So here's the link - https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds...s/2414649.html

Also, I did miss a few years of history. The car was driven regularly for it first ten years in the San Diego and Fresno CA, area. Then was sold and moved to Missouri where it was idled for a very long time or driven and OD turned.

And my finding the forum thread from 2013 was in response to a google search, I erased the history of the link by mistake or I'd post the details. I'm sure I could find it again as the contact info for the archivist was a good find.

Anyway, I wish I was on my way to Illinois.

 

This is the carfax report - so though listed as an 1985, the first title not until 1992? anyway this may or may not be of interest
Date
Mileage
Source
Comments
05/16/1992

• California
• Motor Vehicle Dept.

• Title issued or updated

07/27/1996
68,060

• California
• Inspection Station
• San Diego, CA

• Failed emissions inspection
  • Designated GROSS POLLUTER

09/07/1996
68,915

• California
• Inspection Station
• San Diego, CA

• Passed emissions inspection

10/19/1998
75,839

• California
• Inspection Station
• Chula Vista, CA

• Passed emissions inspection

08/31/1999

• California
• Motor Vehicle Dept.
• Coronado, CA

• Title issued or updated

01/14/2000
83,834

• California
• Inspection Station
• San Diego, CA

• Failed emissions inspection

02/20/2001
85,112

• California
• Inspection Station

• Failed emissions inspection
  • Passed emissions inspection

04/21/2004
93,097

• California
• Inspection Station

• Passed emissions inspection

04/06/2005
97,456

• California
• Inspection Station

• Passed emissions inspection

08/16/2005

• California
• Motor Vehicle Dept.
• Fresno, CA

• Title issued or updated
  • New owner reported

08/16/2011

• Missouri
• Motor Vehicle Dept.

• Vehicle purchase reported

10/21/2011

• Missouri
• Motor Vehicle Dept.
• Bridgeton, MO
• Title #TFG16803

• Title issued or updated
  • Registration issued or renewed
  • New owner reported
  • Exempt from odometer reporting

11/26/2012

• Missouri
• Motor Vehicle Dept.
• Bridgeton, MO
• Title #TFG16803

• Registration issued or renewed
  • Exempt from odometer reporting

11/04/2013

• Missouri
• Motor Vehicle Dept.
• Bridgeton, MO
• Title #TFG16803

• Registration issued or renewed
  • Exempt from odometer reporting

08/22/2014

• Illinois
• Motor Vehicle Dept.

• Vehicle purchase reported

09/23/2014

• Illinois
• Motor Vehicle Dept.
• Highland, IL

• Registration issued or renewed

10/06/2014

• Illinois
• Motor Vehicle Dept.
• Highland, IL
• Title #142796040370

• Title issued or updated
  • New owner reported
  • Exempt from odometer reporting

01/09/2015

• Illinois
• Motor Vehicle Dept.
• Highland, IL

• Registration issued or renewed
  • Correction to record

11/13/2019

• Illinois
• Motor Vehicle Dept.
• Highland, IL

• Registration issued or renewed

09/01/2020

• Vehicle Exporter

• Vehicle exported from
  • Savannah, GA and imported to
  • Rotterdam, Netherlands

 

With first registration in 1992, this is probably a grey-market car. Nothing wrong with that. When I lived in Atlanta, several of these were imported in the early '90s and occasionally one was on the market. A friend had one -- I thought it was sort of a dog with that 3.6L motor. The 4.0L version was a huge improvement in low-end torque. Frazier's 1993 factory 5-speed, mentioned above, is now on Ebay. If I was on the market for an XJS, I'd try to work a deal on that car.

 

This car was discussed here:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...d-sale-241543/


It's a bit too rough for me although I'd love to take on the project if I could afford it.

The seller never responded to my request for under body pics

Cheers
DD

 

Question -

I am looking at a 1988 XJ-SC, excellent ++ condition, to my eye, 44K. The car seems nice enough to me that it could show, but I'm rookie at that.

Does making a car show ready or entering it into a show increase its value?

Thanks
Mike D.

 

For cars that are driven on a regular basis and used as intended (as daily or weekend drivers), mechanical and cosmetic condition will determine value because this is all that's relevant to potential buyers, since they too are going to drive it. However, if the car model has become "collectible," past show awards could affect value to varying degrees, depending on the circumstances. Winning your local open car show won't matter. Neither will winning a regionally-judged JCNA show if the car is still used as a weekend driver. But in the rarefied air of highly collectible show cars, past awards can matter if they serve to verify the factory originality of the car and/or acknowledge the car's widely accepted perfection. In the world of folks who restore JCNA show cars, especially E-Types, XK120s, 140s, and 150s, it is common to show the car nationally, upon completion, and then sell it at a premium if they successfully win a National Championship. This matters to the type of high-end buyer who wants to be able to brag that they own the best, and they want to be able to back that statement up, unequivocally. This is why a #1 condition show car will bring such a large premium over a high #2 condition weekend driver, even though most people couldn't tell the difference. As for XJS's, low-mileage, unmolested cars are bringing larger premiums now, which suggests the XJS may eventually be collectible enough that national championships could effect the values of the best of the best.

 

I love the SC, prolly because of memories of a bike ride to Hespeler, circa 1990 where one was parked...anyway just wanted to ask whether the removable hard top was included with that car. Pictures please!

 

Doug, Jag Jonz, and MKii250

Thanks for the replies to my posts - interesting that the 6 cyl. 5 speed 3.6 was discussed early in year. Interesting car.

Autotrader has the car that I described above and asked about show quality. it is only 100 miles south of me in Cincinnati. I'm going to see it tomorrow.
And I'm going announced - so that I can see if car starts cold rather than them "getting it ready".

The link is here:

https://www.autolivery.com/windowsti...988_JAGUAR_XJS

48K miles, metallic silver, over blue, 1988 XJ-SC hardtop convertible. 14,000$. Similar one on Classic car deals for 33K that had won local shows, hence my question.

Free Carfax on A/T site shows Car has been sitting a for really many years, and has been at this dealer for 2 years. Was once stolen and obviously recovered.

Take a look!

Mike

 

Rare optional hard-top included! That's good! And it still has the targa bags in the boot. Another good sign.

Paul

 

Thanks for the reply and the info regarding rarity of hard top. I did think the boot bags were "good" because no other pics have shown them and seems like a classic set up. The other car on Classic Deals had some unique lambswool seat covers I have never seen before. They were like long seat with rugs to lay on the seats, having the leaper logo.

I'd love to know - in what, and why/how did you come to put an 06 S/C engine in "something else?"

 

Oh yes, that's a very pretty car. But why is there a (poorly-applied, non-Jaguar) coachline? That's been added. 😬

 

Coachlines were factory in 1988 according to JCNA:

https://www.jcna.com/sites/default/f...icity_2017.pdf

 

Mac,

Coachlines were factory but I thought they ran to an arrow point on the front wing, and weren't situated as high above the swage line as that, were they?

Paul

 

Mike,

It's not quite as interesting as that! After I had some back surgery, I wanted to run a Range Rover again as my daily driver because the seating position is so much easier. But of course I wanted a Jaguar engine! So I sold my fabulous 4.2 X350 and bought a 4.2 Supercharged Range Rover which is really the best "Jaguar" 4x4 you can have!

Paul

 

You are correct. I misread Mkii250's post to mean there were no factory coachlines when instead it's clear he means these are improperly installed (apologies).

I would think this is a clue that the car has been resprayed.

 

Thought I saw something not quite right with points where the left front wing and left door don't quite meet the rocker panel too (at least, not as well as on the passenger side).

 

Greg,

I'm with you there. Certainly worth looking at.

Paul

 

Guys -

You are all amazing in noticing the details regarding this car. While I would never have known about the coachline, (and by that do you mean the line that goes across the hardtop?)

I too did think there was something odd about the lower part of one door and the magnified pictures really show the imperfection.

Your observations bring a new light as to how to really look at an older car. Maybe it was damaged when stolen.

The engine bay looks a little gritty as well.

I did not go see the car as I decided to go north to see my 90 y/o mom instead of south to see a 34 y/o car. This wednesday is the plan.

 

ptjs1 Mki250 Mac Allan

You all have good and experienced eyes. Though I did notice some irregularity at the door panel, I never would have noticed the poor coachline nor the close details or the door and fender.

I had planned to see the car this past Saturday but instead decided to visit my 90/ y/o mom rather than a 34 y/o car.

Mike

 

Hi Mike, I'm looking at those photos as though I was interested in buying it myself! (I'm not). The coachline is that tape pinstripe along the sides of the body. When I google 1987-88 XJ-SC, most of the cars do not have one. And this one is too long and is placed too high on the car. Could be perfectly innocent.

Re: the fender, I'm not suggestion there was a collision, can't tell and the rocker panel looks straight. Just something to look at. There doesn't seem to be any sign of rust or overspray that I can see.

Anyway, to my eye from those photos (which is NOT a reliable way to judge the condition of a car) the rest of the car looks to be in very good shape. I see many positives...nice dramatic wood grain, still-plump seat foam cushions, storage space in the back instead of seats, and it's silver which you don't see every day on an XJ-S. Wish I could go look at it with you! Hope your mom is well.