1987 Jaguar XJ-SC – 3.6 Manual |

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1987 Jaguar XJ-SC – 3.6 Manual

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

Sold Price

£9,700

Mileage~85,169 at MOT
TransmissionManual
Engine3.6-litre
LocationBromley

SOLD

1987 Jaguar XJ-SC – 3.6 Manual

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Dom Ginn

Professional Consigner

The XJ-SC combines a rare blend of elegance and exclusivity with grand touring comfort and open-top excitement, making it one of Jaguar’s most desirable classics.

The Jaguar XJ-SC is a truly distinctive chapter in Jaguar’s history, offering something few cars of its era could match. At a time when safety regulations made full convertibles difficult to produce, Jaguar engineered the XJ-SC as a cabriolet with removable targa-style roof panels and a folding rear hood. This clever design delivered the thrill of open-air motoring while retaining the strength and refinement of the coupe, making it a unique proposition for buyers seeking both luxury and versatility.

The current owner has sensible updates completed during his ~4 year ownership, including; rear storage boxes converted to seats, the air-con has been updated, new tyres added, new rear springs, shock absorbers replaced front and back and the underside has been Waxoyled. It comes with a fresh MOT valid until 19.08.2026 too.

Produced in relatively limited numbers compared to the standard XJ-S, the XJ-SC has since become highly sought after, admired for its elegant design, smooth grand touring capability, and unmistakable Jaguar character.

Today, it represents not just a car, but a fascinating blend of engineering innovation and classic British style - this is a great opportunity to get your hands on a rare and collectible model with a keen reserve set.

This listing was written from information supplied by Dom after meeting Henry 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

I've been really proud to own this Jag - I just love these classic models!

We met with Henry, the current owner, to discover more about the Jaguar, he said, "I had owned older classics but wanted something more reliable and better for longer journeys, whilst still being distinctive. This particular one had so much history with the car and was in great condition, plus I loved the cabriolet variant combined with a manual gearbox - I wanted it to still feel like an engaging drive and allow open top motoring when I wanted".

Henry and his wife are expecting a baby, so he's now planning to get an XJ6 instead so there is more space in the rear seats, he said, "I'll really miss the XJ-SC but I'd hate to not use it enough".

Should you have any questions about the car, Henry would be happy to answer these in the comments section below.

Henry

Vehicle Owner

Henry saved £1,620* when they
sold their Jaguar with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The XJ-SC combines classic Jaguar elegance with open-top flair, featuring a targa-style roof, sweeping lines, and refined 1980s luxury.

Wheels and Tyres

The car comes with 15" multi-spoke wheels with a Jaguar motif centre badge. All appeared to be in excellent condition with very little concerns noted.

The front and rear of the XJ-SC is fitted with Falken Ziex ZE310 tyres with date codes from 2021 and a spec of 225/60.

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

Bodywork

The bodywork of the Jaguar showed in good condition overall. Looking over the exterior, the panel lines are visually straight and well-aligned. Both doors, bonnet, boot and the roof open and close without issue, with the panels gaps all showing well, without concern.

We noted a couple of small parking dings to the driver's side rear quarter panel and passenger side door - an easy repair by a dent specialist.

We did spot some small blemishes that would be worth keeping on top of, around the bonnet, boot area, on the passenger side rear wheel arch and around the window trim on the drivers side. But Henry told us they haven't changed at all during his ownership and do not detract too much from the overall very presentable condition of the car.

The XJ-S has previously had a Jaguar ‘leaper’ fitted to the front of the car, this has since been removed. The fitment holes still exist, but have been filled with rubber grommets – allowing a new owner to refit a leaper if they wish.

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

Paint

Finished in 'Dorchester Grey', thought to be one of only five painted in this colour by Jaguar Cars - the coverage is nice and even across the car with no noted imperfections to colour. We didn't note any real concerns with the paint finish itself, although there were several noticeable stone chips across the front of the bonnet and to the rear.

The Jaguar has additional pin stripe detailing along the side edges which looked very smart.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there yourself. Please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car to form your own opinion about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The windscreen, side windows, front and rear lights all appear in very good condition, and we could see no sign of scratching or chips on the glass. We did note there was a slight scuff on the front bumper.

Badges and emblems are present, correct and look great.

The convertible hood that retracts back into the rear section was showing in reasonable condition, and Henry told us it could benefit from another application of Renovo soft top reviver, which he last did a few years ago. The headlining on the targa panels was good although had staples in to keep this from further sagging.

We didn't note any issues on the seals on the exterior and these areas showed to be in-line with the rest of the condition of the car.

The chrome work had started to show a few cracks to the finish on the front. There were signs of age on the rear light surround and rippling and wear to the finish on the rear bumper.

We've taken you around the car in greater detail in our exterior review video, please take the time to look over the video and see how the glass and trim look from different perspectives.

VIEW ALL

INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Plush leather seats, rich wood trim, and thoughtful detailing create an atmosphere of refinement, making every drive as stylish as it is comfortable.

Seats and Carpets

The front seats and rear bench showed well and looked great finished in grey leather complimenting the exterior. We noted some signs of wear to the driver's seat outer bolster and the rear bench would benefit from a clean over, typical observations considering the age of the car.

Carpets in the front of the cabin show in a respectable condition with the boot showing a good standard.

We've captured high-resolution photos and a full interior video tour through the car. This covers off the angles inside the car for you to review and appreciate the condition of what's on offer here in our interior review section.

Dashboard

The black dash on the driver facing area all appears in good shape although the wood trim has started to crack on the centre section. Black dials looked nice and were all functioning as expected, just a clean over here would be of benefit. The odometer showed with ~85,144 miles at the time of our visit.

The dials, switches, and controls all appear to be in great condition, with surfaces free from fogging or concerns.

We noted no issues with any warning lights and the speedometer, rev counter, fuel gauge and oil temp and were all functioning without concern after taking the car out on the road.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel is in keeping with the quality of the rest of the interior showing no major issues, just signs of use.

The gear stick and gaiter shows with age and wear, although didn't detract too much from the cabin's overall presentation.

We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

VIEW ALL

'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

A 3.6L inline-six is the perfect unit for the XJ-SC, offering a fine balance of performance and economy.

Engine and Gearbox

Starting up, we noted no concerns and the Jaguar performed without issue when running and out on the road. The car idled smoothly and its engine was easily capable of taking the driver up to speed in no time at all. The manual gearbox showed no concerns with shifting the XJ-SC through to the gears.

We took the car out around some local roads with the current owner to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. Take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting up and more detail in the engine bay.

Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks, bangs or other issues from the suspension when we were on the road, and it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling. Looking over the underside of the car during our visit, we noted a good level of Waxoyl but there were a few notes of corrosion on some areas – see photos for details and these could be corrected to maintain the otherwise good protection underneath.

The brakes felt to have no pull or vibrations that stood out to us when on the journey - they brought the car to a stop without a problem and with the kind of stopping power you'd expect.

Please take a look over the mechanical videos and photographs to see close-up images from under the car.

The Drive

The XJ-SC delivers a smooth and refined driving experience, with its silky engine providing effortless power and long-legged cruising ability.

Henry, the current owner, tells us more about the Jaguar, "It's set up really nicely so is a perfect car for all scenarios - whether having fun on country roads with the very torquey engine, or cruising comfortably along the motorway. It always feels well planted".

Built more for grand touring than spirited cornering, it offers a relaxed, composed ride with plenty of torque on tap for confident overtakes. The Jaguar blends performance with comfort, making it ideal for open-top motoring on long, sweeping roads.

Electrics and Other

During our time with the vehicle we noted that all switches, dials, and gauges appear undamaged and are in great condition.

The X-JSC is specified with electric windows, manual roof and features an original Jaguar cassette player. The car comes with 2 sets of keys and the original servicing book.

The current owner advised us that, "The rear storage boxes have been converted to seats, but the original storage box system comes with the car and is a simple swap if a new owner prefers".

We weren't able to fully test all of the functions when visiting the car, although Henry told us everything was in working order as far as he was aware.

VIEW ALL

History and Paperwork

The XJS-C comes to market with under ~5,000 miles travelled in the last ~10 years - well set up, with suitable upgrades added, the Jaguar comes with plenty of history.

The Jaguar has been with the current owner, Henry, for the last ~4 years and it's clear to see that he's cherished the car through his time with it. A keen fan of all things Jaguar, Henry has had his fair share of classic cars over the years and knew what he was looking for with this example - he said, "The car was already in great condition, and the history file has tons of receipts to show it was well maintained".

Preferring the more original set up for classic cars, Henry has kept the car fairly standard, although has completed some choice works, he told us, "The rear storage boxes have been converted to seats, but the original storage box system comes with the car and is a simple swap if a new owner prefers. I've sorted the few things that still needed doing, I got the air-con fixed, new tyres, new rear springs and shock absorbers front and back".

It has had an oil and filter change on 20.08.2025 as well as a fresh MOT carried out, valid until 19.08.2026. A new oil filter and sump washer was replaced in October 2024, the brake fluid and clutch fluid was changed in December 2023 and new Gaz shock springs and front shock absorbers were fitted and air conditioning works were updated in June 2022. Five new tyres (one for the spare) were also fitted in June 2021.

Importantly, Henry had the Jaguar professionally Waxoyled to keep the underside protected in 2021, he said, "This was all done at Clarkes Restorations who have maintained it every year for me - I think they were formally known as XJ-S World and are a leading XJ-S specialist in the UK".

We cover the history of the Jaguar in our paperwork gallery including a closer look at the recent servicing, take a look through to see more behind the XJ-SC.

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, and 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 on 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 bid/s, 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
20.08.2025	Oil and Filter Change & MOT	85,169
25.10.2024	Service	84,851
23.10.2024	MOT	84,851
08.12.2023	Service	84,195
05.12.2023	MOT	84,195
06.12.2022	MOT	83,326
09.06.2022	Service
25.11.2021	MOT	82,341
07.07.2021	Service	81,646
14.12.2020	Service & MOT	81,493
05.06.2019	MOT	81,361
11.06.2018	MOT	81,298
09.06.2017	MOT	80,975
06.06.2016	MOT	80,579
01.06.2015	MOT	80,333
02.06.2014	MOT	80,031
13.06.2013	MOT	78,973
10.04.2012	MOT	78,834
11.02.2011	Service	78,845
04.02.2011	MOT	78,845
25.07.2003	MOT	78,296
20.07.2003	Service	78,130
02.08.2002	MOT	78,137
11.08.2001	Service	77,530
10.08.2001	MOT	77,529
04.09.2000	MOT	77,487
31.08.1999	MOT	77,015
06.08.1998	MOT	75,637
15.05.1998	Service	74,698
11.08.1997	MOT	73,541
01.06.1997	Service	73,251
07.08.1996	Service & MOT	72,267
28.07.1995	MOT	71,885
09.06.1994	MOT	71,365
09.06.1993	MOT	69,350
26.04.1993	Service	68,400
23.06.1992	MOT	67,046
30.10.1989	MOT	63,027
23.08.1989	Service	60,623
20.03.1989	Service	49,813
11.11.1988	Service	43,012
23.08.1988	Service	36,890
09.03.1988	Service	28,773
10.12.1987	Service	22,534
25.09.1987	Service	15,538
22.06.1987	Service	7,089
08.04.1987	Service	1,244