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Jaguar XJ-S and XJS (all variants 1975 to 1996)
1. Jaguar XJ-S and XJS Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)
September 1975 – May 1978: Chassis Numbers
| Chassis number: | 2W 1001 | onwards (rhd) |
| 2W 5001 | (plus one extra digit) onwards (lhd) | |
| BW (or WB) | automatic transmission (sometimes missing altogether!) | |
| USA cars were prefixed: | UF | 1975 |
| UG | 1976 | |
| UH | 1977 | |
| UJ | 1978 |
The last right hand drive XJ-S numbered in this way was: 2W5000BW
The last left hand drive XJ-S numbered in this way was: UJ2W55915BW
May 1978: Introducing the V.I.N.
Vehicle manufacturers were now required to follow a set criteria for numbering vehicles, referred to as a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Please note: The 14 characters used by Jaguar (between May 1978 and 1981) are numbers 4 to 17 in the linked page “How to read a Jaguar XJ-S or XJS Primary (Secondary) VIN”referred to below.
1981:
A further 3 character prefix was added, giving a total of 17 characters, which remained in use until the end of XJS production, and beyond. This is the primary XJ-S (or XJS) VIN, and is found on any XJ-S (XJS) regardless of market.
Character Meanings:
1. Country of Manufacture
2. Vehicle Manufacturer
3. Marque
NB: The above 3 letter prefix was added to all Jaguar and Daimler cars from 1981.Some sources state that the first 3 characters, together, denote the "world manufacturer identification code" SAJ for Jaguar Cars Ltd, Coventry, and that these do not break down individually. Other sources break the 3 digits down as displayed here, hence the repetition of "Marque"
4. Marque
5. Model
6. Market
7. Body
8. Engine
9. Transmission and Drive
10. Series
11. Emission Equipment
12-17. Sequential production number - unique to each car and allocated in production order, regardless of specification etc
Exceptions to the rule:
USA and Canadian Market XJ-S’s were also issued with a second, or secondary, 17 character VIN (stamped on the windscreen VIN plate) Although allocated long before 1998, it is more akin to the modern VIN’s dating from then, and is made up as follows:
1. Country of Manufacture
2. Vehicle Manufacturer
3. Marque
The above 3 letter prefix was added to all Jaguar and Daimler cars from 1981.Some sources state that the first 3 characters, together, denote the "world manufacturer identification code" SAJ for Jaguar Cars Ltd, Coventry, and that these do not break down individually. Other sources break the 3 digits down as displayed here, hence the repetition of "Marque"
4. Model
5. Market
6. Body
7. Engine
8. Transmission and Drive
9. Check Digit*
10. Model Year
11. Manufacturing Plant
12-17. Sequential production number - unique to each car and allocated in production order, regardless of specification etc
*Check Digit - Explanation and Calculation
Many thanks to Anders Ditlev-Clausager (Jaguar Heritage Chief Archivist) and Paul Sinnott (JEC XJ-S Forum) for their help with compiling this information.
2. How to read a Jaguar XJ-S or XJS Primary VIN
How to read a primary Jaguar XJ-S Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
3. How to read a Jaguar XJ-S or XJS Secondary VIN
How to read a secondary Jaguar XJ-S Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
4. Model Specific Information: Jaguar XJ-S Cabriolet
5. Jaguar XJ-S Restoration Guides
6. Project XJ-S Express
by Letitia Mace
H117 GKF
XJ-S 5.3 V12 HE Coupe 1991 Auto Regency Red with Saville grey hide
Back in June 2004, still heady from just having purchased our second Jaguar, and thoroughly besotted with the
marque, I was walking past the entrance to a local garage, with my children in tow, when I spotted an XJ-S.
"Why do we always have to come this way?" one of them said.
"Well, you never know what you might see!" I replied.
"Oh look – there's an XJ-S!
You see, it was well worth coming this way……………OH! It's a V12!"
As we came round to the other entrance to the garage, and the front of the XJ-S, we saw that the bonnet was up and
a man was standing beside it -
"………and that's the owner!" I added!
It was indisputable, as he had overheard us and the huge grin on his face spelt pride of ownership, and it was
obvious that he was no garage mechanic working on somebody else's car! Strangely, I never forgot that incident
and it seems rather poignant now, and still brings tears to my eyes and the reminder that the age old advice to
grab every moment while you can, is good advice!
A few months later, and our Jaguar went into the bodyshop next door to this garage for some remedial work. At the back of this workshop was the same XJ-S, now hardly recognisable and being stripped in preparation for a bare metal respray. Now I had even more reason to regularly walk through this alley, to keep a check on the progress of the XJ-S. South Molton is not a Mecca for Jaguars, you understand, so this is about as exciting as it gets! Eventually, the XJ-S left the workshop and we then came across it quite by accident, on a visit to the local hospital (pardon the pun!). Parked in the road opposite the hospital, we soon discovered that this was where the XJ-S lived! A short time later, a disabled parking bay was neatly painted in that part of the road where the XJ-S habitually stood. We speculated that in order to get the dimensions to fit so perfectly, they must have painted round said XJ-S while it was in situ! Visits to the hospital for unsavoury things like blood tests now took on a new dimension and became a chance to see the XJ-S. Whenever possible, I would park our XJ nose to nose with the XJ-S so that they could talk together (it's ok, my Dr. knows about this!) and despite having a good long look at this 1991 coupe, while waiting for my husband each time he visited the hospital, I never again met its owner. When the XJ-S wasn't in its parking bay, I would park our XJ in its special space, since my husband holds a blue badge.
It seemed a while since we had seen the XJ-S in its parking bay but we assumed that our visits to the hospital had coincided with its owner's decision to go out in it – we had seen them out on the road from time to time so thought nothing of it. Then one day, completely out of the blue, came a phone call from an elderly gentleman. He explained that his son had recently passed away, and had owned an XJ-S which he himself had no use or funds for, and the local garage had suggested that we may be interested in buying it. My husband explained that we could not afford to buy the XJ-S, but to help him in his plight, suggested that we may be able to find a buyer. When my husband told me about the call, I was so excited about the prospect of having an XJ-S, even on a short term basis. Then I remembered that my good fortune was the result of someone else's severe misfortune, and it brought me sharply back to reality. It was all a mystery at the time, as the only information that this man had on his late son's XJ-S, was that it was a V12 and it was somewhere in a South Molton garage, where it had been left before his son had been taken ill, as the windscreen wipers had stopped working! It was another two weeks before we were able to ascertain the whereabouts of the XJ-S, and we realised that this was the XJ-S we had seen regularly outside the hospital – the same XJ-S which had shared the local bodyshop with one of our own Jaguars……….and it was then that I remembered the incident in June 2004, and the first time I had ever seen H117 GKF! Never, at any time did I ever imagine that this beautiful XJ-S V12 would end up on our driveway and in our care!
We were just settling into S-type ownership and I was learning to love LDN's "cuddly" curves, when this sleek equivalent of a female super-model came along and stole all the attention! LDN (bless her!) compliantly moved out of her carport so that her unfortunate guest could enjoy the best bedroom during her short stay. Eventually though, we found that we could almost squeeze GKF into our rather short garage with just her nose sticking out of the end – pillows on her bonnet, and the door tied down to eyes drilled into the floor, specially for her benefit!
She had been "laid-up" for 6 months and her appearance suggested that "abandoned in a field" was nearer the truth – shame on the garage to whom her welfare was left after the death of her late owner! We collected her, brought her home, and swiftly took some photo's of her general appearance on arrival, before beginning a thorough clean-up. As she stood dejectedly on our driveway covered in an accumulation of six months muck and rotting debris, I suddenly burst into tears, as I remembered that the last time I had seen this XJ-S she had been faultlessly immaculate – she was her late owners pride and joy. In fact, I later found out that this is what he actually called her - "PRIDE 'N' JOY". In my mind's eye, I saw him standing next to her in the garage three years previously, grinning with pride. If he was looking down upon her now, it would be breaking his heart to see her in such a neglected state! I vowed then, that I would do all that I could to bring her back to the condition she was previously in, and find someone who would appreciate her and maintain her to the same high standard. While GKF was with us, we considered her our own Jaguar, and treated her to the same high quality cleaning products that we would use on our own Jaguars. We spent many happy hours cleaning and polishing, until we were satisfied that her appearance would meet with her late owner's approval.
GKF is the second XJ-S which we have sold on behalf of someone else – I didn't even get to drive the other one, as it was not roadworthy and was sold for restoration. I didn't think I was going to get the chance to drive GKF either, so it was such a thrill when Nigel pulled into a carpark so that I could swap Jaguars! The seat was a long way down after the S-type! Then I couldn't find the seat controls – till I realized it must be manual – duh !!! I'm not yet familiar with fly off handbrakes, but fortunately Nigel had left this one off. The autobox was also unfamiliar to me and I had to shout out of the window for instructions – it wouldn't budge and there was no button to engage and I had no idea that it had to be moved slightly to the right – like reversing the action of a J-gate. I do wish this box had a J-gate, as I think it is much more aesthetically pleasing. Nigel had warned me that this was a fiery car and would take off as soon as I put my foot down – as if it were something I am unused to! In the event I drove her in my usual style and found that she behaved as do ALL the high performance cars I've driven to date. That is, if you want to be slow and sedate, she will co-operate fully, cornering gently and smoothly and gaining speed slowly but effortlessly if that is what is required BUT if a sudden high speed spurt is what you want, you'll get it delivered promptly and smoothly with decisive cornering and brakes which will bring you back to a standstill as swiftly as you took off! I find this type of car much safer and more pleasurable to drive because the performance is there when you want it – not 5 minutes later, when it's too late – BUT you are under no obligation to use it, as the engine will amble happily along in the interim. Nigel was also convinced that I would find the bonnet too long because of my short stature! I actually found the XJ-S much easier to manoeuvre than the S-type because of its low waistline! Personally, I didn't think the length of the bonnet would be a problem until Nigel started to make me feel paranoid about it BUT I did have some grave doubts about those buttresses and rear visibility! As it turned out, I actually found that the view through the back of an XJ-S is amazing – much better than the XK8 or XK! This Jaguar was wonderful to drive, it felt light and nimble after the S-type and I couldn't fault it. The XJ-S has won another fan!
GKF also put to the test another theory: Nigel would not cope with getting in and out of an XJ-S on a regular basis! As we already knew, the roof line and the seats are too low. Parking the XJ-S next to the S-type in our driveway, showed exactly how much lower the roofline, waistline and seats are! The S-type positively dwarfed the XJ-S and another astonishing fact we learnt, is that an XJ-S takes up no more floor space than an X-type (a prospective buyer measured them both!) and yet the XJ-S's sleek, low profile makes it look as long as an XJ !!! Despite the enormously wide doors on the XJ-S, Nigel struggled to get in and out of the car and even managed to take a large chunk out of the top of his head on the doorframe one day, further substantiating the purchase of our sensible S-type. At the time, I showed no sympathy, and said GKF had bitten him because he wouldn't let me keep her!!!
Going back through GKF's documents, and collating all the available information, I realised that the first time I had seen GKF in the garage, with her owner proudly standing beside her, she was newly purchased by Mike Smith of South Molton. At that time, she appeared a perfectly respectable XJ-S, but between then and the time of his death, Mike had provided GKF with a complete bare-metal respray (as we were aware), new seats (which were then re-Connollised), a new walnut steering wheel, new boot carpets and her original Lattice alloys had recently been refurbished. Besides all this, he had an inspection done by a Jaguar specialist, reporting on any necessary mechanical or electrical work which needed doing, and at the time of his death he was methodically working his way through this list. She was almost complete! Her only obvious faults, a slight oil leak from the front of the engine, a cracked walnut ski-slope and those recently failed windscreen wipers! We considered it unwise to attempt any remedial work at this stage. We felt that it would be better to confirm to a prospective purchaser that everything else was still in good working order at the time, then check all her levels etc and make her ready to drive away.
Mike had done all the same things as I do with my own Jaguars, collecting as much information on their history as he could, except that in Mike's case he was taken from us before he had time to collate and file the information. This I have now done, while GKF was in our care. She has her original wallet and paperwork; a sizeable history file with complete and thorough service history; all previous MOT's, plus letters to Mike from previous owners. Invoices include one for complete Waxoyling by "Before 'n' After" and various other interesting documents. Originally owned by "Jaguar House" Liverpool (now Hatfields), we assume she was a demonstrator for 6 months before being sold on.
One of my regrets is that I never had the opportunity to meet Mike properly, as I could then have offered to put together GKF's history file for his enjoyment, instead of doing it for the sale of his treasured XJ-S after his death. It is difficult to walk through South Molton now, without thinking about GKF and Mike. I come across places where I have seen her formerly parked and feel saddened by the circumstances which surround her. It is odd because all eight of our own Jaguars have been parked in similar places, and now been sold away from the area, and yet I can remember where they have formerly stood and not be affected by it, as they left us under happier circumstances!
To Mike and GKF I feel I owe so much, as not only was she the first XJ-S I have driven, but also the first Jaguar V12! There were times when I thought I would never drive either, but it was well worth the wait, and I am only sorry that the opportunity arose out of such tragic circumstances! Were it possible, I would rather GKF was still in her parking space by the hospital, where we regularly visited her! GKF has introduced me to so many new people, from a retired Coombs panel beater , to club members, such as Paul Sinnott of the JEC XJ-S Forum, dealers, and all manner of XJ-S drivers who I would never have ventured to speak to had it not been for GKF. I would like to thank them all for their kind help, and although I could have registered GKF with the forum, I felt that the pleasure should fall upon the new owner, rather than myself. I have learnt that I am far better suited to an XJ-S than I had realised, as GKF is the first Jaguar I have been able to clean the roof of without standing on something! And finally, if you think you don't like the XJ-S, try borrowing a V12 for a month, and then see how willing you are to part with it!
After a couple of false starts, we eventually found GKF a wonderful home with a young stockbroker from London, who already owns a 2001 XKR. (Who says Jaguar's are old men's cars? Pah!!!) He is absolutely thrilled with her, and is taking the responsibility of caring for GKF very seriously, and has also been persuaded, that with 2 Jaguars to his name, it is about time he joined JEC !!!
"GKF was a car full of coincidences" was how one specialist who previously worked on her had put it. Apart from her recent history involving us, she had been at Gatwick Jaguar on the same day as an X300 (N7 RTL) we later owned! "Sentimental trivia" as her newest owner refers to it, and then points out that her registration number is similar to that of his XKR, and that both Jaguars originated from Hatfields of Liverpool! He also picked her up from J27 of the M5, where once she collected a speeding fine! OK, its nonsense, but it makes you feel as though you know the car, or that it was meant to be with you at some time, and made parting with her all the more difficult!
Whatever you may call these phenomena, GKF is undeniably intoxicatingly gorgeous, charismatic and a worthy memorial to her late owner, Mike Smith. I am certain that Mike would have approved of Tom, GKF's new owner, and as long as she is still with us, a part of Mike lives on to remind us of his work and ambitions.