1980 Jaguar XJ-S 5.3 Pre-HE Coupe |

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1980 Jaguar XJ-S 5.3 Pre-HE Coupe

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£6,785

Mileage~57,812 on clock
TransmissionAutomatic
Engine5.3-litre
LocationWorcester

SOLD

1980 Jaguar XJ-S 5.3 Pre-HE Coupe

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Photographer and Editor

A plush coupe built on refinement and style, the XJ-S emphasises comfort and luxury.

The XJ-S release in 1975 was a bold move on Jaguar's part, capitalising on the reputation of luxury travel rather than sporting prowess. The timing of the car was considered unfortunate as the fuel crisis and industrial unrest took their toll on the brand. However, Jaguar was a British Leyland halo product, and the brand was still amongst the most respected in the world. This was reinforced with the fuel-injected V12 power of the grandest of tourers - the XJ-S coupe.

A supremely comfortable car with effortless power on tap, the XJ-S did much to bring the brand up to date, using unique design cues such as the long overhangs and the 'flying buttresses' that swept down the rear of the roofline. Inside was furnished with lavish equipment, excellent boot space and a refinement that elevated it as one of the smoothest riding cars of its era. A car for the gentleman, Jaguar almost shelved the XJ-S in 1980, due to low sales, but engine revisions gave it a new lease of life, and then it was continuously developed over an impressive 21-year production run.

A well-presented, solid and very original example of one of the last of the original ‘Pre-HE’ models, this is a great opportunity to obtain an early XJ-S, which needs a little recommissioning to get back on the road. This 1980 model is finished in Cotswold Yellow with blue leather upholstery. It has been with the same owner for ~41 years, who kept the car maintained and in working order despite it being laid up since 2015.

Now being auctioned on behalf of his estate, it has just 57,812 miles, its original owners' pack and service booklet, two keys and is road tax and MOT exempt.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Eddy the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

The car was bought in 1984 by Graham, who then kept it for the rest of his life, until his passing last year.

Graham was a member of the Jaguar Owners' Club and had also owned a more recent model. It is believed he would have taken the car to meets and would have used it on a leisurely basis. Always garaged and well-maintained, the car was last driven on the roads around 2015, when failing health forced him to stop driving, but he kept on top of the car's needs and ensured it presented and ran as well as possible.

The car has been passed to his estate, and Eddy was kind enough to assist us with the preparation and help with the sale.

Eddy will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Eddy on behalf of Graham

Vehicle Owner

Eddy on behalf of Graham saved £1,080* when they
sold their Jaguar with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Years of careful use and storage have paid dividends to the car's positive condition.

Wheels and Tyres

The 15" alloys look good with mild sign of pitting but no rim damage.

The front and rear of the car are fitted with Pirelli P4000 tyres, showing a spec of 205/70 all round. These are date-coded from the early 2000s. The car was last driven around ~10 years ago, and while the tyres show plenty of tread and we couldn’t see any physical damage, it would be a sensible precaution to replace all four.

Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed view of the Jaguar's exterior, for a closer look at the wheels and tyres to make your assessment of their condition.

Bodywork

The boot lid and arches show that a rust inhibitor had been applied to the car, but we didn’t see much in terms of visible corrosion. The driver's door is mildly misaligned at the edge, but the rest of the panels are acceptably flush to the body, and all doors open with ease, showing decent rubber seals. The bonnet struts are weak.

The underside of the car appears to be in good shape; the suspension mounts, floor pan, wheel wells and boot floor all look solid. The exterior condition reflects the care of duty carried out by the owner despite its lack of use. There is very little panel damage observed, aside from a dent on the driver's door.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The Cotswold Yellow paint finish has even coverage, showing a slight bonnet mismatch, but overall has a decent consistency in hue. The lustre is acceptable with surface marks noted on the boot lid in the sunlight. The car has a few paint touch-ups; these seem to be mainly on the wheel arches, where it has seen minor scuffs. The lower front and rear valances have dabs of black paint inhibitor.

The area around the driver's side door handles is peppered with chips, the boot lid shows paint crazing, and minor fractures can be seen where the buttresses meet the boot scuttle panel and around the passenger door handle. There is blistering on the passenger door, but considering the lack of use over the last 10 years, it displays remarkably well.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass appears to be in good shape, with signs of wear noted on some of the seals. The side glass and rear have a black tint application; some bubbles have formed in places. The lights and lenses are good.

The trim is complete and displays well - just some of the bezels and body trim chrome have minor pitting, but all are free of rust or damage. The nearside windscreen trim is loose. The bumpers are well-mounted, with a few cracks and minor marks noted on the bumper assembly, but again, considering the car's age, they are in good shape.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The interior is very original, has lasted well and wouldn't take much to get up to scratch.

Seats and Carpets

The driver's seat has creases and bolster wear, but could be renovated without too much trouble. The rear seat has a few marks.

The carpets are complete, and while they show mild discolouration in places, they have worn well and are all damp-free.

The luggage trim is decent with damp-free carpeting.

Dashboard

The dashboard has mild distortion around the binnacle, but is free of cracks or scuffs. The facia and centre console displays well, and all of the switches, controls and dials are in decent shape. We tried out the electric windows, heater blower, lights and wipers, and they seemed fine.

Door cards and interior trim are tidy and well-mounted.

The headlining is sagging but shows no discolouration or rips.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel and gear lever display well, above the expectations of a car of this age.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The engine runs smoothly and shows evidence of regular attention.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine appears to have been well maintained, as Graham, the car's last owner, was said to keep on top of things. As a result, it starts up with no problems and sounds strong with no unwanted noises or vibrations. There was no smoke from the exhaust, and the dashboard warning lights all stayed off. The oil pressure read 25 PSI.

The engine compartment is very clean and the engine displays well with decent ancillaries, but it would be advisable to conduct a thorough check of the engine for peace of mind.

The auto gearbox was not tested on the day as the car is untaxed and so not road legal. Eddy did tell us there was a slight issue with the reverse gear, it sometimes goes in and sometimes doesn't, it will need to be investigated.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension and braking were not tested on the day of our visit, but a glance at the components suggests that their visual condition is acceptable.

The Drive

Designed for comfortable driving, the XJ-S is noted for its good handling and roadholding. The progress that the V12 engine makes, with the least amount of noise and effort, is why the XJ-S was so highly rated when new.

The Jaguar is currently untaxed, so sadly, we were unable to experience the car on the road. A fresh battery has been fitted to ensure the engine starts up without problems.

Electrics and Other

The car comes with a small number of spares and retains its original jack.

A few Jaguar XJS books are also included.

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History and Paperwork

Retaining some fascinating documents of the car when Graham first bought the car, it retains its original service booklet.

First registered in June 1980 by Henlys of Salisbury, this is one of the last pre-HE models to have been produced and was only sold in Cotswold Yellow for two years. There is documentation of the car's second owner, who sold the car via a dealer to Graham in 1984. It has covered around 2,000 miles since 2004 and has a handful of invoices relating to engine maintenance parts up to 2014.

Sold with its original owners' pack and handbook, which also includes a service booklet with 13 stamps up to 1985. The sales invoice from that purchase is present, as well as invoices of maintenance up to 2013. It comes with two sets of keys and is MOT and road tax exempt. The car will need to be transported to its new home.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
08-06-2004	MOT	55,870
19-12-1992	MOT	52,554
08-12-1989	MOT	51,386
20-12-1985	MOT	43,742
03-09-1985	Service + belts	41,672
09-11-1984	MOT	33,961
09-11-1984	Service	33,961
25-07-1984	Service	30,396
07-03-1984	Service	27,142
20-10-1983	Service	24,142
10-07-1983	Service	21,403
11-06-1983	MOT	20,529
03-03-1983	Service	18,560
01-10-1982	Service	16,050
24-02-1982	Service	11,400
01-10-1981	Service	8,991
01-07-1981	Service	6,946
04-11-1980	Service	3,125
06-07-1980	Service	1,029