With a lineage that dates back to the original XJ6 of 1968, the Series III XJ12 combines Jaguar’s powerful 5.3-liter V-12 engine with an updated and modern look designed by Carrozzeria Pininfarina.

Externally, the most obvious changes over the Series II were thicker rubber bumpers with decorative chrome only on the top edge, flush door handles for increased safety, one-piece front door glass, a grille with only vertical vanes, reverse lights moved from the trunk plinth to the larger rear light clusters, and a revised roofline with narrower door frames and increased glass area. The Series III also brought the option of a sunroof and cruise control for the first time on any XJ model.

As a top-trim Vanden Plas variant, this XJ12 features some of the finer treatments from the Daimler versions available on the other side of the Atlantic, such as the more luxurious seats and carpets. According to the trim tag in the engine bay, the car was originally finished in code AFM Antelope paint with a Doeskin leather interior. Today, the exterior is finished in traditional British Racing Green. The well-appointed interior features many amenities expected of a British luxury car from this era, including a stereo with cassette player, a trip computer, and plenty of wood trim. With 250,910 kilometers (160,941 miles) indicated at cataloguing time and having experienced an extended period of dormancy, this Jaguar is in non-running condition and requires thorough mechanical sorting before returning to the road.

As the British automaker’s flagship for nearly two decades, the XJ12 offers supreme refinement with its silky smooth 5.3-Liter V-12, and in Vanden Plas trim, the utmost level of luxury, making this an excellent candidate for the Jaguar enthusiast to revive and enjoy.