“The Cherished Cat” Jaguar XJSC V12 5.3 HE Cabriolet

World-famous sports makers relish images of wild animals as their mascots:

- & have the prancing horse; - employs the raging bull.

Jaguar Ltd. is proud to carry the name of the irresistible feline and perhaps no other manufacturer's products are quite so aptly named.

A Jaguar is velvety smooth, sounds ferocious and surprises with dizzying speed, while keeping an elegant composure.

Created as successor to the legendary E-Type and the last model designed with input from the firm's founder, the legendary Sir , the XJS is actually more than just a replacement.

It is a par excellence, the finest mode of transportation for two people wishing to travel fast and in style.

Produced for over two decades, from 1977-1998, a few special iterations of the XJS have already attained status, among them the rare XJSC, or "Cabriolet."

Just 3,864 of these magnificent Landaulet like, V12-powered cabriolets were manufactured between 1983 and 1988, with barely a few hundred sold in the U.S., in the years '86 and '87 only.

The car presented here is one of the rare “survivor” in an utmost condition, being a fully documented Jaguar XJSC Cabriolet. As pampered as they come, it's truly a dream come true for the serious XJS-C connoisseur! The XJS-C came in one flavor only: fully loaded.

Authentic window sticker shows factory MSRP of $45,480.00, on par with contemporaries Mercedes-Benz 560SL and Porsche 911 Carrera and quite a bit of cash, 25 years ago.

Tom Jones's Jaguar XJSC Cabriolet, VIN *SAJNV3842HC135038* was purchased as the young neuro- surgeon's gift to himself.

After those interminably long years of study and “round-the-clock internship”, in 1986 the time had finally come to celebrate success and to pamper oneself with a great automobile. Well deserved! To call this car fully documented would be the understatement of the year. Original black leather pouch holds all manner of factory literature, including, but not limited to:

• Window sticker • Owner's handbook • Passport to Service w/ all dealer stamps • Electrical data chart • Trip computer addendum • Capacities chart • Security radio information booklets • 1987 Emissions warranty • OEM tire warranty • Key code label

Also pictured above left: original cassette player maintenance kit and both sets of keys.

Stunning Arctic Blue Metallic (factory code JFE) certainly is a very appropriate and outstanding color for the XJS. The factory original paint has kept its deep luster through all those years, there is nothing to take away from its beauty.

If you work as an undercover agent for the FBI, this car is not for you. You'll definitely receive undivided attention in this Jag!

The “ne plus ultra” in versatility, the Jaguar XJSC can be configured as a Landaulet:

- ; - Targa or stylish and closes coupé.

Additionally, the rear folding soft top can be replaced by a fixed roof panel with heated glass window. Rear and T-top panels can be installed during the cooler season to create a weather-tight coupé.

Plain and simple, the XJS-C was the most elegant of its generation. Note Jaguar chrome wheels with MICHELIN Pilot radials of the size 235/60-15 all around, a $2,800.00 update.

Let's have a peek under the car's long bonnet now. The Jaguar XJSC is a member in good standing of the most exclusive car club on earth. Aside from Jaguar, this club has only four members, namely Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. You guessed it, we're talking about the “Twelve Cylinder Club”.

If you never had the opportunity to drive a V12-powered automobile, you probably cannot conceive what you've been missing.

A V-12 has 50% more cylinders than your father's Oldsmobile or your neighbor's Mercedes S500. Accordingly wide is the power band, even more convincing the legendary, turbine-like smoothness of this incredible engine.

The special High Compression May cylinder heads (V12 5.3 SOHC 24V) assist in producing around 262 hp to effortlessly cope with any traffic situation.

The interior accoutrements of a Jaguar are legendary.

A dashboard that deserves the name, with honest-to-goodness burled walnut wood and a immaculate leather-wrapped volant immaculately preserved.

All that old-world craftsmanship meets modern day technology, though: nestled between wood and leather, a space-age vehicle information center supplies the driver with valuable information. Factory Jaguar concert sound system with multiple speakers includes cassette deck. Automatic climate control lets you select a convenient ambient temperature, and the system will supply ample amounts of ice cold or super-heated air.

Seats, door panels and console are covered with the finest, delightfully patinated Isis Blue hides from deliriously happy, well-fed Scottish Highland bovines.

These hides were most carefully selected, then vat-dyed in an antique wooden drum at the now- defunct, Edwardian CONNOLLY factory. Truly superior to the Detroit leather found in a pedestrian Lexus or Cadillac, the luxurious ambiance of a British high-end marque, such as Jaguar, , or Bentley is unmatched in the world.

Behind the seats: a large luggage area. Wall-to-wall WILTON wool carpeting, as used by Rolls Royce, is an integral part of the car's veddy British charm.

Two separate, lockable storage boxes for your valuables.

Let's have a good look at trunk and undercarriage.

Surprisingly spacious trunk will hold a large amount of luggage and the golf bags, too.

It’s completely carpeted so Madame's Louis Vuittons luggage remains without any scuff marks. Small note: tool kit in matching bag.

The battery, protected by a black cover, is located next to the spare. Undercarriage is virginal, confirming sheltered life of a “U.S. climate spoiled pussycat”. The pictures shows the original mufflers, which proudly show off their "" logos. Fascinating details of a “showroom-worthy” bottom. Thanks to a long-awaited sunshine, we seized the opportunity to enjoy a ride in the plush Cabriolet while taking these pictures.

You turn the ignition key, and hear… nothing at all.

You check the gauges right in front of you and they indicate that the engine is running.

Can it be? Yes, indeed. It's a V-12, remember?

Put the sleek gear selector into "Drive" and you immediately notice the incredible and most of all the utmost silky smoothness of this real power plant.

The cat moves forward from idle without any indication of stress, the GM-designed turbo- hydramatic shifting imperceptibly. At any speed, in any gear, there is an abundance of power; you feel sovereign in any situation.

Since you will probably never be driving the car at its 6400 rpm redline, you might be pleased to learn that the feline will continue to accelerate briskly and silently beyond any legal speed.

Even at triple-digit velocity, you will barely notice the engine, nor any intrusive wind noise or buffeting. Speaking about the Jag's creature comforts, this car is well appointed with amenities such as power windows, mirror, door locks, telescoping steering column, and cruise control. All lights, switches, and controls work as Sir William Lyons intended.

Driving a V12-powered Jaguar XJSC can be an utterly rewarding experience but acquiring a car that comes with deferred maintenance issues will lead to sleepless nights, perhaps even nightmares.

Therefore, it is of paramount importance to seek out the best surviving example you can find, a car that features a full, no-expense-spared service history.

An incredible automobile with all the luxury, exclusivity, and performance imaginable, the Jaguar XJSC Landaulet represents a golden opportunity to join the Twelve Cylinder Club; driving it will make you feel like royalty.

A bona fide collectible: now's the time to admire or start looking for such a stunning automobile, the best example of the very rare XJS-C you could ever hope to find... Carpe diem and may God save the Queen (also read this blessed “Lady Jaguar”)!

Author: Gino Mariman – Technical Advisor Jaguar Drivers Club Belgium