• 4.2 litre V8

• Extensive history

• New exhaust 

March 5th 1996, and at the Geneva Motor Show, Jaguar launched Project X100, otherwise now more commonly known as the Jaguar XK8, and brought with it brand new standards to the luxury car market. 

The XK8 was available as either a coupe or convertible. The models went on sale to the general public in October 1996, and sales expectations were exceeded by far, with the XK8 becoming the fastest selling sports car in Jaguar’s history. Jaguar’s V8 engine was the new 4.0 litre which produced an impressive 290 Bhp and 290 ft-lb. No manual transmission was available in the Jaguar XK8. Instead, it was fitted with an all new 5-speed electronic automatic transmission. 

It was in 2002 that the XK8 got a mechanical upgrade to the newer, and more powerful, 4.2 AJ34 engine, and was coupled to the new 6-Speed ZF automatic gearbox, now producing 294bhp at 6,000rpm with 303 lb-ft at 4,100rpm..

This lovely Jaguar XK8 first hit the roads on 11th February 2003. It has clocked up a well maintained 119,273 miles in that time, nothing for the strong 4.2 litre V8. The history file is quite extensive, with invoices going into the thousands, showing that the car has been well cared for by the previous keepers. It makes for some interesting reading on what's actually been replaced on the Jag. 

The most recent major work carried out was in 2018, when the front subframe was removed and new bushes fitted. Also, some areas of corrosion were addressed and then undersealed to protect. This work came with a £2,170.00 invoice.  

There is the V5 present which shows that the XK8 has had 5 previous keepers, with the last keeper being in possession of the car for over 10 years. Two sets of keys are present plus the valet key, which is usually missing.

Also included with the sale is the X100 JPD registration plate, which is a nice addition as the model is a X100.  

As mentioned, the history file is extensive, with some hefty invoices running into the thousands if you total them up. 

The original owners handbooks are present along with a nicely stamped service book. The Jaguar went through an MOT on the 13th September 2021. 

Finished in Dorchester Grey leather, the XK8 is a wonderful, inviting place to be as soon as you open the door. The electric seats are in good condition and working as they should. There is  some very minimal wear on the edge of the driver’s bolster which is less than you would expect for the age and mileage of the Jag, and this could be easily re-coloured. The passenger seat is in excellent order, as is the rear seat which doesn’t look like it’s seen a lot of use.

The dashboard is in excellent order with no damage, and the same can be said for the burr walnut fascia. The instruments are all working as they should and there are no warning lights illuminated when the engine is running. The odometer is displaying a reading of 119,273 miles. The steering wheel is finished in leather and wood to match the dashboard, and is in good condition with no excessive wear. For your in-car entertainment, the XK8 retains the standard factory fit stereo coupled to a boot mounted CD multichanger. The switchgear is all in good order with no obvious signs of wear to the switches.

Under your feet the carpet is in excellent condition, and is also fitted with mats for added protection. The headlining is in good order, with no signs of sagging which can often be seen on models of this age. Into the boot, and this again is also well presented, with a nice clean carpet, a first aid kit to the left and the spare wheel, jack and wheel brace located under the floor.  

Pacific Blue was the order of the day when this XK8 rolled off the production line in 2003. The car has received some paintwork to both rear arches to freshen them up. There are a few small age related stone chips to the front bumper and a couple on the bonnet, as you would expect for 119,000 miles. The lights are in good order with no noticeable chips or cracks to the headlights or fog lights, and the bonnet looks to align as it should, with an even panel gap. The optional heated front screen is also free from any chips or noticeable scratches.

Moving around to the side of the XK8, you can easily see the curved panels are nice and straight with no car park injuries upsetting the smoothness of the Jag. The doors look to align as they should with the panel gaps equal and true. The door handle rubber seals have perished a little, but the seller does have these, and they are included in the sale, and will just require fitting. There are some small blemishes on the anthracite window trims which, although they are there, are not excessive. 

Onto the rear, and the boot lid opens and closes as it should and like the rest of the car aligns as it should. The chrome Jaguar boot plinth is in good order with no pitting or tarnishing. You can see where the Jag has been painted to, on the seam where the quarter meets the back panel. However, with that said, it has to end somewhere, and this is as good a place as any. The light lenses are free from any splits or cracks, and the XK8 and 4.2 badges are in good order.

The wheels have recently been refurbished and so look to be free from any corrosion. There are a couple of small marks on the spokes which could be touched in. The Pirelli tyres have a good amount of tread remaining.  

Also included to protect the paintwork is a storm guard car cover. 

The XK8 is fitted with the 4.2 litre, 32 valve Jaguar AJ34 engine, which produces 294bhp at 6,000rpm with 303 lb-ft at 4,100rpm. The Jaguar fires into life perfectly and the silky smooth V8 purrs away as it should. A new exhaust was fitted around 2018, with quad tail pipes which brings a fantastic addition to the soundtrack of the V8. Visually, the engine bay is in a nice and tidy condition with no evidence of any leaks that we could see. 

The V8 pulls the Jaguar through the 6-speed automatic transmission with ease, and changes gear as it should. The seller reports that there are no unwanted noises from either the transmission or the engine. The suspension side of things all looks to be in good order, with the car sitting as it should. The Jaguar still cruises along just as any grand tourer should do, soaking up any bumps in the road so as not to disturb the comfortable ride you would come to expect from such a high end manufacturer.

Have you ever fancied a grand tourer? This could be the one! Easily a car that can be driven daily, and a car with such an extensive history and thousands spent on it, makes it an ideal choice. Whether you’re cruising up and down the country, or nipping to the shops, the XK8 doesn’t disappoint, especially with that perfect V8 soundtrack.

For a car that cost in excess of £55,000, and prices have been seen to be on the rise, now is the right time to grab yourself a bargain V8 grand tourer.