Vehicle Description
Cool blend of English elegance with American power and reliability.
Transplanted Corvette LT1 V8 and 700R4 -speed automatic. Clean
bodywork with older repaint, beautiful blue leather interior, fully
operational throughout. Cool Anglo-American hybrid.What's the one
thing that scares everyone about buying a vintage Jag with a V12?
Maintenance and repairs. This bright Arctic White 1988 Jaguar XJS
convertible neatly solves that problem with a bulletproof Chevrolet
LT1 V8 and automatic transmission out of a C4 Corvette. The
transplant gives the vintage Jag considerably more punch without
visibly altering its appearance. And we'll admit, the XJS is one
good-looking car. This one has always been kept out of the
elements, so there's no structural rust or other issues under the
surface, and it was repainted about 15 years ago in its original
Arctic White. There are some areas where the paint is showing its
age with checking and even some flaking on the textured rockers,
but it's not serious and at this price, you've got room to make
some improvements. British cars always have enough chrome to make
them look well-dressed, and the heavy brightwork on this Jaguar
still whispers quality in a way that few other automakers have been
able to master. And please check out how the power antenna fits
through the rear spoiler-too cool! The only visible clue that
something special is going on are those 'LT1' emblems on the front
fenders, but they almost look OEM.The beautiful blue leather
interior is more proof that nobody does interiors like the British.
Beautiful blue leather and real burled walnut inlays outweigh the
car's price tag by a wide margin and everything is in fantastic
condition. Even with the heart transplant, most of the original
gauges are still monitoring the engine's vitals, although the
tachometer is offline due to the LT1's electronic ignition. The
original shifter, which is a work of art all by itself, now
controls four forward gears instead of three, so it doesn't quite
line up perfectly, but that's a compromise that's easy to make for
an overdrive. A Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo head unit replaces the
original and sounds significantly better, particularly with the
insulated top in the up position. And speaking of the top, the blue
canvas is in excellent condition with a glass rear window and a
matching boot to clean things up with its down. The trunk is
modest, but it's deep and well-shaped, and if you need more space
there's a package shelf behind the seats. For a 2-seat ragtop, this
one works pretty well as a grand tourer.The original 5.3 liter V12
is gone and for those of you looking at this car, that's probably a
plus. In its place is a Corvette-based 350 cubic inch LT1 V8 with
300 horsepower and 330 pounds of torque-both improvements over the
Jag. The transplant was done using a John's Cars 'QuarterBreed' kit
that makes the LT1 almost look like it was born there. It's a neat
fit and with all the original features intact, including factory
EFI, it starts easily, idles nicely, and runs beautifully. The
wiring is neatly integrated with the Jaguar's harness and don't
worry, it stays cool in traffic. Even the Corvette's alternator,
power steering pump, and A/C compressor made the transition intact,
so service will be affordable and easy in the future. The matching
700R4 4-speed automatic was an easy swap since the Jag was
originally equipped with a TH400, and it feeds the original
independent rear end with inboard disc brakes and dual shocks, so
it still rides and handles like a Jaguar. Long-tube headers and a
custom exhaust system give it a decidedly un-Jaguar-like
soundtrack, but that's a big part of the fun with this car. Factory
15-inch alloys retain the OEM look and carry 215/65/15 Firestone
radials at all four corners. Documentation includes the Jaguar's
original window sticker, plus the complete John's Cars swap manuals
for reference in the future. This isn't a car for everybody, we get
it. But if you like the look of the Jag and understand the appeal
of low-maintenance and improved performance, well, maybe this is
for you. It still looks the part and feels like a much more
expensive car going down the road. It's expertly built and nicely
sorted, so it works like a real car and not some home-built
project. That's really impressive. If that's your thing, check out
the price and then give us a call!Harwood Motors always recommends
and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in
our inventory prior to purchase.