Introduced in 1975, the Jaguar XJ-S spanned a total of three iterations over the course of its 21-year production run, and was available in coupé, convertible and fixed-profile (targa) body styles, meaning there was an XJ-S for almost all tastes and requirements.
In 1981, in the wake of the then-recent fuel crisis, a revised and upgraded ‘HE’ (High-Efficiency) V12 engine was introduced. The 5.3-litre engine now boasted so-called ‘Fireball’ combustion chamber technology designed by Swiss engineer Michael May, which not only improved efficiency but also boosted the power output to 295bhp, and numerous cosmetic upgrades were made to the HE cars, allowing them to be easily distinguished from the earlier examples.
During the 1980’s, those looking for a more unique, upgraded XJ-S or XJ-SC experience could call upon the now-famous Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) to work their magic.
Produced prior to the official ‘Jaguar Sport’ partnership in 1988, only a handful (some sources estimate only “several hundred”) of cars were produced, either through direct contact with the TWR factory on an individual basis, or through the customer’s chosen dealership, of which only 10 were able to supply TWR-fettled cars.
With a variety of both aesthetic and performance modifications available, customers or dealers would send their cars direct to the TWR factory, in order for their vehicles to be personalised to their liking.
Unfortunately, poor record-keeping prior to the 1988 ‘Jaguarsport’ venture means that it is all-but impossible to positively identify a pre-88 TWR car as ‘genuine’ from their VIN which was further confused by the ability for customers to bypass their dealership network and deal with TWR directly.
For those looking for a deep-dive into the history of the TWR XJ-S and XJ-SC cars, the vendor recommends the following site: https://classicregister.com/id-guides/info-guide-1984-1988-jaguar-xjs-twr-enhanced
This particular V12 HE XJ-SC has been extensively upgraded and modified with a host of TWR parts, though the vendor is unable to ascertain whether it was a genuine factory-built TWR car, or whether it was completed to a very high standard outside of factory production.
What is interesting, however, is that the engine and chassis numbers match, as confirmed by Jaguar Heritage, which is always a wonderful selling/buying point on cars of this era.
Purchased by the vendor during July 2021, the car has always been garaged in a secure lock-up during their ownership, and shown off to local friends and family within the local area.
Finished in the striking colour of Arctic Blue over a Saville Grey leather interior, this XJ-SC boasts the following TWR-specification performance enhancements:
Speedline Sport wheels.
Increased capacity intake manifold with stainless-steel trumpets, which provides around 10% additional power.
TWR/Jaguar-designed Bilstein shock absorbers.
Stiffer springs and revised radius arm.
In addition to the performance and mechanical enhancements ‘under the skin’ these cars were also easily distinguishable by their aesthetic changes, which include a front ‘air dam’ intake, new front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and a boot spoiler.
Included with the car is a partial service history, Jaguar maintenance handbooks, numerous old MOT certificates, several invoices from the early 2000’s old tax discs and a number of guide books and manuals for the car’s system.
The known service history for the vehicle is as follows:
14/02/2015 receipt
22/09/2003 Fife Auto Centre 72822 miles
25/03/2002 Reg Vardy 70958 miles
31/08/2001 Reg Vardy 70958 miles
07/09/2000 Reg Vardy 69620 miles
Along with the following Jaguar dealer history:
11.05.1987 - Miles 1001
16.12.1987 - Miles 8004
02.08.1988 - Miles 15089
26.04.1989 - Miles 22386
24.01.1990 - Miles 30146
18.09.1990 - Miles 39604
11.04.1991 - Miles 44111
21.10.1991 - Miles 51027
23.03.1992 - Miles 54206
31.03.1993 - Miles 57916
16.11.1993 - Miles 58851
06.05.1994 - Miles 58999
13.04.1995 - Miles 60333
06.10.1998 - Miles 66164
07.09.2000 - Miles 69620
31.08.2001 - Miles 70845
01.07.2017 - Miles 73995
The Interior
Inside, the Saville Grey leather interior has stood the test of time well, and has evidently been cosseted and cared-for throughout the car’s lifetime.
As far as we can see, there are no rips, tears or major scuffs to the seats, though they do display the usual creasing and light wear to the bases and bolsters, in keeping with the car’s age.
The luggage area - in place of the rear seats found in the coupé models - also appears to have worn well, showing only minor signs of use, with no notable marks to the edges or rear of the area.
Looking up, there are a few marks and stains on the headlining and material around the A and B-pillars, though a thorough wet valet would likely go a long way towards remedying these minor issues.
Up front, the dashboard is in excellent shape with no cracks or sun damage as far as we can see, and the wooden inlays also look to be in great shape with no cracks or damage that we’ve been made aware of.
The vendor notes that the original stereo is present, though it does not ‘lock on’ to any station despite showing as tuning, which could be a fault related to the aerial rather than the unit itself. However, the tape deck does work correctly, meaning you can have some period-correct entertainment, so long as you have a collection of cassettes!
The TWR kit undoubtedly adds a level of aggression and presence to what was already a large and imposing car, and - in our opinion - it looks all the better for it.
That having been said, the kit and bodywork as a whole present very well, with no visible dents, dings or creases that we can see or have been made aware of.
The paintwork also shines up fantastically, and looks excellent in the shade of Arctic Blue. We’d expect a few stone chips here-and-there and perhaps a light mark or two which would be commensurate with the age of the car, but there are certainly no standout issues or scrapes to mention.
The folding soft-top and fixed-profile windows all look to be in good order, and there are no reported faults from the mechanism, nor any water ingress issues - excellent news all around, then.
The Mechanicals
Upon opening the front-hinged bonnet, the first thing you notice is just how large that V12 engine is - there’s barely room to move within the engine bay, which is testament to how clever Jaguar’s engineering department was in order to shoe-horn in such a big power plant.
As far as we can see, whilst the engine bay and block would benefit from a through detailing, there are no visual signs of any issues, and the vendor reports that there are no known mechanical faults with the car, having happily completed a c.150 mile journey upon purchasing the car only a matter of weeks ago.
Underneath, the story is very much the same, with no sign of any issues which would set alarm bells ringing from what we can see. The latest MOT exam dated 28 August 2020 would also serve to show that any known issues with the car’s chassis and structure have been taken care of, with only one minor advisory for a fluctuating front service brake.
The XJ-S enjoys an enduring appeal as a high-class GT car even to this day, but what if you want something a little different; Something with a little more… style?
If you’re a fan of standing out from the crowd and enjoying high-performance motoring, then this TWR-modified 1987 Jaguar XJ-SC is the one for you.
Visually arresting and in excellent aesthetic condition, this example is reported to be in excellent mechanical health also, and would make an excellent addition to any collection of rare and unusual Jaguars or British sports cars.
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Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
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1987 Jaguar XJ SC (TWR Kit)
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