurt my face.
They’re right out of those double page ads at the back of car magazines in the mid 90’s.
Theyre bad, I agree. But compared to the 24″ crinkled tin foil clown shoe wheels that are popular now, these aren’t NEARLY as hideous.
The 73-77 ElCamino had a flat rear window with flying butresses, and the 78+ ElCamino had the reverse curved rear window in addition. An odd application of this styling.
Nothing worse than a car that won’t run as it screams “hey look at me” the whole time. Let me think . . . yes, this would be the last car I would ever choose to buy.
It’s the after market bonnet slats I don’t like most, I think….give me an XJ-C V12 any day.
When these were new I visited the local dealer and asked to see under the hood. He opened the hood and as it tilted forward the Plastic logo in the grill fell to the pavement.
There was the same type of Jaguar with that crazy paint running around the Oakland/East (SF) Bay Area some years ago.
I wonder if it is the same car?
That car is enough to make The Good Humor Man commit suicide.
I’m sure the junkyard will soon have all the replacement windows except for the driver’s door.
There’s an Earl Scheib outside of Pittsburgh that will still paint the car for $99.95. Maaco is offering 50% off now through the end of the year. Get that car to a paint booth now!
Earl Scheib: http://www.earlscheibautopainting.com/index.html
Maaco: http://www.maaco.com/promo.html?promo=blackfriday
Or, do what this guy did…….
Oddly, of itself that’s the first time I’ve seen a car make that iridescent paint not look horrible. (I think it’d still have to go, though.) It’s those rims that are abominable in this case. I’d black out the spokes till I figured out if I could make the thing run, just to hide them. 🙂
The Scheib $99.95 paint job is only available if you purchase a required “car preparation service”. But you need to see the dealer to find out what that costs.
Those might be the ugliest wheels I’ve ever seen.
And re: flying buttresses, the ’88 Fiero doesn’t count?
To have a great flying buttress, it can’t be done just to make less jarring a mid engine or a ute business end. It must be done because you are a styling genius like Jaguar’s William Lyons and you are retiring and you can. Bill Mitchel would have understood
Nice Mullet Mags.
Oh neat it is still around and looks alright enough, but the registration expires next month so the end of this Jay might be closer than you think.
Those wheels and paint remind me of a car in Grand Theft Auto III lol.
I’d be interested but only sans the wheels and V12, on stock steelies wires or whatever would be a vast improvement and a 350 under the bonnet thanks.
I remember thinking Jaguar had lost the plot when these came out. To my eyes there are just so many awkward angles, so many details that just don’t seem properly resolved – like the rear window/flying buttresses. The taillight shape. All the fiddly little details and weirdly-placed chrome strips on the rear end. Coming after the lovely E-type, this was a slap in the face.
I do like the bonnet louvres and the paint on this one. But not the wheels. I don’t think I have ever seen a car they look good on.
Do deveryone a favor and take it to a crusher….immediately. The most troublesome car in the history of the world and I am speaking from personal experience with one when it was new and I am guessing the passing years have not improved them. Kill it!
Where’s the love? The XJS was never designed as a E type replacement. Still it was built for twenty years and over 100,000 sold. That V12 saw well over 100,000 copies built, as it was used in the series three E, as well as the XJ sedans and coupes. The basic platform was used for the XK8 and even the Aston Martin DB7. Yes it is old hat today. I mean it only went 145mph. At the time the E’s appeal had run out. In the current issue of Octane, Ed Abbot, a factory test team member and part of the team that developed the XJS recalls that there were 200 unsold E types stored at Coventry airport because “no one wanted them”. The XJS styling was controversial, but gained favor as it went along it’s long production life.
No not a perfect car. I’m sure it has deserved it’s high maintenance reputation. But it is really a great collector hobby car, especially for the hands on enthusiast. There is a great XJS community online and there is always Kirby’s book.
As I’ve posted before, I bought one. I have always thought that the styling was purposeful, muscular and striking, if not “pretty”. It possesses a great heritage and outstanding performance. This was just a level down from an Italian exotic and a much more practical and comfortable choice. These cars are starting to receive a lot of ink in the British motoring press. Why? Well what else can you afford to buy that has 12 cylinders and this level of outstanding performance? Mine is coming along fine. I just started getting it sorted out. I know that the only way I can have a car like this is by working on it myself.
Octane magazine had a great quote from Sir John Egan when they asked him what he really thought about the car’s styling. ” I began to like it a lot more when we started selling 10,000 of them a year.”
Where’s the love?
Sounds like you’ve got it. 🙂 And my hat’s off to you. These cars do deserve more love than they typically get, but it’s going to have to come from someone else. I just have too many negative associations with it. Like seeing too many like this one in the wrong hands. But it sounds like yours is in good hands.
I didn’t realize XK8 and DB7 shared platform with XJS, as its age is similar to Ford panther at the time, but then I noticed same 102in wheelbase and too likely they did.
I have to admit that I have become a shameless booster for these cars. I know these can be a real headache but I’m willing to give it a try. You know the funny thing is that I paid more for my little beater Mustang than I did for my XJS. And my Jag is really beautiful. That’s what really got to me- a Mach One Mustang like my 70 will set you back around 35K or more. They are not worth it to me. I think that old muscle cars were great when they were 10k or less. I know that a car is only worth whatever the buyer is willing to pay, and apparently there are guys out there with a lot of money to spend. The great thing about the car hobby is that you can enjoy it at whatever price level you choose.
I agree these cars looks are a bit…challenging. Especially if you associate Jaguars with XKE’s….and that’s very much understandable. But taken for what it is…these are sharp looking, so long as some idiot with no taste doesn’t piss on it with cheeseball fad-ish paint jobs and ugly dated rims. Could it have been done worse? Absolutely. But that doesn’t make it ok. A lot of you think those headlites are non-stock. I googled this for images, and these look amazing with the 4-eye round headlite treatment. Its timeless. The aero look is very dated…not that I was ever a fan in the first place. As to wheels, if you must go aftermarket, a nice set of wires looks right at home:
If it were mine, Id want this car in some kind of ’70s era earth tone like this pea green that no one else on the planet likes. And these factory wheels with the 5 spoke ‘magnum’ look are the only thing Id run on a Jag of this vintage. Outside of a 4 eye conversion and a smallblock Mopar repower to scrap the pesky Jag plant, this is how Id rock an XJS:
Frank Sinatra’s 1989 Jaguar XJS V12.
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned the nasty seat covers that look like cheap wetsuits. That’s worse than the dumb wheels and the stupid paintjob (admittedly I could see a purple XJS working, but not in this stupid metallic color that looks like it came out of a spray can from Lowe’s.)
Such a shame, as believe it or not, the XJS is my favorite Jaguar. I think that on it’s own, it’s a nicely styled grand tourer that manages to hold up quite gracefully, especially compared to some of its contemporaries. I even like this better than the E-Type (which I always thought was gross to look at, not that my 6’3 frame could fit in the dumb thing, although the roadster version is better) Wouldn’t want one though, as cool as they are, and I have no doubt they’d produce decent power and have a smooth ride, I don’t have the masochistic tendency to struggle through the blood, sweat, and tears of ownership.
Originally the XJS was built for export to the US with the four sealed beam light set up. The Ciebe type lights were always on European models. As part of the “face lift” of the early 1990s they were changed to the Euro style. The car also received the body colored bumpers and the full width tail light panel. These models also could be had with a new six cylinder motor, with optional five speed manual trans. or the updated six litre V12.
Interestingly, at least to me, the 1991 restyle was penned in 1985 but was not done initially through lack of funds. Think the original was best, and a lot of owners think the later larger factory wheel/tire combo messed up the ride.
The cheesy paint job and wheels make it look like something that a low-rent drug dealer would buy for his slutty girlfriend.
No one else has said it so I will, this looks like another case of the folks who styled the front half of the car never saw or spoke with the folks who styled the back half. Each end is….interesting, but they don’t quite look related.
Of all “people”, GM did the flying buttress MUCH better on their mid 60s intermediate sport coupes, the Pontiac GTO being the best of the bunch (IMHO). It wasn’t until they made this model into a “proper” convertible and did away with the flying buttress look that it started to look decent. Unfortunately, when they made the tail light panel wrap the full width of the car it took on overtones of Mercury Cougar…from the back.
BTW, Ford had a similar paint color available on Mustang GTs and Thunderbirds, it was called Mystic, I believe.
I’ve always liked the XJS, and I still think it’s an attractive car that kind of gets a bad rap. This one? Well, back when it was running, nothing that can’t be fixed with some tape and some rattle cans of flat black. Seriously, it’d be an improvement. Paint the wheels first.
Would I want to take on that V-12 and its legendary issues? Probably not. But then again, there are very few ways to claim you have a V12, and this is probably the least expensive one. To buy, anyway, not to maintain…