On this page: Builder's PlateEngine NumbersGearbox NumbersBody NumbersErrorsComments
A brief overview of the Jaguar XJ-S Car Numbering by Geoffrey Green, author of a forthcoming book about the model.
The Builder's Plate
Jaguar continued their unusual numbering sequence with the XJ-S. Eventually the European Union and United States governments brought standardization to all cars from 1978 on. The large numerical part of the alpha-numeric VIN is the serial number. The serial number is sequential from RHD 1001 to 5000 and LHD 50001 to 55915 when EURO and US government regulations required a six digit number and the sequence was started again at 100001 for both RHD and LHD. Just when you thought the serial numbers would always be in order…the series ended at 199999 with a break, again beginning at 221001 until the last at 226645. Another mix up of serial numbers occurs when XJSs are modified to cabriolets before 1989 or used for testing and evaluation then placed in the assembly line and built to the current model specifications. To add more confusion, all California, US cars sold in 1990 and 1991 are marked as 1990 models no matter they may have been produced in 1991.
Early XJ-S builder's plate
The builders plate is riveted to the inner fender near the cross brace mounting pad. This is for early cars only. Then a similar plate continued for UK/EURO.
The VIN can also be found stamped into the fender cross brace mounting.
Left: VIN stamped into mount; Right: Door sticker
The VIN number can be found on the builders plate mounted on the inner fender under the bonnet (hood) until 1978 when the info was moved to the windshield tag and door sticker for North America. Many parts of the world have a VIN tag behind the windshield at the "A" post. Also, in many parts of the world the info sticker on the drivers "B" post has the VIN. After 1978 UK/EURO cars retained a builders plate under the bonnet.
Windshield tags
And the VIN stamping was moved to the flat top center of the firewall for all cars. The car number/VIN is always found on the first cars stamped into the metal at the fender cross brace mount and later moved to the top center of the firewall. These stamped numbers may vary with a slight change in the coding as this is the factory ID number and it's used as the UK, and other locations, VIN. Other countries may use a slightly different alpha code on tags and stickers from the stamped one on the firewall.
There were also prefixes assigned to the 1975, 1976, 1977 and the first half of 1978 model years of 2W and in the United States (at least) of "UF", "UG", "UH" or "UJ" respectively. Some locals may add additional numbers and/or letters.
A suffix for the automatic cars was used with "BW" designating Borg Warner auto gearbox and in true Jaguar fashion this suffix was continued on after the change to Turbo Hydramatic transmissions and eventually dropped some months later.
In 1981 all prefix code related to various model identifiers, i.e. transmission type, RHD vs LHD, engine size, etc. The suffix has never returned.
Hi beautiful! Want to see my V12… Ouch that hurt!
The engine number for the V12 is at the rear top center by the joint with the transmission and the inline six cylinder is by the distributor.
Inline 6 engine number
Gearbox Numbers
The gearbox number is located for Borg Warner and Turbo Hydramatics on a plate mounted to the side of the transmission and for the six cylinder auto ZF stamped on a plate behind the shift cable mount. The early V12 manuals used the Jaguar XKE box which has the number stamped on the cover plate.
Left: 3 speed Borg Warner; Right: 4 speed Jaguar manual
Left: 3 speed Turbo 400; Right: 4 speed Turbo
4 speed ZF auto
Body Numbers
The body number is behind the rear bumper inboard of the mounting strut on a small metal tag riveted to the car. It's easy to make a paper rubbing of the raised alpha-numeric characters rather than take a photo. New '95 and '96 cars require loosening of the lower portion of the bumper cover to access the tag, which really means removal of the bumper cover.
Left: body tag as seen from under car; Right: body tag with chrome bumper removed
Body tag exposed with complete bumper removal
So Why do I Get an Error?
Most entry errors on XJS cars in this database are because of too many or too few digits in the VIN number. In addition, there may be legitimate letter codes for certain positions that we don't have in our decoder. If you encounter this, please drop us a line and we'll change the decoder to accomodate for them.
You may leave a comment or question about this article:
2007-07-21 10:13:03 | Geoffrey Green writes:
Wonderful site Roger! This should make it easier for the owner to add those hard to find numbers. And clear up the different types of VINs. Thanks for your hard work!
2008-01-21 15:17:59 | Rodney J Butterfield writes:
You may be interested to record my ownership of a very early XJS prototype ( pre-production chassis) which has the VIN # 2W 50006 BW. I believe it will be the oldest surviving XJS as many of it's peers were destruction tested, or otherwise never escaped from the factory. I look forward to learning more about the history of my car if you have any information. Great to see a competent effort at registering all the XJs's. Thanks for your hard work.
Regards, Rodney
2008-03-13 02:47:22 | Edward Bowe writes:
A US enthusiast shared this site with me this month at the Wheels of Britian-2008 show organized by British Auto Enthusiats, a compendium of different British makes in a great presentation at Heritage Square in Phoenix, AZ. I had four cars, and parted one, so I will make every effort to revisit the site and add the other three, including the parted car which was badly rusted under a very presentable exterior.
2009-06-10 06:46:23 | Brett writes:
I'm very intrigued in the protoype XJS that Rodney has. With that VIN it is indeed very early in the production run. Have you researched its production date and its use? It's likely that it was a test or press vehicle. Let me know if you can please.