XJS History

Jaguar XJS History: The Untold

This is a story of the car that will never become an icon of automotive industry, probably it will never achieve value of sale from 80’s. Simon Templar was driving it. Mr Salad Fingers loves to rub it. Will you invest your money into something without any chance of capital return, freeze it in something completely differentiating from E-type. Well, I did. Why? Just carry on reading.
Jaguar XJS – Core of the Supercar.
By design, upkeep costs and technology used – XJS is definitely a supercar* (applicable to non-V12 versions only). It was a fortune on the wheels, however not because the materials used. Not due to quality of workmanship, but the amount of it. Construction of the XJS has nothing in common with European serial manufactured cars form those years. It’s a platform happily used by modern car tuners in US, design being a complete cheat-sheet for Aston Martin DB7, later used by Ford in Jaguar XK8.
Apart from quality of workmanship – it doesn’t look like a British design and deception practised by Leyland.  Most of chassis was constructed with single elements, welded together (creating blank spots), every of those elements manufactured manually, between the stations, with jigs allowing unheard amount of poka-yoke fault-proofing. Same poka-yoke decided that most of the assemblies were redirected to the rework causing even higher hidden costs of production. The rework section itself looked like Central Committee of the Communist Party, only the slogans were different. “It will be alright”, “No-one will know” “We’ve made hundreds like these”, “They will buy it or face industrial action”. Let’s not forget about few “fortunately placed” plastic and rubber elements (get rid of them ASAP), causing corrosion next day after purchase. And the monument of British Automotive: welded-in “A Pillar”, with the joining “spot welds” made at the driver’s head height.

Still, with all that mess – manufacturing of XJS today would be a challenging achievement – sprayed with the price of modern supercar.
This is the real beauty of XJS, not the shiny bumpers. High-tech AJ6 3.6 Engine equipped with ECU and MAF sensor, luckily without catalytic converters and “Lambda Infestation” on some models. Last year of Pre-facelift, optic fibre illumination, VIN up to number 179736 – without cheap plastic “improvements” making it look like Mazda inside.  This is your best “cherry-pick”, not the V12.
Jaguar could make an iconic supercar hitting sky high price increase each year, with the only ONE thing needed to achieve this. Greedy management, lack of resources, technology or skilled workforce – you name it. The only one thing was needed – an actual thing called METAL. Instead, XJS was made out of something known as “British Sheet Metal” – nationally recognised and reliable due to entirely true quality inspection record same as those from Sellafield (Windscale) Nuclear Processing site. They could make if from alloy, stainless steel. Even plastic or timber would make it more successful in the country, where every car owner thinks that touching-up your patches of rust brings bad karma same as the under-ladder rule. Most of the cars in the history of British aoutomotive were cocked-up somehow. Please be aware that British engineers were famous globally - until British Leyland arrived.  Leyland was like MIDAS, but instead of gold - everything they've touched was turned into shit... Pity.

There are some Jaguar XJS deviated versions still on the market, probably reinvented by someone trying to finalise the idea of the True Creator – Malcolm Sayer.

By Jeremy from Sydney, Australia - Jaguar XJS, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48341461

And so, we have a creation of Jaguar XJS Lynx Eventer – true British Beauty, 

“unique and gorgeous looking"


Apparently - and as per statement of retired worker of Leamington Spa’s Parkside Garage - Malcolm Sayer, minutes before his fatal heart attack - was approached by a man from Lynx coachbuilders with the prospects of building fantastic bred van on the chassis of the XJS that he was about to finish (Leyland again, coincidence?). Really twisted novel, with positive emotions, VW Polo and the sheep. Before I’ve managed to discover the existence of Lynx, I was thinking that the idea of designing over-2-tonne coupe as a successor of E-Type was slightly suicidal. After I saw the XJS Eventer for the first time – I felt in love with original construction and strongly wanted to know something about Lynx's parents  (brother and sister). I must admit, this type of construction solves the problem of fuel smell in the boot. Once and forever.

Truly magnificent demand for Jaguar Lynx version – managed to achieve 2-digit figure in sales between 1982 – 2002. Probably due to unheard fame of British Leyland, incest being less and less popular – project was closed. Truly sad as everyone was willing to see the camper van version and Robin-like three-wheeler tax saver.
By Thomas's Pics - Lister, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50662234

Jaguar XJS Lister


Definitely successful, ultimate upgrade of Jaguar XJS. The only one V12 worth your attention, engine has the same block as 5.3. End of similarities. 7 litre XJS. Original version was still smooth outside, with original shape intact, without plastic spoiler rubbish for the boy riders. It was a real beauty. The one on the photo is already "tuned" with use of "arodynamc rectangular bumpers stylised on Lada Samara , probably made by TWR.
By Dennis Elzinga - Jaguar XJR-S 6.0 V12, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38638376

Jaguar XJS - TWR "Gutter" Bodykit


“(…) and Tom Walkinshaw looked at the street in front of him. And he sat, and cried. Not because there was nothing else to win. He noticed racing bumpers of his design, on the XJS road-car”


Do you know any desperate XJS owner willing to replace something that rotten off already with cheaper, rust-free version? That's probably the reason why XJS recieved TWR Bodykit which ultimately transformed classic shape into a new, better canal boat with te onew difference. Canal boat is not taking on water that fast. TWR bodykit also covers most areas of the chassis no longer there, hence MOT was somehow easier to pass, sometimes without additional pinky in hand. The other reason ishuman willingness of continual improvement and making it look "younger." Just imagine that the iPhone adapter has been released. It makes older generation slightly bigger and thicker. Nobody would probably noticed a difference between generations.  Unfortunately this won't work with classic shape of XJS (hey! Is that a grandpa wearing a condom in the middle of the rave party?) . Attached photo reflects condition of most TWR-sought-after examples.
Let’s get back to the story of Jaguar XJS, dark angel of natural selection. Imagine yourself having plenty of money, yours or your dad’s – doesn’t matter. Imagine yourself receiving expensive gift – a brand new Jaguar XJS, straight from the factory, with smell of fresh petrol in the boot, 5.3 V12 – vrrrrooom! Imagine yourself having no idea about physics, inertia force and the weight of your new “sport” toy. How many miles you need to finally wrap yourself against the tree? Yes, this car is fast, it is seriously heavy, it accelerates well, stops at some point if your 12-in-total brake pots aren’t seized already. What it absolutely lacks is handling. Just try in Tesco’s car park on the rainy day. You’ll be surprised what your car can do during taking over.

Jaguar XJS is fast, heavy and deadly. Consider this while finishing your shiny project. Any roll-over, even when cruising 3mph – will kill everyone inside. Lost control on the road means you won’t regain it until soft or instant stop. Frankly we have a manufacturer called MSAR who is still supplying XJS roll cage for those willing to feel safe and able to pay £800 for it - link attached to the photo. Being a bolt-in version – it still requires plenty of stripping, welding and modifications to make it work, I have got one on the wish list, right after new vacuum cleaner and house extension. Unfortunately, the Karma makes roll cages work both ways – life saver and instant killer – depending on the damage taken,and who you are I guess. That’s why insurance companies are not willing to insure rolled drivers riding their reinforced vehicle without approved helmet. Just imagine the face of your wife observing how you’re leaving vehicle equipped with cross door bars - in the middle of Sainsbury’s car park. Priceless…
Jaguar XJS is reliable* (applicable to non-V12 versions only). If you’re happy owner of later AJ6 3.6 – be aware that most of the parts under the bonnet - including ABS - are direct fit to Aston Martin DB7.
Regardless of what you think or say – those cars are bulletproof* (applicable to non-V12 versions only). The fact that most of the XJS models on the road - were abused harder than Toyota Hilux – only confirms that. Every electrical glitch is normally caused by frayed cables (poor assembly) or water.

Jaguar XJS is a perfect fit for the multi-skilled person in need of project that will train and sustain logical thinking, technical skills, knowledge – instead of deteriorating those with all-day-dose of BBC News. Someone willing to accept long, risky challenge, someone having complete set of divorce paperwork in the glovebox. I love it for being technically approachable for one man army.

Jaguar XJS is made for extreme makeovers and upgrades of the stock assembly – no extreme tooling required, just common sense and up to date technological solutions. There is nothing good in keeping it original in every single detail – just make sure that your upgrades and preservations are fully reversible.
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