The XJS Convertible was late to the party for Jaguar, making its debut in 1988. That was a long time after the Coupé model made its debut, but was nevertheless a welcome development for the brand’s loyal customers, who had been craving a full drop-top XJS for several years.

Jaguar had got halfway there in 1983 with the XJ-SC, which was more of a Targa with an ungainly rollover hoop, but the full convertible model was a job done properly, with a power-operated hood and clean, pillarless styling. 

The car made its debut in the summer of 1988, by which point the XJS was already 13 years old – the launch of a whole new body style being unprecedented for a car of this age. Nevertheless, it was the model that Jaguar sports car enthusiasts had been awaiting for a long time and as such it gave the XJS a whole new lease of life. Combined with the new 3.6-litre six-cylinder engine (a genuinely more efficient alternative to the V12) in 1989, the model recorded its best-ever sales year.

This one is no half-measure though - it’s a full-fat V12 albeit the 5.3-litre ‘HE’ unit, which stands for High Efficiency. A relative measure, but certainly more frugal than the earliest models.

This is one of the first XJS convertibles sold, registered in December 1988. It was supplied new by Mann Egerton of Nottingham to AW Lymm Ltd, in Nottingham city centre. It was used by the matriarch of the family as her weekend car, so never covered a huge mileage. 

After a period of long-term ownership, she sold the car to an extended family member but soon regretted it, so a few years later her direct family bought it back for her and gave it to her as a birthday gift. 

The car was acquired by the vendor in 2020 and has been fully repainted in its original Westminster blue, which looks amazing. 

The Jaguar is supplied with its original black leather service wallet, inside which are an owners’ manual and a selection of service documents. 

There’s also a huge file of bills and receipts relating to the car’s no-expense-spared maintenance over 33 years, helping to build a picture of a car that has truly been loved. There are also a few artefacts and anecdotes that add depth and character to it – this is a car with a story to tell. 

The registration number – D14 MAP – is included in the sale.

It’s hardly surprising given the fact it has recently been repainted, but this car looks fantastic in its Westminster Blue colour scheme, which has a flawless finish and cost the vendor over £3,000 to get done. 

The blue hood is in exceptional condition, as are the gorgeous lattice-style alloys, which were refurbished at the same time the car was resprayed and also equipped with new tyres. The chrome and bumpers are in generally good order and the bonnet has been fitted with an aftermarket ‘leaper’ ornament.

The vendor reports that the car is structurally very good and is solid underneath, with any repairs carried out earlier in its life completed to a very high standard. 

As you’d expect for a low mileage car, the interior of the XJS is in very smart and unspoilt condition – the blue leather is superb, as are the walnut veneers, carpets and door cards. 

It features the XJS’s trademark ‘rotunda’ dials for fuel, temperature and oil pressure displays, along with a  gloriously 1980s LCD trip computer that appears to be in functional condition. 

The electric roof operates faultlessly, while the car also comes with a fabric rear tonneau cover to help protect it when stowed away. In the boot, it comes with its original Jaguar tool bag and an indoor car cover.

Open the bonnet and you’re confronted by a terrifying mass of pipework – but that’s just the Jaguar HE V12 for you! The 5.3-litre unit is a thing of absolutely beauty to behold, at least until you have to get the spanners out. 

Luckily, this one shouldn’t need much serious attention. It’s in fine fettle, as you’d expect from the fact it’s been maintained fastidiously for all its life. 

It sounds wonderful – beautifully smooth and refined – and hold excellent oil pressure. The vendor tells us that it is ‘terrific’ to drive, and that it both performs and handles beautifully. 

XJSs are shooting up in value at the moment and have been for a couple of years. As a result, one as good as this is both a great car to own and buy and also a sensible future investment. 

This is an extremely charming example, with a fascinating backstory and presented in lovely, clean condition. 

It’s in wonderful order, has a great history and is superbly original, with no major faults. The perfect classic touring car for a summer that promises so much more freedom and enjoyment than we’ve become used to in recent times. 

If you want a classic open-top GT then now is the time, before the market goes crazy for them…