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My XJ-SC Love Affair!

Model: XJ-SC Cabriolet

Engine: 5.3 litre V12

Transmission: Automatic

Exterior Colour: Sebring Red

Interior Colour: Biscuit Trim

Location: Carey Bay, Lake Macquarie, NSW

Owned by Ian Hissey since 1990

Album last updated: 15th January 2026 at 11:10

Introduction

My XJ-SC was originally bought by a company director in Sydney for his wife.
When I acquired it, the first modification was to fit rear seats..
As I am keen on motorsport, the next was a set of wheels and race tyres.
From there the modifications began to where the car is today, very modified for high perfomance cruising and exciting track days.
V12 6.4 ltr, mild cams, Wolf computer, coil packs, 1.5mm side gap plugs, 1½” twin headers, 2½” twin exhaust, twin electric water pumps, engine water header outlets, full flow aluminium radiator, twin electric fans, cool down cycle, fuel rails, multi spray injectors, high flow fuel pump, 60psi fuel pressure, 4L60E 4 speed manual sequential shift w/lockup, 0.78 overdrive unit, 4.55 diff, 350mm front brakes, 27mm front, 19mm rear sway bars, 245 x 40 x 18 front, 285 x 35 x 18 rear tyres

Being only 77, I am anticipating many more years of adventurous motoring with my wonderful XJ-SC.

XJ-SC Old Farts Tour to Lightning Ridge and Beyond

Description:

For the past 35 years, the cabrio and I have travelled over 200,000 klms on trips, circumnavigating Australia and many tours all over other parts of Australia.

As part of my XJ-S 50th Anniversary celebrations, we set off on another 3,000 Klm adventure on a route through NSW to look at nine painted art silos, opals in Lightning Ridge, cruise on a paddle steamer on the Darling River at Bourke, chocolate and liquorice factory at Junee, Animals on Bikes Sculptures at Molong and much much more along the way.

Let the adventure begin!

Date: 14/10/2025

Location: From Carey Bay to Lightning Ridge to Bourke to Junee to Carey Bay

Deliver a Gear in Time Sojourn

Location: Carey Bay to Wodonga to Junee to Temora to Carey Bay

XJ-SC Round Australia Odyssey 2001

Description:

Touring has been a love of mine since I first started driving (following many family trips) and together my XJ-SC and I have travelled over 200,000klms around and across Australia.

I'm also a keen motorsport competitor, so naturally we have spent many exciting laps together at a number of different race tracks around Australia.

Location: Around and across Australia

Tours to Jaguar National Rallies

Description:

Each year, a different state Jaguar Club holds the Jaguar National Rally, and we usually spend 3 - 5 weeks on a tour to and from the rally, covering many of Australia's vast network of back roads.

Gunnedah, NSW

Description:

This photo was taken in Gunnedah, NSW, on the homeward trip from a National Rally held in Brisbane, Queensland.

Location: Gunnedah, NSW

The Outback Silo

Description:

This photo was taken in Weetharlie, NSW, on the trip to the XJS Border Rally in Swan Hill Victoria, May 2022, where we also celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the XJ-SC.

Location: Weetharlie, NSW

Darwin to Alice Springs

Description:

In 2001, undertook a trip around Australia to join with the Darwin to Alice Springs XK120 Commemorative Run in Recognition of the 1951 Open World Record by Les Taylor (driver) and Rick Rendle (navigator).