2022-03-07 12:20:41 | pauls writes:

Car at auction 3/22

themarket.bonhams.com/en/listings/jaguar/xjc/6b8c1c6f-e044-4230-ba90-f6e06af595c ...

Auction description:

Location: The Market HQ, Abingdon, United Kingdom

Seller Type: Trade

Odometer Reading: 20396

Engine: 4200

Gearbox: auto

Steering position: RHD

Colour: Squadron Blue

Interior: Biscuit Leather

Estimated Price: £10,000 - £15,000

We are delighted to be offering for sale a 1978 XJC, equipped with the 4.2-litre engine and mated a smooth automatic gearbox. Whilst some may lust after the V12, with real world economy likely to be in the low teens, the smaller engine is by far the better choice.

What sets this XJC apart is its low recorded mileage of just 20,396 which we believe to be genuine. So how has this come about we hear you cry?

Our seller bought the car from its long-term owner who we gather took it off the road in 1989. He loved the car dearly and could never bear to part with it, but we do wonder why he didn’t drive it. We can only assume that just owning such a lovely car gave him all the pleasure he needed.

A serial house renovator, the car was moved every few years from one garage to the next and was in its last hideout for four years. In need of more storage, and the owner’s wife not being a fan, the car was offered to our seller who jumped at the opportunity to buy.

The car was collected by trailer and bought back to our seller’s premises. It was then treated to fresh oil and filter, plugs and a new battery. But would it start? The answer is most definitely in the affirmative and first time too.

Our seller was then faced with the dilemma of whether to fully restore the XJC, just recommission it and use it, or sell it on. You will already have deduced that he chose the latter.

So, if you fancy owning one of the lowest mileage Jaguar XJCs in the country, now is your chance.

On the Outside

Squadron Blue – what a lovely hue! Sadly the paintwork has seen better days and we imagine the new buyer will want to commission a full respray. There’s no doubt a professional polish will improve it no end, but it won’t deal with the rust that is starting to form in various places, such as the door bottoms, sills and on the bootlid.

The vinyl roof looks to have fared better and incorporates a fabric sunroof. With it open, it really is wind in the hair motoring all the way.

The bumpers will either need replacing or rechroming and other areas of brightwork will need some time and money spending on them too.

The polished hubcaps are all present and correct and whilst the tyres do have plenty of tread, rubber deteriorates with age, so they should be replaced.

The rubber around the windows has perished with age, so budget on replacement too.

On the Inside

The biscuit leather trim contrasts nicely with the blue exterior. The seats are in remarkably good shape, and perhaps want for nothing more than a good clean and then some protective hide food applied. The level of wear, or rather the lack of it, would support the fact that this car has been little used during its 44-year life.

Door cards and dash seem to have weathered the years rather well too, though the carpets look a little tired. A peek underneath reveals corrosion to the floor, which will want further investigation.

The headlining looks to be in poor condition and is coming unstuck in places, so budget for a little work here.

The driving position is imperious with an excellent view out thanks to the wonderfully slim pillars. The spindly steering wheel needs just fingertips to chart a course and the gear lever falls easily to hand.

Tunes are provided by a period radio/cassette player, though we haven’t tested this.

The boot is a generous size making the XJC an excellent car for a touring holiday. The boot carpet is worn in places, and the side trims are coming adrift.

The tools and spare wheel are present and correct and the wheel well looks to be in fair condition.

Underneath

There are the expected signs of surface corrosion to components, but to be fair the overall condition looks quite reasonable from what we can see.

There are signs of corrosion to the valance under the front bumper and elsewhere. Come and inspect the car and see for yourself.

The engine bay looks somewhat tired. A good steam clean would be a good place to start. There’s no doubt that hoses and other perishable components will want changing during the recommissioning of this car. The car has not been prepped for sale, with no attempt made to disguise any issues.

We know the car runs and drives but can say no more than that.

History Highlights

There is not a lot of paperwork accompanying the Jag. Some old tax discs and MoT certificates are the highlights, the latter seeming to corroborate the car’s low mileage.

There’s a service book with a few early stamps and a Daimler handbook.

We are told the long-term owner never had the car registered in his name, though we are unclear why. The car’s new owner may therefore need to apply to the DVLA for a new registration document. The car was driven just 2,000 miles in his 33 years of ownership, a shame we think.