1990 Jaguar (Daimler) Vanden Plas Majestic
SUPERB RUST-FREE CALIFORNIA CAR ON THE EAST COAST!
THE RAREST OF THE U.S. PRODUCTION XJ40 RANGE.
Please wait for all pictures to load! Enjoy!

First year for the US Vanden Plas Majestic - 108,161 original miles - 'AJ6' 4.0 Litre Straight Six
ZF Automatic Transmission with Electronic Sport Mode - ATE/Teves Anti-Lock Brakes
Troublesome Rear Self-Levelling Struts have long ago been removed! No sagging or bouncing!
Better Optioned and More Opulent than Any XJ6 Before or Until the Present Day!

Converted to earlier quad headlamps by a prior owner who preferred the look - I am one who sees these as being far more attractive than the generic-looking flat European lamps. Another advantage to this is one can fit Cibie or Hella H4/H1 lamps and have far better lighting than any stock US or Euro lamps.

One repaint some time ago in the original Regency Red Pearl Metallic, Original Diamond-Cut Majestic cross-spoke alloys powdercoated in Regency Red intact and straight (an NOS set of these rims sold immediately on eBay a week or two ago for $1,300!). Body extremely straight and rust-free.

New taillamps fitted not long ago, they last a few years before they start to fade, especially in California sunlight and heat. VdP and Majestic badges original and unique to these cars along with the fluted boot lid handle and radiator shell.

A shot of the car from the rear. Chrome bumper finishers front and rear are as new. Bumpers are unmarked. Slight fit problem at left rear corner (see above picture, it's tough to make out because it is so slight).

Bootlid struts hold the lid up well. Boot upholstery almost as new.

All lights work as they should including the rear fogs mounted in the bumper. Rear valance panels undented unlike many of these cars.

A shot of one of the unique rims to this model. All tires are relatively new premium all-season radials. No shake at 80mph - rims and tyres are well balanced. Note also Kleen Wheels to keep the brake dust off and out of the spokes, hence why these are really still in nice shape!

The interior is by far the best part of the Majestic. Seats are trimmed in Magnolia Connolly Autolux with deep red piping. I have just today reconditioned and cleaned all leather and leatherette throughout the interior with Gliptone. It remains supple and smooth with very few exceptions throughout the car. Note 8 way power seat controls and seat heater button.

One of the more unique parts of this car, the dashboard is absolutely like new. No cracks anywhere. I challenge you to find a rust-free California example of any XJ40 without at least one split in the dash pad, let alone a Vanden Plas, let alone a Majestic!

The right front doorpanel is without flaws. All wood throughout the car with very few slight exceptions is in far better than average condition. It's quite obvious that this car was largely garage-kept.

Rarer still, the driver doorpanel and armrest are literally flawless.

Originally, the Majestic would have had a Magnolia steering wheel to complement the rest of the interior. Either this was an early-production car which missed out (I have seem similar discrepancies from new on these cars) or someone desired a black leather wheel. It seems like a new replacement wheel since it is in flawless condition, the leather is without damage all the way around, it cleaned and conditioned to as-new.

Note that the motorized passive belts are not in the way of this and other pictures. The mechanisms were just replaced and are lifetime warrantied by Jaguar (how about that?!), but I find them annoying, so I pulled the fuses once they were in position and belt myself in. Your choice - I'll gladly refit the fuses for you if you like the "mouse belts". This was how Jaguar got around having an airbag on a 1990 model year car!

Engine running at idle. All instruments work, unlike so many XJ40s.

The driver's seat does not sag and is in reasonably good shape, there are a few dye rubs on the side bolster and along the seatback tucks. A Leatherique kit would fix all of these to as-new, the hides are hardly distressed and not torn through in any place, no reupholstery is required anywhere in this car.

Original Jaguar radio still works as it should, sounds great after all these years, really remarkable. The only complaint is that the display LCD is a bit dodgy but still readable. The climate control works well, not too sluggish as most are.

Looking in the left rear door, the rear seats are extremely inviting with their walnut picnic trays and double wine cooler compartments (one in the armrest and another in the 'box' beneath). A console tray separates the seats atop the driveshaft tunnel.

The right rear seat is also in fine condition. Note the gussetted map and magazine pockets in the front seatbacks.

Both rear doorpanels are in similar condition, nothing short of amazing for a 17 year old Jaguar.

Sorry for the high glare shot, best I could do to show you the original sag-free headliner and sunroof all in one.

And a shot from the outside. Note entirely new power antenna is up in this picture (I forgot to turn the radio on for earlier shots).

Brand new windshield, seal and induction venting. Not a speck of rust found when new glass was fitted.

1990 was the first year for the longer stroke AJ6 4.0 litre six cylinder engine, cranking out 223 bhp and 278 lb/ft of torque. The car still returns over 20mpg in mixed driving and can touch 25mpg out on the open road in comfort and style. Try that with one of the old XK engines or new V8s!

I just yesterday renewed the valve cover gasket along with the cam end plugs and spark plug hole gaskets. Someone had the valve cover off not long ago and instead of fitting the correct set did not get the cam plugs and siliconed them in place. The car was leaking copious amounts of oil out the back, since this engine makes over 50psi of oil pressure at almost all times. I changed the oil to Castrol GTX 20W50 and fitted a new filter just this morning.

In addition to the aforementioned work and parts replacements mentioned above, a recent major tuneup was performed with correct parts, exhaust manifold gaskets were done, both catalytic converters to pass CA smog (passed with flying colours!), A/C compressor, alternator, battery, both motor mounts and a rebuilt harmonic balancer pulley were fitted. Sometime farther back in the car's history, the troublesome rear self-levelling system was removed and converted to springs. As a result, the car runs and drives fabulously.

who am I/why am I selling?

I'm Chip Lamb, Vintage car parts specialist, professional pre-purchase inspector, classic and collector car auction journalist... etc. I had a couple of cars coming out from the west coast already for clients of mine when a friend in Southern CA indicated to me he had to let this car go due to an impending overseas move. Since my cost was minimal to get the car here and he was quite reasonable, I thought it would be nice to bring another tidy CA car back east to market - and pass along the savings to someone lucky enough to see this ad. I suppose it would be fun to own myself but I have too many cars as it is and have been saving space for a few cars I've had an eye out for for some time.

If a Majestic is something you've lusted after for a long time, I understand - I remember when they were brand new and am hyper-critical of such cars as the average. This is not a bad example of one after seventeen years. Most of these cars were ridden into the ground and few of the original distinctive Regency Red cars survive. There might be a few later cars in black... with integral cellphones in the armrests and the self-levelling system still intact, with dead original radios and other endemic deferred maintenance issues. I'm sure there's something waiting to go wrong with this car, it is, after all, a Jaguar... but you can fire her up and point her north, south or west and have fun doing it.

To the Buy it Now Purchaser - I happen to have a set of factory manuals and some other fun, rare XJ40 stuff which can go with the car ONLY if the Buy Price is used. A spare set of front ABS sensors, some Genuine Jaguar all-weather rubber ribbed floormats for the front and some other great stuff. I'm a past multiple Jaguar owner and I keep stuff around to go with cars like this when the buyer ends up being a friend (which happens often, see my feedback rating...)

payment/shipping terms

First time bidding to win on eBay? Lotsa negative feedbacks? Less than 10 overall feedbacks? Kindly let me know who you are and your intentions in advance of your bid.

Payment is due within 7 (seven) days of auction close. No exceptions unless cleared with me in advance. Accepted forms of payment for domestic bidders are bank cashier's cheque or cash on pickup. International bidders, you may pay by wire transfer but let's talk first before you bid to win.

Shipping must take place within 14 (fourteen) days of auction close. No exceptions unless cleared with me in advance. I will not make your arrangements for you but I am happy to assist you or your agent in any way possible. The car is in my large garage under lock and key during the auction and the post-sale period, but I don't want it making a home for itself (I might want it)

I am not averse to legitimate international bidders, wire transfers are happily accepted provided the above terms are met.

Finally - Fraudsters - don't even try it. I've hunted you down before and shut you down with the FBI. I have friends in low places. Don't even try messing with me.

To all - enjoy the auction - I enjoy putting rare and unusual cars such as this up for many to enjoy looking at - and hopefully one person to take home with him or her. So if you have...

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?
Contact me via e-mail or call 804-357-4926
(during reasonable EDT hours, please, if you call - e-mail is fine anytime!)