KWE BLOG

Classic Spirit Reborn

A brief history of the Jaguar XJS

With the Jaguar XJS celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, we took a look back at this iconic car’s somewhat turbulent history.
In a league of its own

Design plans for the XJS got underway in 1965, with the first production car being sold in 1975. The car was primarily designed by Malcolm Sayer, with input and control from Sir William Lyons. With Jaguar struggling financially at the time, the XJS needed to be a big success.

The highly anticipated XJS was seen by many as a direct replacement to the very popular E-Type. However, when the XJS was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1976, it was clear that the car was intended to be in a league of its own.

Externally, the XJS is most noticeable for its ‘flying buttresses’, sweeping from the top of the rear roofline down to the rear of the wings. Although initially widely criticised, this design gave the XJS an excellent drag coefficient – better than the E-Type, and allowing the XJS to reach speeds of comfortably over 150mph.

We strongly recommend you read this technical note BEFORE adding coolant sealant to your classic Jaguar XJS. We’ve had several cases where the consequences have caused severe (and expensive to repair) damage.

In the note we explain how sealants work and describe the complex process we’ve devised to flush it out.

We also give advice on what you should do if you have a coolant leak – a must read for all classic Jaguar drivers.

https://www.kwecars.com/coolant-sealants/#.VUs5PdNVhBc

As interest in the Jaguar XJS market heats up, it’s definitely becoming harder and harder to spot reasonably priced, good quality examples. Nonetheless, here are this month’s pick of the best Jaguar XJS cars that Theresa has selected from a number of different websites.

We haven’t viewed any of these cars in person, so we’d recommend a full professional assessment to check the bodywork, powertrain and other mechanics before parting with any cash!

 

1. 1990 Jaguar XJS 5.3 V12 red coupe

1990 Jaguar XJS V12 red coupe

Described as in ‘beautiful condition with fantastic bodywork’, this red coupe is for sale in Hertfordshire at £5,650. It has a light Oatmeal interior, 75,000 miles on the clock and full service history.

 

2. 1996 Jaguar XJS Celebrat [...]

Are Kevlar-reinforced replacement coolant hoses good enough to use in your classic Jaguar XJS? Based on our experience, we’d have to say no. So which hoses are best to use? And what’s important to consider when fitting them?

Find out what KWE recommends for coolant and fuel hoses in our new technical note on the website:

Coolant and Fuel Hoses

 

As more and more customers recognise the classic Jaguar XJS as a good investment opportunity, we are pleased to report that business is booming here at KWE. To meet growing demand, we’ve expanded our operations on Greenham Business Park and taken on two new recruits.

We’d like to introduce Andy Branning, our new Production Manager, and new Technician, Phil Alexander. These additions bring our total employee count to seven. Here we all are enjoying the spring sunshine yesterday – see photo below.

 

We have also acquired an additional plot of land next to the existing premises. The new plot has been designed so that we can park customer cars while restoration work is waiting to be carried out or is in progress – ensuring maximum workshop efficiency.

 

Stay up to date with our latest news and receive useful tips on classic Jaguar cars by signing up to our newsletter via our website: www.kwecars.com.

It’s a debate that is likely to go on amongst motoring enthusiasts for the foreseeable future: which are better – classic or modern cars? On the face of it, modern cars seem like the better option; they’re safer, cheaper to run and better for the environment, right? However, for those drivers looking for a sense of excitement and individuality – you can’t beat a quality classic.

The real question is: why choose a classic vehicle over a newer model?

 

1. A sustainable alternative

Driving a classic car can be perceived negatively – particularly when it comes to the environment. Environmentalists sometimes view classic cars as being gas guzzling planet destroyers, due to their poor fuel efficiency. In reality, salvaging a classic car is in fact an excellent example of recycling – maximising the use of something rather than just disposing of it.

Keeping an old motor running, rather than just replacing it at the

It would appear the recent revival for 1970’s fashion isn’t just limited to the high street. This is good news for classic cars from the era and for us here at KWE. Over the last few months we’ve seen a rush of interest in the Jaguar XJS and have enjoyed an influx of customers coming to us for work on their seemingly-now-fashionable XJS cars. And as a direct result, we’ve taken on two more engineers in the workshop to help cope with the demand.

It’s not just about trends in fashion though – at last the Jaguar XJS is more widely recognised as a great investment opportunity. In an article written by Autocar last week, the Jaguar XJS was second in a list of only five cars highlighted as having great investment potential right now.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

If you are thinking about buying a classic Jaguar XJS, read our buying tips first.

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.

E57 AUJ before

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.

Spectre, the latest instalment from the Bond saga, is set for cinema release in November 2015. As with all James Bond films, there is a great deal of excitement centred around which vehicles will be on display. Spectre is unlikely to disappoint, as 007 is set to look as suave as ever as he continues saving the world.

 

Jaguar join the party

In addition to the exquisite Aston Martin DB10 appearing in the film, Jaguar Land Rover will also be doing its part to help the British spy, supplying a Range Rover Sport SVR, Jaguar C-X75 and Defender Big Foot.

Rumours have speculated that the C-X75, driven by the film’s antagonist (played by Christoph Waltz), and the DB10 will be involved in a high-octane car chase through the streets of Rome.

Jaguar and Aston Martin services

Here at KWE we may not be experts in international espionage, but we do know a thing or

We thought you’d like to know about this special one-off magazine from Practical Classics. Providing a unique insight into the Jaguar XJS, it includes everything you need to know about buying, restoring and running these classic cars.

 practical classics

http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/partnership/classics-bookazine/propck2/guidetojag

It’s the perfect gift for any Jaguar XJS enthusiast and, as it’s available for just £6.99 including postage and packing, we’d recommend you order quickly before they sell out!

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