1978 Jaguar XJC 5.3

Finished in the rare – and original – colour of Signal Red with an Ebony leather interior, the owner of this V12-powered example tells us he’s spent more than £60,000 on his beloved car since buying it in 1990 and every penny shows.

With a perfect stance and running very well, ‘XPF 675S’ is not a restoration. Oh no, it’s something much more interesting than that because it is a carefully conserved example - and you don’t need us to remind you that a car is only original once.

With just 65,945 miles on the odometer, the past 34 years’ worth of investment and love mean the Jaguar Coupé is fighting fit and only being sold because it’s all but impossible to take it to Portugal and register at his new address.

He tells us “I’ve enjoyed every moment with it and I’m still not sure I want to sell it.”

If it were ours, we’d probably feel the same.

The flanks still run straight and true and are untroubled by dents, dinks, and other damage, and because the bodywork has never been fully restored the shutlines and panel alignment are all as they would have been back in 1978 when it rolled off the production line. 

It was painted by well-known experts XJ Restorations in 2011 though, and they also carried out some repairs to the rear wheelarches, the nearside wing, front door corner, both A-pillars, windscreen and rear window surrounds, and the floorpan.

It’s great to see an XJC finished in Signal Red too, and the car’s period charm is further reinforced by the absence of a door mirror on the nearside and the black vinyl roof.

And the 15-inch Kent alloy wheels, of course, which sport a full set of matching 225/60R15 Falken tyres, all of which are date-stamped 2017 and show good tread. (If the MoT record is accurate, and we have no reason to think it isn’t, then the XJC has covered only around a thousand miles since they were fitted.)

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The chrome work is all pretty good too, as are the lamp lenses, badges, and window glass.

And yet, despite all the love and money that’s been lavished on it there are some small rust bubbles breaking out on the bonnet, nearside door, and nearside of the rear valence below the bumper. There are also cracks to the finish on the offside rear wing near the fuel filler cap and in an ideal world, the alloys could do with being refinished as there is some "spidering" on them. 

If we were to describe the cabin as being gently patinated please don’t think we’re damning with faint praise because nothing could be further from the truth because the reality is that it is genuinely lovely.

Of course, an Ebony leather interior has a charm all its own anyway. Simple and period-perfect, it both wears well and hides the years much better than a lighter hue would. 

But, even when you peer past the colour, it’s clear this one’s been the lucky recipient of both careful curation and judicious investment.

The front seats are quite crumpled and lightly cracked but this could be easily addressed and still look elegant and comfortable. The rear seat is similarly lost its "plumpness" but again, could be a straightforward fix for an experienced trimmer.  

The notorious and usually troublesome Jaguar headlining is however both clean and undamaged.

The steering wheel’s amber badge picks up the colour of the (good) walnut veneer and adds yet another layer of carefully considered design.

The head unit, which is a modern Bluetooth-equipped jobbie, is so accurately retro in its styling we defy you to spot that it’s a modern unit at first glance. It also plays through upgraded JL Audio speakers. 

KWE Ltd also recommissioned and serviced the air-conditioning and installed a modern alarm and tracking system. While the latter is working, it will need to be made active, after which it will monitor the car 24/7.

We’ll talk more about the work KWE Ltd carried out in the next section but they’re pukka engineers and the fact they’ve worked so long and hard on this example can only be seen as hugely reassuring.

The boot floor is solid, albeit showing signs of previous repairs, contains a full-size and matching spare wheel.

Of course, as with any classic car there are things you could improve as and when money and motivation collide. The glovebox lid would benefit from being revarnished, for example, the passenger’s inner door pull/armrest has a hole in the trim, the nearside A-pillar trim has come adrift, and the door cards have marks on them.

You know we said it’s still original? Well, it is – mainly. 

Because the engine now benefits from a digital management system and a high-capacity fuel rail and pump, modifications that add reliability, power, and economy, so we think you can forgive their presence. The owner was keen to add reliability, and given the solidity of the underside and bodywork, dedicated his time to making his long-time companion as reliable as possible.

It’s all been beautifully fitted too, and there’s even a photo album to document the installation by Knowles-Wilkins Engineering, the foremost experts in their field. The owner tells us that it’s been “extremely reliable”, which is what he was aiming for, and the fact it “drives fantastic” was a welcome bonus.

The same firm also carried out a suspension, brakes, and steering service at the same time. It also protected the underside with underseal and cavity wax, all for the grand sum of more than £50,000 invested between 2017 and 2020.

Otherwise, it is otherwise standard bar the usual maintenance and consumable items such as new fuel hoses, etc.

All that money and hard work have paid off because the 5.3-litre engine bursts into life with both alacrity and a very healthy oil pressure. 

There’s a good charge to the battery too, and it both idles and revs as it should all the while showing the perfect balance a V12 is known for.

The engine bay is nicely presented, and the underside still bears witness to the meticulous work KWE carried out so recently.

The XJC’s MoT certificate, which is valid until July 2024, was issued with no advisories, just like the previous two.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the XJC comes with a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate confirming its build specification as well as a thick wad of expired MoT certificates and more than a dozen old tax discs in addition to a plethora of invoices for work carried out.

No manufacturer balances performance and luxury better than Jaguar, and while we yield to no-one in our admiration for the XJ saloons, we have to admit that the Coupé takes an already very desirable car and dials it up to 11.

The trouble is, decades of undesirability mean that many have been abused and neglected, making good ones extraordinarily hard to find.

But they’re worth seeking out because a good one is a wonderful car and they don’t come much better than this; beautifully finished, it’s had £60,000 spent with the right people on the right areas by the chap who’s owned it for the past 34 years.

And, despite all this, we think it’s probably going to be cheaper than you think. 

With an estimate of between £30,000 and £40,000 – or between half and two-thirds of the sum the owner has invested in it – we think you’ll struggle to find a better one.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.