Car names can sometimes be a little confusing. Some of them just blur together, such as the Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ from the recent past. If Jaguar‘s XJ-S leaves you scratching your head, don’t feel bad because it is a little tricky. The successor to the E-Type started life as the XJ-S but, later in its 20-plus-year run between the mid-1970s and mid-1990s, it was renamed XJS. So what about this 1993 Jaguar XJR-S? It sure looks like an XJS, but wasn’t the XJR Jaguar’s performance sedan? Yes, it was, but this is an XJS with racier looks and more power, so just forget about the lettering and pay attention to the cool stuff coming up. You can find this XJR-S listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in St. Louis.
Over its seemingly eternal single generation, the XJ-S/XJS was available with straight-6 and V-12 power. But in 1988, Jaguar turned to JaguarSport, the same affiliate company that went on to manufacture the XJ220 hypercar, to make the GT car into more of a performance machine. Using the knowledge gained from its European Touring Car Championship victories, JaguarSport started with an XJ-S powered by the 5.3-liter V-12, added a body kit (and a spoiler), upgraded the suspension, and tuned the steering for better feel and feedback, among other changes.
Jaguar didn’t import the XJR-S into the United States until the 1993 model year: 50 coupes and 50 convertibles. The upside to that delay was that by then, the XJR-S had been visually updated inside and out (luckily, the coupe still had its distinctive flying buttresses). More importantly, it had a larger 6.0-liter V-12 with a digital engine management system. That big metal heart thumped out 318 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 339 lb-ft of torque at 3,750 rpm. What was that paired with? A good old-fashioned TH400 three-speed automatic and a 2.88:1 rear end.
That bundle of mods would look nice in any color, but they’re especially attractive wrapped in the Signal Red you see here. Despite the head-turning hue, this car manages to strike a balance between low-key and loud. Yes, it’s bright red with a spoiler and quad exhaust outlets, but the black front-end trim, slender profile, and modest slotted wheels temper those flourishes. You could drive this car and feel cool without worrying about appearing desperate for attention. But keep in mind that Jaguar fans will know what this car is and follow it with their eyes — and cameras.
Whoever owned this car in the past must’ve known how special it was because they only drove it 42,128 miles. That stinks for them, but it’s great news for you because the Connolly Autolux leather seats are in great shape, as is the glossy walnut wood trim, black dash, and beige carpeting.
This 1993 Jaguar XJR-S may have a puzzling name, but it is clearly a special, high-performance 2+2. You can make it yours for $49,900.
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