THE BIG CAT’S ROAR
The E-type for the 21st century is looking astonishing value at the moment
After a two-decade production run, even the most hardened, loyal Jaguar dealers accepted that a new grand touring coupé and convertible were needed. Jaguar’s answer to dealers and the market was the X100, badged as the XK8.
Available in both fixed- and drop-head form and powered by the 4.0-litre V8 engine, some of the car’s underpinnings came from its predecessor, clothed in an all-new body that hinted at the E-type, the rear view of the fixed-head in particular paying a very strong tribute to the earlier sporting Jaguar.
Two years later, the supercharged XKR was introduced and 2003 saw the original 4.0-litre engine replaced by a 4.2.
Many classic sales enjoy an XK8 presence and prices remain more favourable to buyers than sellers, unless it is a low-mileage, wellhistoried XKR. Early fixed-heads with little paperwork will struggle to make even £3000, but they will be likely to need attention to the body or – potentially more worring and possibly expensive – to the mechanicals.
‘The earliest XK8s are 22 years old now and with the very best XJ- S/ XJS cars becoming increasingly collectable, interest in their successor has increased,’ says H&H auction manager, Damian Jones.
‘The first generation XK8 is an undeniably handsome and capable GT. They can rot and early V8s suffered from premature bore wear, but a rigorously maintained, low mileage example should still be a delight. The standard model is perfectly adequate but the XKR is hard to resist and still feels genuinely quick today. The coupé and convertible both have their fans but the former is arguably the more cohesive design.’
Barons’ auctions manager, Tim Gascoigne, agrees: ‘The early XK8 is definitely a modern classic. The 4.0-litre cars are now at the bottom of their depreciation curve, and if you want to buy one of these choose carefully, but there are enough around to choose from, and £50006000 will buy a reasonable coupé.
‘Those looking for open-air motoring will have a greater choice; there were twice as many convertibles built as coupés. In 2003 Jaguar increased the engine size to 4.2 litres. These are much better cars, and if funds permit, then these are the ones to go for, but they will be quite a bit more expensive to buy.
‘There are so many around that it’s difficult to see any investment potential at the moment, so really they are cars to buy and enjoy. My choice would be an XKR coupé, which offers superb performance and handling.’