Car of the month: Unique Guy Salmon Jubilee V12 Jaguar XJS coupé
- 31st March 2015
- Commissions
- Posted by kwecars
- 12 Comments
We’ve been lucky enough to work on this unique car. It was originally modified by Guy Salmon to celebrate their 25th anniversary year. They modified five Jaguar XJS cars in total – four convertibles and this rather special coupé.
It came to us needing improvements to its suspension, a full respray and repairs to its engine.
The previous poor repair work and plenty of hidden rust turned the respray job into a bit of a marathon. The body shop did an excellent job converting the original two-tone black and silver scheme to pure black all over – making the Guy Salmon wings on the boot and roof blend in wasn’t easy! However, the results speak for themselves.
The engine was also in a bad state, necessitating the removal of one cylinder head –a very difficult and time-consuming task on this engine – and we found various broken parts inside it.
We took plenty of images to document each stage of this car’s restoration. To view the gallery click here. To see a video clip of the car in action, click here.
How did we do? We’d love to hear what you think about the work we’ve completed. Leave a comment or let us know via Twitter or Facebook.
12 Comments
I have a guy salmon jubilee just got it mot never had any welding but could do with some paint work
I was hoping to fine some history on the guy salmon cars
Correction: Mr Salmon’s number plate
was V11 .
I visited Guy Salmon ‘ s Thames Ditton showroom in 1985/1986 several times and test drove several of the XJSC (Cabriolets). Mr Salmon had an impressive one with the number plate V1. I enjoyed driving a two tone silver and light blue model. I finally bought a 5.3 cabriolet in British Racing Green.. which I still have. It needs renovation!
hello jim, i have a 1986 xj-sc guy salmon jubilee edition in cobalt blue/silver. are there any photos fro guy salmon in that era? i cannot find a lot of information. is there a way to get in tough with mr salmon? thanks in advance, regards, henk
Sounds good! We’d be happy to carry out any level of restoration. Here’s one we’re doing at the moment: http://buildgallery.kwecars.com/KWE-Jaguars/100PAT/
From Fast Lane magazine May 1985:
Odd Fish.
First we had the Guy Salmon Twenty Six – an elongated Jaguar limousine, now there is the similarly ‘tasteful’ Guy Salmon XJS Jubilee, “a car to wear, rather than simply drive”.
The latest ‘spring fashion’ from the Thames Ditton dealer, a restyled and retrimmed XJS, is to celebrate 50 years of successful trading.
Three versions are available, with the most expensive, the “Jubilee Special” costing £40,434*, a price which includes such “graceful compliments” as a 24-carat gold plated mini Jaguar grill, gilt bumper tops, side strips and door handles.
“Emphasising the car’s sleek design” are two rear spoilers, side skirts, rear apron, front spoiler and twin-headlamp pods. The interior doesn’t escape attention either. Reshaped front seats are trimmed in cream leather and blue dralon and are electrically operated. Carpets are thicker, and soundproofing denser.
Door trims receive the same leather and dralon treatment, and a large wooden steering wheel “hints at the classic car pedigree”. The pompous conclusion suggests: “The Jubilee incorporates exterior modifications and interior styling to provide a vehicle of elegance and style which will appeal to the connoisseur of classic motoring taste.” The connoisseur of pretention more like.
*£111,000 in today’s money
Thanks Steve – very interesting and amusing! I’ve never seen a GS XJS with all those bells and whistles….
Our restoration pics here: http://buildgallery.kwecars.com/KWE-Jaguars/E57AUJ-Guy-Salmon-Jubilee-V12
I HAVE OWNED A JUBILEE XJS GUY SALMON FOR OVER A DECADE, 1 PREVIOUS OWNER IN VGOOD CONDITION FROM MEMORY 63K MILES