2003 Jaguar XK8 Convertible

Highlights

• Later model with desirable 4.2-litre V8
• 6-speed ZF automatic
• Unmodified, factory specification
• MOT to October 2024
• Perfect rolling project car for the summer

Overview

There’s not much that gets our attention quicker than a big, V8-powered convertible. Wafting along, eight cylinders burbling away as the sun flickers through the trees seems to us to be the idea way to pass time. Of course, the downside of big, V8-powered convertibles is that they typically require the pawning of organs to put one on your driveway.

Thank goodness then for the XK8. Affordable, with wide parts availability, it’s the perfect way to enjoy wind-in-the-hair V8 motoring, and you get to say you drive a “Jaaaag”. It was a bit of an era-defining machine for Jaguar, as the company started to produce some truly advanced and accomplished machinery. And now it’s beginning to gain the attention and appreciation it always deserved, but perhaps didn’t initially get

Here we have a nicely specified cabriolet, presented in its original factory specification and having been little used over the last few years. With MOT to October, it would make for a brilliant rolling summer project. If you’ve always fancied parking a big cat on the driveway – and let’s face it, who hasn’t – then this could be just the ticket.

History and documentation

• First registered on 23rd April 2003
• 2002 model revision (4.2 V8)
• The current keeper inherited the car from a step-parent last year
• Current MOT to October 2024
• Only about 10,000 miles covered in the last 10 years
• 116,483 miles on the clock

Interior

• Handsome black leather upholstery, with light wear for the age
• Electrically operated front seats, with a little sagging to the squab of the driver’s seat
• Air conditioning
• Electric windows and side mirrors
• Black carpeting with complementary over mats
• Traditional wood veneer dashboard fascia, centre console and steering wheel – all presenting in good order, with no obvious cracking or warping
• Removable wind deflector – perfect for long journeys or motorway speeds
• The boot appears to be in good order, finished with dark grey carpet and with a large cargo net in place
• Original Jaguar radio/cassette system with boot-mounted CD changer
• Generally, the interior appears to be in reasonably good condition, but would benefit from a deep valet
• All of the switchgear and internal trim appears to be present and correct, with no obvious damage we could see
• The vendor doesn’t report any faults or issues with the car’s features

Exterior

• Subtle silver paintwork nicely complements the smooth, curvaceous bodywork for a classical, streamlined aesthetic
• The paintwork looks to be in fairly good order, with some minor scuffs, chips and marks from use, but nothing significant that we could discern
• The electrically operated, black fabric roof looks taut and undamaged, but would benefit from a deep clean
• In general, the bodywork looks straight and clean, with no notable damage
• We did note some bubbling around the rear arches and some corrosion to the sills and to the underside generally
• As far as we could tell, the external trim, badging, glass elements and light lenses are in fine fettle, with nothing missing or damaged
• Rear parking sensors
• 18-inch, seven-spoke alloy wheels, which wear a few marks and scuffs but appear to be in decent condition
• The wheels are shod in a matched set of Avon tyres, which appear to have good tread levels and no sidewall damage we could identify

Mechanical

• 4,196cc naturally aspirated V8, driving the rear wheels
• Factory rated at 300hp and 310lb-ft, with a 155mph limited top speed
• Automatic ZF six-speed transmission
• Cruise control
• Power steering and anti-lock braking system
• Fully independent wishbone suspension all round
• Aftermarket Powerflow exhaust system
• The vendor tells us that the car starts, idles and drives very well and smoothly, with no faults or issues reported

Summary

Obviously, the first-generation XK8 is a very pretty car, some would argue even more so as a convertible. As a later model with that lovely, burbly 4.2-litre V8 it also has plenty of power to back up those svelte looks.

If you’re after a handsome and capable grand tourer, and you’re not afraid of putting a little work in to bring it back to perfect condition, then you should definitely consider this. It could be a quite wonderful project for the summer.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Cardiff, South Wales.