Early Pre-HE XJS; Original V12; Runs and Drives

f you know the XJS, then you know that the pre-HE cars are the purest of the breed. They are lighter and faster than all but the 6.0 v12 cars and then only by a whisker so to speak. This is an early example of the pre-HE which has the door mirrors only available on 76-77 cars. Very few of these early cars were manufactured and a even smaller number survive today. A lot of these cars were unfortunately converted to Chevy v8s which diminishes their value greatly. As a consequence, values on pre-HE cars are beginning to climb at a rapid rate and are in high demand in the UK and Europe.

I looked for several years for a pre-HE and bought this with the intention of keeping it. However, a particular pre-HE, which I longed after for 10+ years came on the market and I bought it. So I don't need two. I am merely looking to sell the car for what I have into it and pass it along to another Jaguar lover.

Body:

Body is remarkably rust-free as it came from the Seattle area. There is some minor surface rust underneath, but nothing of real concern. The car appears to have been repainted many years ago in its Old English White matching very well in the jambs and under hood area.The car shows well and the paint would hold up for many years if it is stored inside. I converted the problematic pre-HE wiper system to the 82-89 style wipers. I had to track down an extremely rare factory NOS retrofit kit in Canada to implement this fix. The factory front spoiler is missing, but Coventry West has used ones in stock when I last checked. The hood lift support shocks need to be replaced as they do not hold the hood up currently.

Interior:

The interior is tan and all original with the exception of the headliner. The dash is in great shape and free from any cracks or splits. The ventilation system works in manual and automatic modes with working heat. All the gauges and lights work in the dash. Horn, high beams, turn signals, brake and parking lights are all functional. Seats are faded but in good condition. The driver's seat bottom has a split in it that could be repaired. The carpets are original and in great shape, preserved by the factory shag carpet floor mats. Power windows operate smoothly and quickly. Power door locks are functional as well. The air conditioning does not work, but it appears it was converted to R134a as it has newer ports on it. The compressor turns freely and there are no parts missing from the system.

Drivetrain:

The engine starts up and runs well. There are no funny or unusual noises to be noted. The previous owner installed a new distributor cap, rotor, plugs, wires, and a couple fuel injectors. Also installed were new belts and an alternator. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly with no flares or slipping. The transmission appears to have been rebuilt in the past, as the torque convertor looks new.

Brakes/Suspension:

The car brakes with no noticeable pulling to either side. There are newer Bilstein shocks on the front. The rear shocks definitely need to be replaced as they are bouncy when driving. The car drives straight and the power steering works great. The factory Kent alloys are in near perfect condition. The spare alloy appears to have the factory cosmoline grease still on it.

All in all, this would make a great Cars and Coffee ride. The car shows well as a early example of a rare pre-HE XJS. My only hope is that the next owner will take on stewardship of this car, preserving it as it is and not convert it to a v8.

Remember that it is a 43 year old vehicle and will need some work to bring it up to your expectations of performance and comfort. I would recommend shipping or trailering this XJS home as the tires, while having good tread, are rather old.