Overview of the Jaguar XJ-S V12
This is a 1990 Jaguar XJ-S V12 coupe, first registered in April 1990 (Heisei 2), carrying the chassis code E-JEW and frame number SAJJNJEW3BR168277. It is fitted with the 5,300 cc V12 engine driving through an automatic transmission to the rear wheels, in traditional Jaguar grand tourer fashion. The odometer shows 47,200 km, which converts to approximately 29,331 miles, a genuinely low figure for a car of this age and one that the auction house has flagged as a sales point on the sheet.
Offered through USS Tokyo as lot 79121, this XJ-S carries an overall auction grade of 3.5 with an interior grade of B. As with any thirty five year old British V12 coupe that has spent time in Japan, the auction sheet notes some mechanical and cosmetic issues that we detail fully below, so this report should be read alongside the damage diagram and inspector comments before bidding. The photographs show a dark green example wearing its factory style lace wheels, cream leather interior with burr walnut veneer, and the correct XJ S badging front and rear.
The Drive Review
The XJ-S V12 is one of the last true analogue Jaguar grand tourers, built around the 5.3 litre HE (High Efficiency) V12 engine that Jaguar refined through the 1980s to improve economy without blunting the character of the unit. Power delivery is smooth and effortless rather than explosive, with the V12 spinning with very little vibration and a distinctive muted howl under load that no modern turbocharged engine replicates. This is not a car built for outright acceleration numbers, it is built for covering long distances in near silence at high speed, which was exactly Jaguar's brief when the XJ-S replaced the E-Type in 1975.
The three speed (later four speed) automatic gearbox fitted to V12 cars suits the engine's character well, shifting unobtrusively and allowing the torque of the V12 to do the work rather than requiring the driver to chase revs. Steering is power assisted rack and pinion, light at low speed and reasonably communicative at motorway pace, while the independent rear suspension with its inboard rear brakes gives a supple, long legged ride that prioritises comfort over outright agility. This is a heavy car by sports coupe standards and it does not hide that weight in tight corners, but on a fast A road or a European motorway the XJ-S comes into its own as a genuine mile eating cruiser.
Enthusiasts are drawn to the V12 specifically for its engineering, it was one of very few production V12 engines ever fitted to a road car in this era and remains one of the most complex power units Jaguar has built. Weak points buyers should be aware of on any XJ-S V12 include cooling system reliability, the complexity and cost of V12 servicing compared with the straight six cars, and a tendency for underbody corrosion on cars that have not been well protected, all of which should be checked carefully on any example being considered, including this one.
Auction Details
Auction house USS Tokyo, lot number 79121, chassis E-JEW, auction date 1 October 2026 in Japan. The auction start price is ¥650,000. Two comparable examples have sold at Japanese auctions recently for between £4,012 and £11,435, though that range reflects a mix of specifications and condition levels rather than this specific car, and no formal Autoselecta guide bidding range has been set for this lot. Please refer to the price panel on this page for live bidding figures and an up to date landed cost estimate, as these are calculated at the time of viewing rather than fixed in this report. All bids must be submitted before 9PM UK time the evening before auction. For this lot, that means bids must be submitted before 9PM UK time on Wednesday 30 September.
Vehicle Specifications
Manufacturer Jaguar, model XJ-S, grade V12, chassis code E-JEW, frame number SAJJNJEW3BR168277, first registration April 1990. Engine 5,300 cc V12, fuel petrol, transmission automatic, drive layout 2WD (rear wheel drive). Body type coupe, seating for four. Odometer reading 47,200 km, approximately 29,331 miles. Auction grade 3.5, interior grade B. Dimensions as recorded on the auction sheet, length 476 cm, width 179 cm, height 126 cm. Exterior colour is recorded on the sheet as original (genuine to the car) but the specific colour name and factory colour code are not confirmed on the auction sheet; the photographs show a dark, deep green metallic finish. Interior colour is not stated on the sheet, though the photographs show cream or beige leather with burr walnut trim.
Factory Features and Equipment
The auction sheet confirms power steering (PS) and power windows (PW) as fitted equipment, along with air conditioning, though the inspector notes this does not currently cool, which is detailed below. The photographs additionally show a Jaguar branded cassette stereo head unit, a wood veneer dashboard and centre console, an analogue instrument cluster with a rev counter and speedometer marked in both mph and km/h, and a leather wrapped steering wheel with a Jaguar horn boss. Wire style alloy wheels are fitted, consistent with the period correct look for a late 1980s to early 1990s XJ-S. Service books, maintenance history and spare keys are not confirmed on the auction sheet.
Japanese Auction Report Translation
This translation has been produced and checked by Autoselecta from the original Japanese auction sheet. The inspector notes an S housing, most likely referring to a suspension or strut housing, that is dented and bent, though this abbreviation is not entirely certain from the sheet. Air conditioning is noted as not cooling, meaning the system does not currently produce cold air even though the AC unit itself is fitted. The cabin is described as dirty, with scuffs, scratches and a cracked panel somewhere in the interior. Wheel scratches are noted, consistent with the general cosmetic wear expected on a car of this age. The exterior has been repainted in the same colour, described as uneven and blurred in finish, indicating a respray at some point that is visible on close inspection rather than perfectly matched. Underside rust and corrosion is noted, an important point for buyers to be aware of on any older Jaguar of this type. The inspector also records general scratches and dents in various places around the car. On the sales point line the auction house highlights the mileage as being in the 40,000 km range as a positive selling feature.
Damage Diagram and Body Condition
Reading the damage diagram in full: at the front bumper there is an AU2 marking, meaning a medium sized scratch that has already received a touch up repair. The bonnet carries a U2 marking, a moderate dent. The roof also carries a U2, a moderate dent visible on the roof panel. The left hand door shows a U2, another moderate dent, while the right hand door shows a smaller U1, a small dent. Toward the rear left corner, in the area of the rear bumper or tail lamp, there is a Y1 marking, indicating a small crack, though the exact panel affected is not entirely certain from the sheet. The rear bumper itself carries a further AU2, a medium scratch with touch up repair already applied. A separate circled note beside the rear right of the diagram indicates that the spare tyre is missing from the car.
Taken together with the inspector's written comments regarding the uneven same colour respray, underside rust and corrosion, and the bent S housing, this XJ-S should be regarded as a usable enthusiast car rather than a concours or collector grade example. It presents well in the photographs at a distance, with reasonably straight panels and a smart wheel and trim package, but a buyer should budget for cosmetic attention and should have the underbody, cooling system and the noted housing damage properly inspected once the car arrives, rather than assuming show quality condition beneath the surface.
Interior Condition
The interior grade is recorded as B on the auction sheet, indicating a reasonably presentable but not immaculate cabin. The inspector's separate comments note that the cabin is dirty with scuffs and scratches, and that a panel inside the car is cracked. Photographs show cream or beige leather seats with visible creasing consistent with age and use, a walnut veneer dashboard and door cappings, and a dashboard mounted key barrel. The instrument photograph shows the ANTI LOCK warning lamp and another warning indicator illuminated at the time of photography, which buyers should note and have checked, alongside the air conditioning fault already mentioned. Service books, owner manuals and spare keys are not confirmed on the auction sheet.
Japanese Auction Grades
Japanese auction grades are assigned by independent inspectors at the time of sale and are widely used as a shorthand guide to condition rather than a mechanical warranty. A grade of 3.5, as given here, generally describes a car that is a little worn or has some notable faults, sitting below the higher grades of 4 and above that are reserved for cleaner, more original examples, but still well above the lower grades used for cars needing significant restoration. The separate interior grade of B indicates the cabin is in generally acceptable, presentable condition with some wear evident, consistent with the inspector's cosmetic comments detailed above. These grades should always be read together with the full inspector notes and damage diagram rather than in isolation, which is why this report translates every point recorded on the sheet.
Model History
The Jaguar XJ-S was introduced in 1975 as the replacement for the E-Type, taking Jaguar's flagship grand tourer in a more refined, more comfortable direction rather than continuing the E-Type's sports car brief. Early cars used the same 5.3 litre V12 engine that had first appeared in the Series 3 E-Type, and Jaguar continued to develop and improve the platform through the 1980s, introducing the HE (High Efficiency) cylinder head in 1981 to improve fuel consumption, and later adding the smaller AJ6 straight six option alongside the V12 from 1983. The V12 remained the flagship engine throughout the car's long production run, prized for its smoothness and refinement. This particular car, registered in April 1990, sits within the later, more developed phase of XJ-S production, benefiting from years of incremental improvement to the model before it was eventually replaced by the XJS (facelifted, badge simplified) and ultimately by the XK8 in 1996. Total XJ-S production ran to a little over twenty years, making it one of Jaguar's longest running model lines.
Why This Model Has Become Collectible
The XJ-S V12 has steadily grown in appreciation among classic car enthusiasts as one of the last British hand finished grand tourers built around a genuinely exotic engine layout. V12 engines have almost disappeared from mainstream car production, and the smoothness and mechanical complexity of Jaguar's unit set it apart from anything built today at a comparable price point. The car's long production run and relatively modest values for many years meant many were used hard or scrapped, so well kept, lower mileage examples like this 47,200 km car are becoming harder to find, particularly outside the UK. Design wise, the flying buttress rear roofline remains one of the more distinctive silhouettes of any 1970s to 1990s coupe, and the combination of walnut veneer, leather trim and a V12 soundtrack continues to appeal to buyers seeking an analogue driving experience very different from a modern turbocharged coupe. As with any car of this age, Japan has no equivalent of the US 25 year rule, but this car is now old enough to qualify for import into the United States under the 25 year rule, opening it up to a wider pool of overseas buyers.
What To Look For When Buying This Model
Buyers considering any Jaguar XJ-S V12, including this example, should pay close attention to underbody corrosion, cooling system condition (given this car's air conditioning fault and V12 engines' known sensitivity to cooling issues), evidence of respray work such as the uneven same colour repaint noted here, and the condition of any suspension or steering components, given the possible strut housing damage flagged by the inspector. Because V12 servicing is more involved and costly than a straight six Jaguar, a full mechanical inspection after import is strongly advised before any significant driving is undertaken, and buyers should budget for recommissioning work on a car that has covered relatively few kilometres but may have sat for periods, which can affect rubber components, fluids and electrical systems just as much as high mileage use.
Why Import This Car From Japan
Japan remains one of the best sources of well preserved older performance and luxury cars because of the country's strict shaken inspection regime, generally lower average mileages, and a culture of careful ownership and garaging. A Jaguar XJ-S V12 with 47,200 km on the clock, as offered here, would be very difficult to find in similar condition in most other markets, and buying through the Japanese auction system gives access to an independently inspected, transparently documented car with a detailed condition report, rather than relying on a private seller's description.
USA Import Information
This 1990 Jaguar XJ-S V12 is now old enough to qualify for import into the United States under the 25 year federal rule. Autoselecta can arrange shipment from Japan to the United States on behalf of the buyer. Prospective bidders should contact Autoselecta with their city or ZIP code before bidding so that a delivered quotation can be prepared in advance. Autoselecta can calculate the expected purchase cost, Japan side costs, shipping charges, customs related costs and any state specific delivery requirements, though buyers should note that additional charges beyond the initial quotation may apply depending on individual circumstances and location.
Ultimate Guide For Japanese Imports
Importing a car from Japan generally involves winning the vehicle at auction, arranging export preparation and deregistration in Japan, booking sea freight to the destination country, and then handling customs clearance, applicable duties and taxes, and any local registration or compliance requirements once the car arrives. Timescales and costs vary significantly by destination country and by vehicle type, particularly for cars entering the United States, Canada, the EU, Australia or New Zealand, each of which has its own age related rules and paperwork requirements. Working with an experienced import agent who understands both the Japanese auction system and the destination country's requirements removes much of the uncertainty from the process.
Why Import Through Autoselecta
Autoselecta provides direct access to Japan's major auction houses, including USS Tokyo where this car is listed, along with full auction sheet translation and transparency of the kind provided throughout this report. Our team assists with vehicle sourcing, bidding strategy, export preparation, international shipping and import support in the buyer's own country, including guidance through United States import requirements for eligible cars such as this one. Vehicle tracking is provided where available so buyers can follow their car's progress from Japan to their door, and our team remains available to answer questions throughout the process rather than leaving buyers to navigate shipping and customs alone.
Browse This Week's Japanese Auctions
This XJ-S V12 is one of many vehicles Autoselecta sources directly from Japanese auction houses each week. Buyers interested in Jaguar models, other classic British cars, or Japanese domestic market performance cars are welcome to browse the current week's listings on the Autoselecta website for further options across a range of budgets and specifications.
Live Auction Search
For buyers with a specific model, generation or specification in mind, Autoselecta's live auction search tool allows searching across upcoming Japanese auctions in real time, making it possible to track down particular chassis codes, grades or mileage ranges as they become available.
Auction Caution
Auction cars such as this Jaguar XJ-S V12 are inspected before sale, but they remain used vehicles being sold in as inspected condition, and the auction sheet is an independent condition guide rather than a mechanical warranty. Older performance and luxury cars in particular may require servicing, maintenance or refurbishment after purchase, even where a car presents well in photographs. On this specific lot, buyers should note the inspector's recorded points before bidding, including the dented and bent S housing (most likely a suspension or strut component, though not certain), air conditioning that does not currently cool, a dirty cabin with scuffs, scratches and a cracked panel, wheel scratches, an uneven same colour respray, underside rust and corrosion, and a missing spare tyre, alongside the dents and touched up scratches recorded across the bonnet, roof, doors and bumpers on the damage diagram. All bids must be submitted before 9PM UK time the evening before auction.
