Members Car - Andy & Ruby Gates “Jazzy”, our Modern S-Type
I can remember the day I was struck by the Jaguar disease. It was 50 years ago and I was a mere 16 years old. Wealthy friends of my parents had bought matching “His and Hers” XJ6s. They were the best-looking things on wheels that I’d ever seen, and I swore to myself that one day I too would own a Jag! 46 more years passed before I made good on my oath, but the desire to be a Jaguar owner never diminished and would come up regularly in conversation with my patient and long-suffering wife, Ruby. Fast forward to 2016 and a single event brought the whole Jaguar thing to the front of my mind. Our best friends, Peter and Karen Kentish, bought a beautiful 1968 340. Dressed to kill in a gorgeous light blue paint job with shimmering wire wheels, and an exhaust soundtrack to stir the senses, it was love at first sight. They had their Jaguar… it was now time to find mine! And so began regular on-line searches for available Jaguars. Initially I was keen on getting an XJ6 and so focused my searches on those. However, one day I put some thought into how I might garage a Jaguar and discovered that an XJ would not fit into my garage. Disappointed but undeterred I broadened the search parameters. Then she appeared. A Modern S-Type was offered for sale at a Nailsworth dealership. Not any Modern S-Type, but a special one (to me at least).
She met all the basic criteria such as low kilometres, one previous owner, been garaged all her life, and reasonably priced. But she had two extra characteristics that thrilled me; she had a 4.0 litre Jaguar AJ V8 under the bonnet, and she was a 1991 model (X200) with the U-shaped centre console. So, she was an example of a rarish, very first model of the newly introduced Modern S-Types. A test drive had me swooning with delight at the ride and the effortless glide from the V8 engine. Money changed hands and “Jazzy” was off to her new home at Aldinga Beach.
And how has it all worked out? The answer is “brilliantly”. The previous owner was a perfectionist and the car was traded in perfect condition (he traded her in for an F-Pace). My mechanic put her on the hoist for a post purchase inspection and declared her to be perfect. Not a leak from anywhere, no rust, and everything as it should be. My only expenses have been services, new Yokohama tyres, and 98 RON (Research Octane Number) petrol. She drives superbly, is comfortable, has a brilliant sound system, and certainly turns heads. One of our great pleasures was using “Audrey” (Peter and Karen’s lovely 340) and our “Jazzy” as wedding cars for our daughter’s wedding. Another has been membership of the JDCSA enjoying like-minded comradeship, register runs, and of course, the magazine. I’m well aware that the Modern S-Type’s looks and styling tends to polarize opinions. It won’t surprise you to know that Ruby and I absolutely love how she looks. And we wouldn’t sell her or swap her for anything. Although I’ve since built a second, larger garage so there is room for another Jaguar; an XJ8 perhaps…!
Andy and Ruby Gates
The interior photo is useful because it shows the original U-shaped centre console, a feature that didn't survive the 1st update a couple of years later.
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Editor: Thank you Andy & Ruby. Lovely looking car and great story.
THE OFFICIAL MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE JAGUAR DRIVERS CLUB OF SA