∙Legendary Jaguar V8 engine ∙Offered with NO RESERVE ∙Ready to drive a away with a brand new MOT for the new owner
The Background
Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 1996, the Jaguar XK8 was an important car for this iconic British brand. It would be intrinsic in the ongoing timeline of favourable, fast Jaguar coupes and convertibles, and as such, had big shoes to fill. To ensure it hit the mark, the car’s designer, Geoff Lawson, was given free reign with the pencils. What he came up with was a design that still cuts a dash today. Long, low and wide, it was also muscular with haunched rear arches and an aggressive, pointed nose. It was, the motoring press remarked, far more E Type than XJ-S - and this was a good thing.
The XK8 also ushered in a new engine, namely the 4.0 32-valve V8 that would go on to be commonplace across the entire Jaguar range. Smooth but incredibly powerful, it packed an impressive 290bhp. Add in a chassis that rewarded drivers, exemplary levels of kit and refinement and you can see why the first XK8 was and still is a hugely popular car.
This particular Jaguar XK8 Coupe was first registered on the 1st of January 1998, and it remained with that owner all the way through to 2018. Over that time it amassed 122,000 miles. Though since 2018, it’s only done another 9,000 miles. Now with its third owner, this Jaguar XK8 is ready to be taken on by an enthusiastic owner who will hopefully bring it back to its former glory. Though there is nothing to stop you using it now - and with no reserve, it could be a bargain means of getting behind the wheel of a great car.
The V5 is present for the car. The last MOT in March 2020 was passed with no advisories. Although that has now expired, the seller will be having a brand new MOT put on the vehicle ready for the new owner. Looking through the MOT history, it makes for satisfactory reading. There was some welding carried out around ten years ago, which isn’t uncommon on this model. It seems to have been done to a good standard, as there has been no mention of corrosion since.
As for the service history, we are told by the vendor that there is a service book with the car and some invoices for past servicing and MOT works. Crucially though, the car seems to be in good mechanical health with no immediately obvious issues.
With the exception of some carpet in the driver footwell and the kickplate finisher on the driver’s sill, it’s all present, correct and original. There is some wear to be seen on the seats, especially that of the driver. However, the seats are still supportive and comfortable.
The dash is in good order, with no cracks or other issues. The original stereo is still in place and functions, though the LCD display is a little tired. The dash binnacle is bright and clear with no dead pixels and with no warning lights to be concerned by.
The door cards are in presentable condition, though the piping does have some nicks in it, and there is some light staining present, but it should clean up. All the switches work as they should, nothing appears to be broken, and as such, it is quite presentable.
There is, when sitting in the driver’s seat, a chip to be seen in the screen, but not in a direct line of sight. It hasn’t been mentioned in past MOTs. Nor has the window tinting on the side and rear glass. This appears to be a film of some sort, so should be easily removable.
By and large, this is a presentable XK8. Though it is of course a car with 131,000 miles on the clock, so there is evidence of use. There is a scrape on the offside front corner by the fog light, there are some stone chips at the noise of the car, the front bumper sits slightly off - it doesn’t quite sit where it should under the lights.
The bonnet is in good order, though has been fitted with a ‘leaper’. The doors are free of rust, but there is some chipping around the edges. There is a small blemish on the outer edge of the boot opening on the upper side. But the boot itself is in good condition. As are all four alloys, which only show ever so slight imperfections on the outermost part of the rims. It’s also worth noting the wheels have been painted a graphite colour, which suits the car very well indeed.
The front headlights, while functional, are not in the best condition. There is some algae/build up in both units, where water has been getting in over a period of time. In fact, the off-side light seems to be trapping water. The rear lights, on the other hand, are in original condition and free of any apparent issue.
On the whole, this XK8 would benefit from some TLC and a little bit of detailing. It would respond very well indeed to such treatment, and would be an eye-catching car as a direct result. The gorgeous lines of the XK8 still show through, and even though it’s a little down at heel right now, it still looks great. Just imagine what a weekend of tinkering could do!
The big 32-valve V8 barks into life with a snarl and sounds incredible as it does. Jaguar really got it right with this engine, and it shows. It’s clearly in excellent health, with no noises, no rattles, no smoke and no temperature issues. It purrs along at idle and howls when pressed into action.
The gearbox works as it should, with sharp, quick changes, which is no surprise after the seller spent £1,800 refurbishing it last year. The brakes feel to be in decent health and bring the car to a stop without any hesitance or histrionics - just a clean, quick, straight-line stop. The exhaust sounds incredible, and without the slightest hint of leaking gasses. The steering feels good, too, with plenty of feedback and engagement. And finally, the suspension is still that Jaguar mix of sporty and comfortable, with no noises from any worn bushes or the like.
It’s a V8 GT car in rude mechanical health being offered with no reserve. This is your way into the Jaguar club without needing to throw down big money. Is it perfect? No, but what isn’t perfect is visual, it’s the budding enthusiast can remedy at home - that’s you. You could build value back into this XK8, while also keeping on the road. Buy it, improve it and enjoy it all at the same time. This XK8 is going to be a bargain buy for someone, but will it be you? It could be, but only if you get bidding.
Notice to bidders
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.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
More about buying with us
NO RESERVE! 1998 Jaguar XK8 Coupe
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