Registration No: L683 DUE
Chassis No: SAJJFKLG3AJ704275
MOT: January 2023
The newcomer was initially available with a choice of two variants of the straight-six AJ6 powerplant - the 2.9-litre SOHC unit (a derivative of Jaguar's legendary V12) or the 3.6-litre DOHC engine. By 1989, Jaguar had been bought by Ford who changed the engine offerings to a 3.2-litre DOHC, a 4.0-litre DOHC one, or the 6.0-litre Jaguar V12 (introduced December 1992 and said to offer c.310bhp and 336lbft of engine torque at 3750rpm) with the four-speed automatic 'J-gate' transmission. They also replaced the often unreliable digital dashboard with conventional analogue instruments. The XJ40 shares many components that were developed for use on the following X300 model, from suspension, steering and brakes to interior switch gear. Being the last of the XJ40 line this version also has dual airbags fitted, has the battery in boot and air conditioning as part of the specification.
This 1994 Jaguar XJ40 has the 3.2-litre engine and has covered just 2,3794km (14,614 miles) at the time of consignment. Displaying the equivalent of less than c.15,000 miles since it left Coventry in 1994, the car was immediately exported to Japan when new. The car is right-hand drive due to the Japanese driving on the same side of the road as the UK, of course. It is common for luxury marques, in Japanese cities, to cover very few kilometres.
Prior to being repatriated, the car has been in the long-term ownership of a seemingly fastidious Japanese owner and goes some way to explain the unusually impressive condition of this XJ40. It is likely the car has never been exposed to salted road surfaces with the paintwork still evoking the appearance of a factory finish and the underside still protected by the UK factory’s underseal which is evidently very clean and intact. All the brightwork looks to be well preserved, with the rubber seals and bumper fixtures showing no apparent signs of sun damage. ‘L683 DUE’ still wears its immaculate 16” Kiwi alloy wheels with a full set of Pirelli tyres.
With a clean appearance, the interior matches up to the youthful exterior, the general lustre of the compartment is fresh and bright; the high specification heated and 10-way adjustable, electric memory seats, are trimmed in oatmeal leather with velour inserts. There is some superficial signs of use on the driver's seat bolster but nothing untoward and certainly extraordinary for such a car of this age. Original bright Red carpets present in a plush condition and contrast nicely with the exterior paint and the seats.
The engine bay appears a few years old. All painted surfaces are still intact, plated parts are barely tarnished and plastic parts still look fresh from the shelf. The Jaguar tool-kit looks unused and like new, as does the space saver spare wheel.
Cars like this are often described as ‘time warp’ cars, presenting in a condition not dissimilar to a car’s condition back in the era when it was built. There’s a service history, which is albeit written in Japanese. The original Japanese handbooks are present, along with a Japanese mileage verification certificate. ‘L683 DUE’ has a current MOT, which runs until Jan 30th 2023.
For more information, please contact:
James McWilliam
james.mcwilliam@handh.co.uk
07943 584760
Auction: Imperial War Museum, Duxford, 19th Oct, 2022
An auction of classic & collector motorcars
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