Lot 540: 1986 Jaguar XJ-SC V12 automatic at the Mathewsons December 2026 auction

What to check on any Jaguar XJ-SC Cabriolet V12

• Pre-1991 XJ-S bodies were not galvanised, and rust is the biggest threat.
• Start with the jacking points, which can hide serious corrosion, then the sills and closing plates, floorpans, the bottoms of the front wings where they meet the sills (the wings should sit flush), wing edges around the headlamps, doors, rear wheelarches, the lower front edge of the rear wings, the boot lid edge and the windscreen scuttle.
• Check the subframes and crossmembers too.
• Water that gets past the roof seals collects in the floor, so lift the carpets if you can and look for damp, rust at the seatbelt mountings and corroded wiring.
• Do not let anyone jack the car on the floorpans.
• On the XJ-SC specifically, examine the seals around both roof panels and the folding rear section, look for water staining on the headlining and trim, and check that the panels and their locking levers fit snugly.

Full Jaguar XJ-SC Cabriolet V12 buyer's guide →

Checks for this car

• Check the XJ-S rust points.
• Check the V12's cooling and service history.
• Check the cabriolet roof.