This Signal Red XJS is the last convertible and the last but one XJS to be built. Together with the last of all XJS cars, a 6 litre coupe, the car was gifted to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust.

Introduced in September 1975 with the 5.3 litre V12 engine, the XJS was at that time the most expensive production car Jaguar had ever produced at £8,900. Intended as a prestige Grand Touring coupé, the XJS nevertheless had sports car performance with a top speed close to 150 mph (240 km/h), and with comfort and refinement to match.

Its unconventional styling and lack of traditional wood veneer caused some concerns initially. However, over the years the XJS grew in reputation, and eventually became the most successful sporting car that Jaguar had ever produced. The model enjoyed success in competition, particularly with the TWR team of XJS cars which was first entered in the European Touring Car Group A championship in 1982. In 1984 Tom Walkinshaw won this championship, and won the Spa 24-hour race with co-driver Win Percy.

From 1983, the new AJ6 3.6 litre six-cylinder engine became available in the new cabriolet soft-top version. In 1988, the cabriolet was replaced by the convertible with a fully folding top. The XJS range went through a major restyling in 1991, and was now fitted with a 6 litre version of the V12 engine, while the six-cylinder model was fitted with the 4 litre AJ16 engine. A 4 litre convertible followed in 1992, and the two-plus-two version of this appeared in 1993. In 1995, the six-cylinder cars were designated as the ‘Celebration’ models, to mark the run-out of XJS production. An estimated 4,000 ‘Celebration’ models were made during the next twelve months.

The XJS was in production for twenty-one years during which time a total of 115,413 were made. Production came to an end in April 1996 prior to the introduction of the new XK8 sports car. By that time the list price of the XJS 4.0 litre convertible ‘Celebration’ model was £45,950.