On a hot Friday afternoon, Theresa spotted an XJS on our business park with an RAC van in attendance. Rushing to the rescue, she found that the RAC engineer could only tow it away because there was a big misfire and overheating exhaust. To the owner’s relief, Theresa pointed out that KWE was only a few yards away!

We leapt on the damsel in distress (the car, that is) and found the cause was a big ignition problem, with one bank of the V12 not working at all. In the end, we had to replace a faulty coil, leaking ignition leads and the distributor cap, while the owners basked in the sunshine.

All now being well, the owners went on their way, and we received the following email this morning:

“THERE IS A JAGUAR XJS GOD AFTER ALL… I could not believe my bad luck in breaking down on a lovely hot sunny afternoon,

We received this video from YouTube vlogger, Martyn Stanley. Hear what he had to say about the increasingly popular XJS, and why he thinks restoring with KWE is the way forward.

In line with growing investment potential, and as the car comes up to its landmark 40th anniversary, the XJS continues to get drivers’ hearts racing.

If, like Martyn, you’d like to restore a classic car back to its former glory, get in touch. We pride ourselves on our ability to back to ‘better-than-new’ quality, in line with your specifications.Call us on 01635 30030, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

In many V12 HE cars (all of which up to 1993 are fitted with the GM400 box) a common issue we’ve encountered, and one that can worry its owners, is for large clouds of white smoke to emanate from the back of the vehicle, particularly on a hot run and after a service.

This is usually a result of the gearbox being overfilled, with the excess being blown out of the breather, which is invisibly placed on top of the box. The oil drips down, hits the hot exhausts and produces an impressive cloud of smoke. Equally, it is easy to under-fill, as the procedure is not widely understood, and dipstick readings can be misleading when oil accumulates in the bottom of the [...]

The Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index notes that classic cars have beaten everything from art, watches and coins over the past 1 year, 5 years and 10 years. This is telling people that classic and vintage cars are a viable investment asset class.

The focus on classic and vintage cars is not about collecting now but about investing. The strong returns have attracted many in the classic and vintage car world seeking financial gain as the primary goal.

Along with buying art or wine, a classic car is one of those investments that can potentially bring you joy while you own it, as well as providing a smart place to hold your money. And let’s face it, when you can take the top down off your very own E-type Jag and cruise

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!