27,744 Actual Mile XJS Convertible 5.3L Aluminum V12

Jaguar is responsible for some of the most memorable car designs ever produced. From the 1968 E-type to the current XK, the company helped define British motoring for enthusiasts across the globe. Their designs tend to age gracefully and well-preserved Jaguars always find a market ready and willing to pay top dollar. If the XJS caught your eye back in the early 1990s but paying $68k simply wasn't in the cards, here is your chance to own one of the nicest original Jaguar convertibles around for well under the original sticker price. With 27,744 original miles and over $12k+ in service receipts, this 1992 XJS is a meticulously maintained example of a modern classic.

Few companies can match Jaguar when it comes to consistency in design. From the E-type forward, long wheelbase convertibles with elongated noses and short rear overhangs became a signature look for the company. This XJS stays true to that formula with sleek body lines that give the illusion of taper at both ends. All panels are remarkably straight and free of any notable flaws. Garage kept for its entire life, the original coat of Flamenco Mica paint is well preserved with absolutely no signs of clear coat delamination so common among early '90s paint work. Freshly buffed, the depth is impressive and all angles reflect accurately. Overall fit and finish is exactly what you would expect from a car that cost $68k twenty years ago. Gaps are even all around with doors that offer a solid resolute thud when shutting.

In keeping with the sleek design, very little trim is present. Up front, a black safety bumper with amber turn signals and corner markers is mounted to a chrome bumper that fits snuggly around the front end. On either side of the sloped center section of the hood, uniquely shaped headlights with chrome bezels anchor the front end. At the sides, Jaguar badges, chrome mirrors, door handles and a chrome gas cap fit in well with the XJS' graceful lines. Up top, a new windshield is surrounded by nicely preserved stainless steel. A tan cloth top conceals the interior when the weather fails to cooperate. Out back, dark taillights combine with the black bumper strip for a sinister rear view. Only “V12” badging and two exhaust pipes hint at what lies in the heart of this Jag.

Lift the forward-tilting hood and the 5.3L H.E. V12 comes into view. Designed with input from Swiss racing driver Michael May, this engine used special “May” heads and unusually high-compression to improve fuel economy by nearly 50% over previous Jaguar V12's. If the idea of a low-mileage twenty-year old engine sounds like a problem waiting to happen, take comfort in the $12,000 worth of work recently performed on this one to make sure it is stronger than stock and dead nuts reliable. To begin with, those “May” heads were pulled, ported, and polished for superior breathing. The motor was then tuned to maximize the benefit of that head work. From there, common maintenance items such as belts, hoses, plugs wires, sensors and fluids were replaced with OEM pieces. Ignited by a Marelli ignition system located in the center of the bay, the engine starts immediately and lets out a refined exhaust note that casually dismisses its performance potential. The bay is impossibly clean with nearly every piece exhibiting a showroom quality shine.

Behind the V12, a familiar GM TH400 automatic transmission transfers power down the driveline to the rear differential that host highway-friendly 2.88 gears. With the torque-happy 5.3L under the hood, the car manages to get off the line with a respectable quickness and offer 20mpg capabilities on the highway. As a luxury car, amenities such as power rack and pinion steering and power four-wheel disc brakes are naturally part of the package. The rear brakes are housed in a unique independent rear suspension that probably looks familiar to you street rod guys. As a '92 model, this is the final year for the sought after inboard brake location. The entire braking system has been bled, flushed and rebuilt to factory specifications. Other recent maintenance includes freshly repacked wheel bearings, greased fittings and a front end alignment. At the corners, 15-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in the original set of 235/60R15 Pirelli tires.

Beneath the tan cloth top, a luxurious Doeskin interior has been remarkably preserved. At the ground level, deep pile tan looks like it would be just as at-home in on a bedroom floor. The heated nine-way adjustable bucket seats are fully functional with fine Connolly leather covering providing a welcoming surface. Between the front seats, a center console topped with glossy walnut veneer houses the gear selector, speed control buttons and controls for the power top. Behind the front seats, a carpeted shelf resides where a rear seat would be in other cars. The shelf features a storage compartment and a set of speakers built in. At the sides of the cabin, the door panels are covered primarily in the same Doeskin leather as the seats with chrome trim and walnut veneer adding some extra style. From the driver's seat, a black leather steering wheel sits atop a tilt column. Behind that steering wheel, a set of factory analog gauges keep tabs on common areas such as battery output, fuel level, speed, revs, temperature and oil pressure. The dash features controls for the stereo and climate control systems, with plenty more walnut veneer for a luxury look.

Documentation for this car is thorough. A factory brochure and original owner's manual cover all the finer points of the XJS while a factory cassette player cleaner and two factory CD changer cartridges ensure the stock stereo is complete and fully functioning. Also included is a stack of receipts from the immense amount of work done get the car back in mint condition.

This Jaguar XJS is a clean, reliable luxury car with plenty of power and excellent road manners. With its unmatched combination of old world craftsmanship and contemporary modern conveniences you'll feel like an A-list celebrity on even the simplest errand runs. If you're in the market for a great fair-weather driver that excels at virtually everything it does, this powerful XJS convertible is your kind of car.