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Curated Auction

1988 Jaguar XJS V12 Convertible

At a Glance

Modest Miles | Smart Condition | Impressive Service Record | Over £9,000 of Receipts | Low Reserve

  • Mileage~41,783 on the clock
  • Transmission3-Speed Automatic
  • Engine5.3-litre
  • LocationCirencester

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below – we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report – learn more

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below – we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report – learn more

CURATED AUCTION

Days
HRS
MIN
SEC
CURRENT BID£2,500
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AUCTION LIVE

ENDS IN: 56 Days 12 Hr 51 Min 51 Sec

CURRENT BID

£2,500

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Video #2

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy
Editor and Photographer

Timeless British elegance, effortless V12 power and sublime open-top grand touring.

As Jaguar's quintessential grand tourer, serving as the marque's luxury flagship for over two decades, it effortlessly captured the brand’s celebrated ethos of grace, pace and space. Its distinctive styling features aerodynamic lines alongside an understated, yet imposing presence. Inside, the cabin offers supreme long-distance refinement and supple luxury. Powered by silky six-cylinder or mighty V12 powerplants, the XJS delivered thrilling performance and effortless high-speed cruising, cementing its legacy as a true British motoring icon.

In the 1980s, the XJS underwent a dramatic rebirth that elevated its quality, engineering and overall appeal. The pivotal moment came with the introduction of the High Efficiency V12 engine, which dramatically improved fuel economy, enhanced power and resolved earlier reliability concerns. Shortly after, the arrival of the full factory convertible transformed its styling, replacing the original controversially styled coupe profile with timeless, elegant proportions. This open-top design softened its lines and firmly re-established the XJS as a highly desirable, deeply appreciated classic grand tourer.

Finished in red with a cream leather interior, this well-preserved 1988 V12 convertible comes from 4.5 years with our vendor and has just ~41,783 miles on the clock and comes with a record of regular servicing supported by £9,000 worth of invoices and receipts. Smartly presented, with a stunning paint finish and solid body, it comes with two keys and was last serviced just 300 miles ago. It has an MOT to May 2027 and is ready to be enjoyed by its next custodian.

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

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Vehicle Delivery

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

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.

Video #2

Meet the owner

It turns heads everywhere, drawing admiring glances from enthusiasts and passers-by.

Roger has a deep appreciation for classic British grand tourers, having owned several Jaguars over the years. Always hunting for a V12 XJS, he came across this car and was instantly swayed by its presentation and low mileage. Roger has ensured that even during periods of inactivity, the engine was regularly started and run up to temperature.

Kept garaged throughout his ownership, the car was used primarily for weekend trips. However, mindful that a V12 is best enjoyed on regular longer journeys, he has reluctantly decided to pass it on to a new owner.

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

Roger
Vehicle Owner

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CONTACT OWNER
EXTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Exterior

It boasts near immaculate red paintwork, solid bodywork and a pristine, fully operational black soft top.

Wheels and Tyres

The 15-inch lattice mesh style alloy wheels are in good condition, free from significant road wear.

The front and rear of the car are fitted with Pirelli P600 tyres, showing a spec of 235/60/R15; the rears are over 20 years old, and the front pair are date-coded from 2015. They all have legal tread, although the rears are flagged up as MOT advisories.

Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

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Bodywork

The exterior presentation is impressive, with no notable panel damage, discernible corrosion or issues with consistent panel fit. The shut lines are even, with no problems opening or closing the doors. The driver's side door sticks out slightly at the base, but overall the exterior has been well preserved.

The underside looks solid with a protective coat of inhibitor, and no issues were noted on the floor pan, suspension mounts or jacking points. The wheel wells, engine bay and boot floor are all clean.

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.

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Paint

The red paint finish has a smooth lustre and an impressive shine. Apart from the occasional touched-up chip on the nose and some very minor marks on the body, the paint retains a pleasing appeal with a consistent tone and an even hue throughout.

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.

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Glass and Trim

The glass and seals are in good condition, although the windscreen has a crack on the driver's side. It is above the driver's line of sight and has not worsened over the four years of Roger's ownership, but it is flagged as an MOT advisory.

The lights are in good condition; there is a minor crack on the offside rear lens, but it is purely cosmetic.

The trim is in good shape, with no issues regarding the bumpers.

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INTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Interior

The smell of leather and wood creates a unique, old-school British grand touring atmosphere.

Seats and Carpets

The cream leather seats are in good condition, although the driver's side shows age-related wear on the bolster and base.

The carpets are clean, with no signs of water ingress or dampness.

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Dashboard

The dashboard is smartly presented, free of any wear or marks on the padding. The veneer shows a few signs of age, with some fading and a minor fracture on the centre console, but overall it presents well. The switches, dials and controls are in good condition, and all are said to work as they should.

The trim by the passenger footwell has small plastic discs covering drill holes from a former car phone, but otherwise the cabin trim has been well looked after.

The door cards are tidy, and the soft-top headlining is presentable; whilst there are a few surface marks, it is free of rips and entirely consistent with the age of the car.

The boot shows evidence of careful use.

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Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel and gear lever are consistent with the overall pleasing presentation of the interior.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO
Video #2

Mechanics

Silky V12 power delivers supreme grand touring comfort and effortless performance.

Engine and Gearbox

The 5.3-litre V12-cylinder engine fires up instantly without heavy or pumped throttle input, settling into a smooth, eager idle free of unwanted knocks, ticking, or rattles. The dashboard warning lights all remained unlit; oil pressure starts at around 50 PSI when cold, settling to around 30 PSI as the engine warms up. Standard cold-engine condensation is present at the exhausts, but there was no unwanted smoke throughout our visit.

The engine bay is cleanly presented, with good hoses and ancillaries. The car has benefitted from a regular maintenance schedule in recent years. The engine showed no evidence of fluid leaks in Roger's garage and remained problem-free during our visit.

The three-speed automatic gearbox operates with smooth, predictable and confident changes, running silently in all gears. The kickdown functions quickly, cleanly dropping down a gear to provide prompt acceleration.

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Suspension and Brakes

The ride is exactly as you would expect from an XJS, combining effortless bump absorption with supple yet planted cornering. We heard no significant knocking from the wheels as the car absorbed uneven road surfaces.

Braking felt firm and progressive, bringing the car to a dead-straight stop with no squealing, squeaking or scraping noises.

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The Drive

The legendary Jaguar V12 engine originally debuted in the E-Type, tracing its development roots directly back to Jaguar's ambitious 1960s Le Mans racing prototype programme. When packaged into the grand touring XJS, this magnificent, race-bred powerplant delivered unparalleled, turbine-like smoothness and effortless high-speed cruising dignity. The introduction of the High Efficiency (HE) V12 engine transformed the XJS into a remarkably refined grand tourer, improving fuel economy while increasing power and torque.

The engine pulls with a deceptive, linear surge of power. Acceleration feels completely seamless, with no hesitation, sputtering, or negative feedback from the engine. Roger demonstrated how effortlessly the car cruises at 50 mph; the cabin is heavily insulated, and the engine is so smooth that the car is deceptively fast. The interior was pleasingly quiet, with no significant noise heard from the wheels or trim.

Roger told us that the steering is smooth, positive and tracks straight without requiring correction at the wheel. The car glides with effortless grace, undisturbed by uneven road surfaces or imperfections. The gearbox comes into its own on the open road, with comfortably long gear ratios that suit relaxed touring.

The oil pressure and engine temperature remained consistent throughout the road test, with Roger reporting no historic issues. Following our spirited run, the cooling fan ran for around a minute to ensure the engine cooled down correctly.

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Electrics and Other

The hood operation was faultless, with the electric motors raising and lowering the soft top effortlessly.

The catches are easy to operate, and the tonneau cover is in excellent condition.

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Video #2

History and Paperwork

It has covered fewer than 5,000 miles since 2002, yet has benefited from over £9,000 in maintenance.

First registered in October 1988, the car comes with a comprehensive history file containing invoices, MOT certificates and receipts. These cover routine maintenance, sundry items and 10 instances of servicing going back to 2002, documenting the mileage at 37,855. Recent expenditure exceeding £2,000 over the past four years includes fresh coolant, replacement anti-roll bar links and a new trailing arm. The brake calipers were replaced in 2020, and the car was last serviced in May 2024, approximately 300 miles ago. A comprehensive collection of historic invoices documents a further £7,000 of investment.

The car is supplied with an MOT valid until May 2027, the original owner's handbook, two keys and its complete tool kit.

Please note that whilst the registration plate is set to be placed on retention, Roger is open to sensible offers for it.

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
29-05-2026 MOT 41,773
30-05-2025 MOT 41,660
09-05-2024 Service
08-05-2024 MOT 41,454
03-03-2023 MOT 41,389
13-06-2022 Service 41,104
14-02-2022 MOT 40,503
18-05-2021 MOT 40,403
22-06-2020 Service 39,972
18-06-2020 MOT 39,972
26-07-2019 Service 39,963
12-07-2016 Service 39,934
01-06-2016 MOT 39,934
25-03-2015 MOT 39,922
28-04-2014 Service 39,477
11-04-2014 MOT 39,477
15-05-2013 Service 39,315
13-05-2013 MOT 39,315
09-05-2011 Service 39,296
09-05-2011 MOT 39,296
30-04-2009 Service 39,252
30-04-2009 MOT 39,252
15-05-2008 Service 39,174
24-04-2008 MOT 39,174
VIEW ALL
Key Details
  • Model XJS V12 Convertible
  • Transmission 3-speed automatic
  • Reg. Date 13-10-1988
  • CC 5343
  • Mileage ~41,783 on the clock
  • History Since 2002
  • Colour Red
  • Interior Colour Cream
  • Interior Trim Leather
  • Chassis # SAJJNADW3DA155458
  • Engine # 8S062865HA
  • Last Service 09-05-2024
  • MOT Yes Exp: 29-05-2027
  • MOT Exempt No
  • Road Tax Exempt No
  • HPi Clear Yes - all clear
  • Former Keepers 6
  • Tyre Brand Pirelli P600
  • Tyre Age 2015/ 20 years +
  • # of Keys 2
  • LHD or RHD RHD
  • Visited Yes
  • Sale Type Private
  • Owned ~4 Years
  • Key Feature Low Miles and Smart Presentation
  • Vehicle Registration ROG 22Y (Not Included)
  • Driver’s Side Right
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Body Type 2-door Convertible
  • Auction ID 4105
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Video #2

All Images

Exterior

Interior

Mechanics

History and Paperwork

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Vehicle Location

Cirencester

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    Auction Bidding

    Live Bidding
    Current Bid £2,500
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    1988 Jaguar XJS V12 Convertible
    AUCTION STATUS RESERVE NOT MET
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    Auction Ends Thu 12th Nov at 7.40pm
    Bidding History
    Previous Bids  3
    £2,500 bid by CharlieF29.10.26 @ 22:38:13
    £2,000 bid by martin91829.10.26 @ 14:04:31
    £1,500 bid by Nash29.10.26 @ 11:49:29
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    Insurance Quote


    Average annual insurance premium for a XJS like this is £TBC via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
    GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

    *Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid Autumn 2026.

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    Vehicle Location

    Cirencester

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