Highlights
- Excellent low mileage example
- No expense spared on maintenance
- ‘No-fail’ MoT history since 2008
- Full service history, long MoT for new keeper
- Vehicle is in the process of getting a new V5c
The Appeal
A fine Jaguar is an integral part of British tradition. Just the mention of the marque evokes visions of historic automotive art forms such as the E-Type and XK-120 – cars that live on in the memory like a healthy real ale or short-crust pie.
In NX55 PLV, we have a healthy, low-mileage/low-ownership 2005 example of one of Jaguar’s finest continent crushing grand tourers as the model neared the end of its production life, prior to its eventual replacement by the second-generation XK/XKR versions a year later.
Membership to the Jaguar Drivers’ Club, founded in 1958, is open to everyone with historic, current and future interest in this prestige marque and its members are as knowledgeable, helpful and approachable as they come.
History and Paperwork
- Dry-stored/driven, garaged when not in use
- Just four former keepers
- Long MoT to March 2023
- V5 certificate in current keeper’s name
Production of this striking Jaguar 4.2 XK-R was completed at Jaguar’s expansive Castle Bromwich facility at Castle Vale near Birmingham during the week commencing 19th September, 2005 and was promptly dispatched to Reg Vardy Jaguar of Stockton-On-Tees. A formal handover was made to Mr John Rackham of Barnard Castle a few days later on the 24th September.
Today, some 17 years later, its highly presentable condition suggests that each of this Jaguar’s four former keepers loved it more than the previous. The car is reluctantly offered for sale to a new keeper who hopefully will enjoy and appreciate its GT spirit.
The car has a valid MoT to 2nd March, 2023. For the past several years, the car has been dry-stored when not in use and driven in dry conditions whenever enjoyed in the wild.
Accompanying the sale of this Jaguar XK-R will be two sets of keys, the V5C registered in the current keeper’s name, the original leather-bound Jaguar-embossed holdall containing the Owner’s Manuals, audio system hand book and the service record book, as pictured.
There is a box file of invoices and receipts pertaining to the car’s upkeep over the years and several publications about the Jaguar XK MkI. In addition, there is a Haynes Workshop Manual penned by renowned Jaguar aficionado, Nigel Thorley.
The Interior
- Smart and tidy interior
- Elegant Warm Charcoal (Code ‘LEG’) leather upholstery
- Excellent condition belies its 17 years
The new keeper will be treated to a ‘Warm Charcoal’ leather-clad cabin that’s still modern looking and comfortable enough for day-long driving. The dash layout is intuitive and not remotely dated and much of the interior feels as though it’s been crafted rather than manufactured. All the controls are easy to use and many of the buttons and switches have a bespoke feel to them.
The headlining, carpeting and door cards present in exceptional condition and the rear of the cabin looks like no-one has ever been back there.
All the electrics are said by the vendor to be in good working order, as are the instruments, dials and switchgear. In a nice modern-retro touch, the audio system is paired to a 6x CD-changer mounted in the boot.
The Exterior
- Pristine Platinum (Code MDZ) paint finish
- Smart original factory-fit 20-inch alloys
- Badge work is all in good order
The condition of the exterior of this Jaguar XK-R mirrors that of the interior and is indicative of the love and care afforded the car during the past seventeen years. The Platinum (Code MDZ) paintwork gleams around the entire car and fully compliments the Jaguar’s sleek lines.
The little badge work exhibited around the car is in excellent condition, none of which has a scratch or mark to its surface. The front and rear light lenses are clear and show no hint of fogging and a cursory glance down each flank shows no evidence of damage, all apertures open and close as true as the day it was built and even the front valance and number plate, for all their vulnerability, remain blemish free.
The smart 20-inch ‘Perseus’ alloy wheels are shod with a set of Pirelli P-Zero tyres, which are in reasonable condition. The alloys themselves are in good condition, with two exhibiting a few small scuffs here and there.
It must be noted that there is a minor scrape on the leading edge of the passenger side door mirror, but elsewhere the exterior presents in truly remarkable condition for its 17 years and 51,000 miles.
The Mechanics
- Two original keys
- Impressive ‘no-fail’ MoT record since first of 2008.
- Full Service History, no expense spared on upkeep
- Mechanicals are said to be in sound condition
At the photo location, the Jaguar was frequently repositioned by this writer and photographer to honour the direction of light. As expected, the car started first and every time and settled into an appreciative V8 burble, albeit somewhat refined and understated compared to other, more brash V8-powered motors we snappers can often encounter.
The six-speed ZF-sourced automatic gearbox connected smoothly and ‘Drive’ engaged with no drama, requiring a just a light feathering of revs to get underway.
The current keeper – himself an owner/operator of an independent Jaguar specialist workshop – reports the car to be in excellent mechanical condition with steering, brakes, engine, drivetrain and running gear performing as well as their respective and highly-skilled engineers intended nearly twenty years ago.
The car has an impressive ‘no-fail’ MoT record with no fails registered from 2008 when it underwent its first MoT.
Like the immediately visible parts of this sleek Jaguar, the underside and lower sills of the car present in very good order with a degree of natural oxidation much less than may reasonably be expected on a car of this age and mileage.
Summary
As its name suggests – the XK-R is the high performance version of the ‘regular’ Jaguar XK and deploys a supercharged version of the same V8 engine to provide thunderous pace along with a wonderful noise.
It’s intoxicatingly fast while the engine is incredibly responsive with power reserves available even at high revs. Inside it’s as cosseting and refined as you’d expect from a Jaguar, with a modern and well equipped cabin. Many would rightly argue that the XK-R was Jaguar at its best.
