xk8 choice

The XK8 brought the iconic sports title back to the Jaguar range of cars in 1996. It grew in stature through its life and the supercharged XK-R models are especially highly sought after. Can you afford one and what should you look for?

THE XK IS A CHERISHED MODEL NAME FOR JAGUAR SPORTS CARS, AND RAN FROM late-1948 until the E-Type was introduced in March 1961. It was hardly missed due to the overwhelming adulation shown to the replacement. Finally though in 1996, and after the XJ41 sports concept was scrapped by Ford and handed to Aston Martin for its DB7, the XK came back to life with the announcement of the XK8 Convertible and Coupé.

The model came with Jaguar’s first production V8 engine (it built prototypes for military use and also tried cutting four cylinders off its V12 - unsuccessfully), and that engine would continue in varying forms for many years for both the sports and saloon ranges. It would also be available in all of those models with a superbly supercharged variation.

The XK8 and R continued through until 2005 when it was replaced by the all-aluminium XK, but the great news for hopeful buyers of the original V8 model today is that it is very affordable and has few problems. In fact we asked owners how their XK8s and Rs performed, and without hesitation all loved their cars and intended to keep them indefinitely. That is always the best recommendation.