Why This Car Is Special

The 1991 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Convertible is one of the more specific and desirable configurations the XJ-S was ever offered in. This example is a Classic Collection edition, which was a factory trim package Jaguar introduced in the early 1990s to distinguish the XJ-S with enhanced standard equipment and a more deliberate presentation. The Classic Collection name was not a marketing label applied after the fact — it was a distinct factory designation, and cars so equipped were delivered with a specific combination of interior appointments and exterior details intended to reinforce the car's character as a grand tourer rather than a sports car. This car wears that package correctly, with the red piping on tan leather seats, burled walnut trim throughout, and a gold hood growler badge that was part of the Classic Collection specification.

The XJ-S itself has a history worth understanding. It entered production in 1975 as a replacement for the legendary E-Type, a car that had defined Jaguar's identity for fourteen years. The XJ-S was never meant to be a sports car in the same sense — it was engineered as a high-speed grand tourer, and Jaguar's engineers gave it a suspension and chassis tuned for transatlantic cruising rather than canyon carving. The public needed time to accept that, and early sales were soft. By the late 1980s and into the early 1990s, the XJ-S had matured considerably. The convertible body style, introduced for the 1988 model year in the United States, gave the car a new audience and extended its commercial life significantly. The 1991 model year sits squarely in what many consider the best period of XJ-S production — the body had been refined, the fuel injection had replaced the troublesome carburetor setup from the early cars, and build quality under Ford's ownership of Jaguar had measurably improved. This particular car was built in England, as all XJ-S models were, at Jaguar's Browns Lane facility in Coventry.

Features List

• 5.3L fuel-injected V12 engine
• GM Turbo-Hydramatic 3-speed automatic transmission
• Classic Collection trim package
• Power convertible top with black cloth hood
• Heated rear window
• Tan leather interior with red piping on all seats
• Power seats, driver and passenger
• Burled walnut dash and door trim
• Factory tachometer (12-cylinder specific)
• AM/FM cassette stereo
• Cruise control
• Tilt steering column
• Driver airbag
• Power steering
• Power brakes
• 4-wheel disc brakes
• Independent rear suspension
• Dual exhaust
• Lace honeycomb alloy wheels
• Power windows, door locks, and mirrors
• Air conditioning
• Chrome bumpers
• Chrome fender flares
• Gold hood growler badge (Classic Collection)
• High-mount third brake light
• Chrome luggage retention rail
• Made in England

Mechanical

The engine in this 1991 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Convertible is the 5.3-liter single-overhead-cam V12 that Jaguar had been developing and refining since the engine's introduction in the 1971 XJ12 sedan. By 1991, this engine had been in continuous production for two decades, and Jaguar had ironed out nearly every issue that plagued earlier versions. The fuel injection system on this car replaced the problematic Zenith-Stromberg carburetors used on XJ-S models through the mid-1980s, and the result is a more reliable, more consistent powerplant that starts easily and pulls smoothly across the entire rpm range. The V12 is not a high-revving screamer — it makes its power in a wide, flat band, and the character of the engine is defined by torque delivered without drama. It is the kind of engine that makes highway driving feel almost effortless.

The transmission is the GM Turbo-Hydramatic, a detail visible on the underside of the car where the transmission pan is clearly marked "Hydra-Matic, Div. of GMC." Jaguar's use of this unit is well-documented — it was selected because it was one of the few automatics robust enough to handle the V12's torque output reliably, and it had a long service record in demanding applications. It is a 3-speed unit, and it works well with the V12's torque characteristics. Shifts are smooth, and the gearing suits the engine's power delivery.

The suspension is a point of genuine engineering interest on any XJ-S. The rear uses Jaguar's fully independent setup, derived from the system introduced on the E-Type, with inboard disc brakes mounted at the differential rather than at the wheels. This configuration reduces unsprung weight significantly and contributes to the XJ-S's composed ride quality at speed. The front uses double wishbones with coil springs. All four corners have disc brakes, and the system is power-assisted. The underside of this car has been treated and shows no structural concerns — the floor pans and frame rails visible in the undercarriage photos appear solid and consistent with a Florida-climate car that has not been subjected to road salt.

Interior

The interior of this 1991 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Convertible is finished in tan leather with red piping on all four seats — a combination that was specific to the Classic Collection package and one that works particularly well against the red exterior. The leather shows the kind of light surface crazing on the seat bolsters that is typical of any 30-plus-year-old Jaguar that has seen actual use. The hides are intact and the piping is in good shape. Power seat adjusters are present on both sides, controlled by switches mounted to the inner sill.

The dashboard is covered in burled walnut veneer that carries across to the door panels and center console, giving the interior a consistent, finished appearance that was central to Jaguar's identity during this period. The instrument cluster includes a speedometer reading to 160 mph and a tachometer marked specifically for the 12-cylinder engine — the "12 CYL" notation is visible on the face of the tach in the photos. Between the two main gauges is a row of vertical strip gauges covering coolant temperature, oil pressure, fuel level, and battery voltage — a layout Jaguar used throughout the XJ-S production run that takes some getting used to but provides the necessary information once you know where to look.

The center console houses the Turbo-Hydramatic shifter on a burled walnut surround, with cruise control switches mounted ahead of it. The AM/FM cassette stereo is integrated into the dash below the walnut fascia. The convertible top is black cloth and stows behind the rear seats beneath a fitted cover. The rear seating area is genuinely small — usable for shorter passengers or luggage, but this is functionally a two-seat car in convertible trim. A chrome luggage retention rail spans the rear deck to secure items when the top is folded. The heated rear window is built into the top itself and operates via a switch on the dash.

Exterior

The 1991 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Convertible wears red paint that photographs well and presents cleanly in person. The XJ-S body design was the work of Malcolm Sayer, the same aerodynamicist responsible for the E-Type, and by 1991 it had been in production in essentially the same form for sixteen years. The flying buttress C-pillars that defined the original coupe design were eliminated on the convertible, which opened up the rear quarters and gave the car a cleaner profile. The result is a long, low shape with a pronounced hood line leading to a raked windshield.

Chrome bumpers are fitted front and rear, consistent with the Classic Collection specification. Chrome fender flares trim the wheel openings on all four corners. The gold growler hood badge — the leaping Jaguar mascot — is specific to the Classic Collection package and distinguishes this car from standard XJ-S models of the same year. A high-mount third brake light is installed at the rear, a federally-mandated addition that Jaguar worked into the design without major disruption. Power mirrors are fitted to both doors.

The wheels are lace honeycomb alloys, a period-correct design that suits the car's proportions well. Tires are Firestone Firehawk P235/60R15, as visible in the undercarriage photos. The black power convertible top is in functional condition and operates as designed.

Conclusion

The 1991 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Convertible in Classic Collection trim represents a specific and well-equipped version of one of the longest-running grand tourers in automotive history. The combination of the 5.3-liter V12, the proven GM Turbo-Hydramatic, a proper open top, and the full Classic Collection interior package puts this car in a small category of XJ-S examples that were delivered with everything working in the same direction. The red-over-tan color combination with red seat piping is a period-correct pairing that reads correctly on this car. The underside shows a solid, clean floor and the suspension components appear intact and unmodified. For a buyer who understands the XJ-S and what the V12 convertible represents, this is a car worth examining in person.

To schedule a viewing or ask specific questions about this 1991 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Convertible, call Skyway Classics in Sarasota, Florida at 941-254-6608.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.