Jaguar XJS C cabriolet 1987 RARE-RARE-RARE- only 1100 came to USA

1989 Jaguar XJS Cabriolet Description

So if you want rare and a place to put your $$$ and have fun and beat wall street --here it is--1987 Jaguar XJS Cabriolet-- Hardly anybody knows this car--have u every seen one??? imagine in 5 years what its worth?? While having fun driving it.

Rare--Rare--Rare-- Jaguar XJS C V12. The XJS was known as a Luxury Tourer and was manufactured by Jaguar for 21 years. The design was so beautiful and well accepted that it remained relatively untouched for the entire run. Starting in 1983 a Cabriolet version with a unique two piece targa-style roof and removable rear roof and window which is what we have here today. By 1985 Jaguar upped the anty mechanically and debuted the 5.3 Liter V12. At a time when V12s were anything but common, Jaguars innovation came to the forefront and helped to give the brand a presence in the luxury market and create vehicles that are now sought after by collectors. Of the about 3000 made many were right drives for the UK--a total only 1100 came to the USA in only 2 years 1987-88--You will probably never see one--and for a company like jaguar to do such a things is crazy--for them and a collectors dream for u. Read the story about these cars at the bottom.

This particular car is in great shape (74900 miles)--and I just drove a 200 mile trip and had a complete inspection oil change etc. Have receipts and their comments. Everything works properly and at speed all the gages read as new--see the picture of gages at 60 MPH and the oil pressure temp charging. Have original air cleaners as the intake plenums were added for the use of KE filters--and breathing better. VIN # SAJNV3847HC137609 It has new Goodyear Eagles P235/60 R15 tires and new chrome wheels alone worth $2500, see pic. Looks like new shocks by previous owner.

The outside, light silver blue, (same as brochure pic. is immaculate with no rust ever, and the top soft and hard are in great shape--see the pics for the perfect fit. The spare is original chrome with a Pirelli P on it and a perfect trunk. Looks like the left rear ¼ had a respray but no damage as there was a phone installed and the antenna was there. All chrome is immaculate with a stainless rocker cover as an added accessory.

The interior--cannot say enough--like new soft blue leather with carpets as new--and jag floor mats. Dash and wood is immaculate except a tiny crack on the glove box door.

Brochures about this series XJSC and also showing the owners manual. Included will be a complete 3" thick Parts/service manual Also a factory brochure pic of this car exactly.

Also I have the chrome fender well moldings, and a complete new Lister tuning kit for the front, rear, wing, and rockers which are available.

Call me for any details--Leave message562 8625202

An automotive journalist view

We will have to go back in time to see just how this oddball car came about. It’s a Jaguar XJS, made into a semi-convertible by Jaguar purely as a stopgap effort. Here’s why it came about. When Jaguar designed the XJS they designed it as a coupe, figuring new laws against convertibles would make it impossible to pass otherwise. They were wrong. But by the time they discovered that little tidbit of pertinent informationthey didn’t have the resources to make a convertible design fast enough themselves so they turned to Hess & Eisenhart to convert them. Or maybe H &E did it on their own.…

A stopgap was to make the XJ/SC which required a cross brace hoop over the cabin to effectively replace the roof structure, a ‘perimeter frame’ round the cockpit, a slightly reinforced rear bulkhead, and a bracing frame across the bodyshell under the rear suspension. With all this being done, no crash tests were required. The rear seats were deleted though, replaced by a package shelf.

Ironically the result was an open car more rigid than the coupe. It was premiered in the UK in 1983 with the AJ6 engine and a 5 speed manual and later in 1985 the XJ/SC was available with the V12. The model went away when Jaguar got around to making a full ragtop in 1988 and the XJ/SC was discontinued. They are rarer in the six cylinder model, with only 1130 6 cylinder were made, the majority of which — 1027 –had manual gearboxes. Dominating them was 3862 V12 cars, all automatics…

One clue that they are becoming collectable is that there is a club for owners called the International Cabriolet Register

A site called JagLovers.org says: “If you are looking for an open car, it maybe a little hard to decide between the Cabriolet, the H&E convertible or the later convertibles. Despite its Targa bar and fixed rear windows, the Cabriolet certainly has its charms starting the various configurations one can choose: fully open, rear convertible open or close, each Targa panel on or off. US buyers face another decision when it comes to the ‘true’ convertible between the H&E with its unpadded top but lower profile when open or the Jaguar built version with the more luxurious padded top but sticking out when folded down.”

I’m saying, as a guy in constant search of barn finds, that the XJ/SC is one to watch and consider buying as an appreciating collectible car. True the roof panels are hard to find as is the rear convertible top but the rarity is what makes cars worth more.

I am a big fan of the Laundaulet body style, such as last seen on a 2012 Maybach in a car that cost over a million dollars. Now it’s too bad Jag took the rear seats out but if one of these were my car, I’d have a rear seat made and install seat belts and let some lucky people (tiny people to be sure) ride back there open top Laundaulet style. I really think this, of all the XJS models, is the one that’s going to go up in value quickest because it’s such an unusual body style. THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss is the author of the “Incredible Barn Finds”