1995 Jaguar XJS 4.0 Celebration

Highlights

• Final ‘Celebration’ model
• Sapphire Blue paintwork
• Piped cream leather interior
• 238 bhp six-cylinder engine
• Opportunity to use and improve

Overview

The XJ-S was a particularly long-lived model in Jaguar’s history, being produced for 21 years between 1975 and 1996. So when Ford acquired Jaguar they decided to modernise things by completely redesigning the car’s relationship with punctuation: the ‘XJ-S’ became the sleek, suave, and sophisticated ‘XJS’ in 1991.

Then the ‘Celebration’ model was released in 1995, marking 60 years of the company being named Jaguar cars. Features of the model include embossed leather front seats and a veneered steering wheel. This was the final iteration of the XJS before it was replaced by the XK8.

The XJS offered for sale here is finished in a fetching shade of metallic Sapphire Blue with cream leather upholstery and walnut veneers throughout the cabin. It has picked up some signs of use over the years and remains in good condition for its age but may benefit from some work to bring it back to its absolute best.

A four-litre straight-six engine provides plenty of power — 238 bhp, when new — and this is fed to the rear wheels via a ZF automatic transmission. The smooth delivery of this power makes the XJS a truly luxurious car befitting the marque’s long history of producing fast sporting saloons. So, if you want to preserve and enjoy one of the final versions of the great British marque’s grand tourer and are up for a light summer project, then get your bid in now.

History and documentation

• Registered 14 Nov 1995
• Stamped service book with services as follows: Apr 1996 @ 10,190 miles, May 1997 @ 20,000 miles, Dec 1997 @ 30,142 miles, Oct 1998 @ 40,164 miles, Oct 1999 @ 45,801 miles, Jun 2001 @ 54,031 miles, Aug 2011 @ 67,253 miles
• Full original document pack in leather wallet
• Collection of old tax discs, invoices, and MOT certificates
• Only three former keepers
• Current keeper registered since Sept 2009
• One key and two fobs
• Current MOT expires 24 Aug 2024
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear

Interior

• This XJS features luxurious cream leather upholstery with contrasting piping
• The front seats are embossed with the Jaguar emblem
• Generally the leather is in good condition
• There is some wear/cracking to the driver’s seat bolster
• Burr walnut accents throughout
• The veneers are highly figured and retain a deep shine
• Some of the lacquer has begun to crack — notably on the steering wheel
• The leather-trimmed carpets look clean and tidy
• The rear seats appear to have seen little use
• On the dashboard there is a full set of gauges
• The car retains its original Jaguar radio/cassette player, with a CD changer in the boot
• The headlining has been fixed to the roof with screw-in upholstery buttons and shows a little discolouration in places
• We’re told that the air conditioning system does not work, due to a leaky pipe
• To the rear, the spacious boot is fully carpeted, and features a space-saver spare wheel

Exterior

• The sleek silhouette of the XJS has become widely appreciated as a fine example of 20th Century design
• ‘Flying buttress’ rear pillars are a hallmark of the model
• Finished in Sapphire Blue with chrome trim, this car looks smart and suave
• Celebration model gold badge
• The paint has gained a few chips and scratches over the years, but the deep metallic blue remains vibrant
• The front splitter appears to be slightly out of alignment
• Headlamp lenses clear and bright
• The alloy wheels have a few areas of bubbling
• Generally the chrome trim is in fair condition, but there are some areas of corrosion
• Chrome bumper trims, window surrounds, wing mirrors, and door handles
• The vendor tells us that the tyres are in excellent condition
• Underneath, there is some slight corrosion on the rear outer sills, noted on the MOT
• The glass looks well preserved
• Heated rear windscreen

Mechanical

• Under the long bonnet sits a 3,980cc straight-six petrol engine
• This AJ16 engine was updated for the 1994 model year
• Produced 238 bhp and 281 lb ft when new
• Four-speed ZF automatic transmission
• The vendor tells us that it starts easily, retains excellent oil pressure, and drives smoothly
• The most recent MOT notes that the steering rack mounting bushes had slight movement, and there is some surface corrosion on the suspension
• Looking under the bonnet, the engine bay looks generally tidy, with a normal amount of surface corrosion to be seen
• The accompanying service record indicates that this car received plenty of mechanical attention during its early years

Summary

Overall, this appears to be a nice example of a late-model XJS, finished in an attractive colour. It has all the hallmarks of a luxury sporting motorcar of the period, and benefits from the mechanical and styling tweaks carried out during the model’s long production.

So if you’re looking for a classy car to use and enjoy, while providing a few areas for fettling and improvement, then this XJS has a lot to offer.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in St Austell, Cornwall.