Pick of the Day: 1994 Jaguar XJS convertible, a value-packed V12 GT

There is something seductive about a sports or GT car powered by a V12 engine. Whether it is the sound of the engine starting, its seamless power, or freeness to rev, a V12 engine is something extra special. But V12-powered collector cars do have a serious downside: they are usually quite expensive.

Happily, there are a few V12-powered GTs that are not only affordable but available at what I would call a steal, and no car represents that better than the Jaguar XJS.

The Pick of the Day is a 1994 Jaguar XJS V12 convertible. This was the end-of-the-run model year and features the much upgraded 6.0-liter V12 engine, a sorely needed GM 4L80 4-speed automatic transmission, and every other improvement that Jaguar put into these final XJS cars.

Thinking of this the same as the earlier XJS cars is a huge mistake as Jaguar heavily changed them, even revising the floor pans of the cars. They also did away with the painful-to-service inboard rear disk brakes, and added a modern fuel injection and engine management system, making them the best XJS models the company ever built.

This XJS is being advertised on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Dallas, who describes it as having covered only 62,000 miles and in mint condition in every way.  The Jaguar is finished in its original Bordeaux Red paint with a tan leather interior.  

These are exceptional GT cars, and the convertible top is so well-engineered that you would think you were in a coupe when it is closed.

The asking price for this stunning XJS is a reasonable $23,000, and if you know of a better value in a V12 convertible GT, please let us know as we cannot think of one.

To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.