1978 Jaguar XJS Pre-HE Manual

• Rare and desirable, early-production, manual gearbox, pre-HE car
• Delightfully finished in Squadron Blue with a smart Biscuit interior
• Outstanding history file; older MOTs, Jaguar Heritage Certificate, invoices for maintenance, service records dating back to 1978, a parts catalogue and an original XJ-S brochure
• Previously UK-registered but now sits on Irish plates. A NOVA has been issued
• A lovely, usable, classic which would now benefit from some light recommissioning work

The development of the E-type's replacement, the XJ-S, had begun in the late 1960s as project XJ27 with an initial design by Malcolm Sayer, but after his death in 1970, it was completed by the in-house Jaguar design team, headed by Doug Thorpe. Power came from the Jaguar V12, initially with a choice of a manual or automatic transmission, but the manual was eventually dropped as the gearboxes were left over from V12 E-Type production and when they ran out of stock it was decided not to manufacture any more.

There was a considerable delay in finalising the XJ-S design as, although everyone on the design team was happy with the front and middle of the car, the problem was the back. Sir William Lyons was notorious for micro-managing the design details of his beloved Jaguars and no matter how many different approaches and designs were suggested by the drawing office, the 'Old Man' didn't like any of them.

One evening Stan Keyworth, a Production Director in the company, and the man responsible for reaching the decision that the E-Type could simply never be built to the new American safety regulations received a late afternoon phone call from Sir William. He wanted to know 'what was selling' and 'whose cars had captured the public imagination'. Stan felt that the 246GT Dino was top of the pops at the time and Sir William requested that he wanted a good look at one. So Stanley managed to scrounge a Dino from a Ferrari dealer friend and duly delivered it to Wappenbury Hall where it was parked outside the drawing-room window. Apparently, Stan remained in the kitchen eating sandwiches for several hours whilst Sir William stared out of the window with his sketchpad. If you have ever wondered where those distinctive 'flying buttress' features at the back of the early XJS came from, have a look at a Dino.

The XJ-S finally debuted on 10th September 1975 as a 5.3-litre V12-powered Coupe. V12-engined production automobiles were unusual at the time, normally being the territory of Italian luxury sports cars like Lamborghini and Ferrari. Indeed, the specifications of the XJ-S compared well with these high-end sports cars; 287hp, able to accelerate to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 143 mph.

The earliest and undoubtedly most desirable XJ-S is the pre-HE model, with the rare manual gearbox, just like the one offered here. This car was purchased new by a Mr T Brown through his company, Superior Seals Ltd. Initially used and kept by him as his company car, the vehicle was then sold in the mid-'90s to its second owner who in turn sold it to a Mr Malcolm Verey who went on to keep it until the early 2000s. It changed hands and found its way to Ireland in 2007 where it stayed until it was purchased by our vendor and repatriated to the UK in 2018. Since then, the car has enjoyed a more leisurely life, dry stored and driven sparingly, and remains in very good order.

Finished in Squadron Blue with a Biscuit interior, the car is accompanied by an outstanding history file which contains older MOTs, its Jaguar Heritage Certificate, various invoices for maintenance, service records dating back to August 1978, a parts catalogue and an original XJ-S brochure.

The car was previously UK-registered but now sits on Irish plates. A NOVA has been issued, and a UK registration can be supplied to the new owner if desired.

A lovely, usable, classic which would now benefit from some light recommissioning work as the car has suffered from the usual sagging XJS headlining and perished bushes from lack of use. The previous owners have clearly spared no expense in its upkeep and maintenance, as is reflected in the extensive history file. Early production, manual gearbox, pre-HE cars are regarded as the most desirable so this is an excellent opportunity.