1988 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Coupe

Description

Introduced at the 1975 Frankfurt Motor Show, the XJ-S ushered in a new generation of GT motoring for Jaguar, combing elegant styling, superlative performance and exceptional luxury. The XJ-S remained in production for the best part of two decades - testament to both the inherent quality of the design and its enduring popularity. The XJ-S was powered by the superbly refined and smoothly powerful 60-degree all-alloy V12 first seen in the 'Series 3' E-type, with a single overhead camshaft per bank, fuel injection and 285bhp produced from 5.3-litres, providing truly effortless performance. The XJ-S was one of only a handful of production cars capable of reaching the magic 150mph (250 km/h) on sale in the mid-Seventies - to go any quicker meant stepping up to much more expensive supercars like the Aston Martin Vantage, Porsche Turbo or Latin exotics like Ferrari and Lamborghini. The Big Cat also entered popular culture, with Simon Templar swapping his Volvo P1800 for a white XJ-S in the television series ?The Return of the Saint?. In the wake of the fuel crisis, Jaguar countered criticism that the V12 was too thirsty by releasing a revised model (badged as the HE - for High Efficiency) in 1981, featuring a new high compression cylinder head design delivering a noticeable improvement in fuel economy without sacrificing performance. The HE's interior also benefited from the addition of wood and chrome not found in the Seventies original. Further developments included the adoption of anti-lock brakes and a range of interior enhancements from 1986. The XJ-S simply got better with age and the public certainly agreed, with sales increasing as the years went by. The XJ-S represents excellent value for money and most pundits agree prices can only increase for good specimens - while ownership brings great rewards.