1983 Jaguar XJ-S Coupe

Jaguar introduced their new luxury coupe, the XJS, for 1976. It was powered by the same V-12 as the Series III E-Type and the XJ-12 saloon. They were given a Borg-Warner three-speed automatic transmission and an all-independent suspension using wishbones, coil springs and anti-roll bars in the front and rear. They were priced at $19,000, making it more than twice the price of the E-Type that it nominally replaced. Jaguar produced around 2,000 - 4,000 examples per year, which meant it had similar production figures to the car it replaced. A new 'HE' version of the engine (HE represented High Efficiency) arrived in 1982. In 1987, a convertible was added. The XJS was the longest-lasting Jaguar model to date, remaining in production for two decades.

This XJS HE version is an original car painted in maroon with a tan leather interior. The 5343cc SOHC V-12 engine produces 262 horsepower and is mated to a three-speed automatic gearbox. There are four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes.

In 2010, the car was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $10,000-$15,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $6,600 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010