Words: Rory FH Smith
In the late 1960s, Jaguar was staring in the face of a very difficult question: how do you replace the iconic but aging E-Type?
Added to this, was a larger problem relating to Jaguar’s parent company – British Leyland Motor Corporation. This not-so-catchy name in British motor history sends shudders down the spine of auto enthusiasts the world over. In the mid-1970s, this oversized and underfunded goliath of the automotive industry was tittering on the edge of destruction.
Nonetheless, Jaguar revealed its E-Type replacement – the XJS – on the 10th September 1975. Its rigid lines were a significant departure from the sensual curves of the E-Type, despite both cars being designed by Malcolm Sayer before his death in 1970, after which the in-house Jaguar design team completed the car.
Initially fitted with a 5.3-litre V12 engine which powered the car to 60mph in 7.6seconds and topped out at 143mph. But Jaguar’s timing was ill-fated. The car was launched in the wake of a fuel crisis, which meant there was little appetite for a thirsty 5.3-Litre grand tourer. In 1983, the XJS received a more economical 3.6-litre straight-six engine alongside a convertible version, before the V12 was reintroduced in 1985.
In the early 1990s, the Jag was once more given a new lease of life. Slightly altered looks, a new 4.0-litre straight-six engine, and a 6.0-litre V12 were added before its final foray in the form of the Celebration model in the mid-1990s, which marked 60 years of the Jaguar company. Tell tail signs of the Celebration models were Jaguar embossed seats, a wooden steering wheel, and diamond turned wheels.
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By 1996, there was no more life to be squeezed out of the XJS. It had served the needs of those looking for a meaty British grand tourer for a total of 21 years and so along came its successor, the Jaguar XK8.
Values of the XJS were at an all-time low three to four years ago and have been steadily climbing since. There’s a number of varying condition models on the market at present, such as this 1994 XJS Celebration which was sold by Silverstone Auctions for £15,100. Click here for more details.
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