Pick of the Day: 2002 Jaguar XK8 Convertible

Part of being a car enthusiast is daydreaming and online window-shopping. You end up looking at a variety of vehicles and picturing how you’d update them and where you’d go in them. Over the past several years, I’ve pulled up a lot of listings for first-generation Jaguar XK8s. Most of them were green or blue or some shade of red. One color I’ve rarely seen on the XK8s that have fueled my automotive fantasies? White. That’s what made our Pick of the Day, a 2002 Jaguar XK8 convertible listed by a Florida dealership on ClassicCars.com, even more attractive than it already was.

The 1990s were a period of significant changes for British car brands. In 1998, Volkswagen purchased Bentley and BMW acquired Rolls-Royce. Ford gave two of the British marques under its ownership significant engines: Aston Martin received its first V12 and Jaguar got its first V8, which it introduced to its lineup with the XK8 coupe and convertible. Their curves look great in almost any color, but white has a unique appeal to it. Maybe that’s why this originally Topaz Metallic XK8 was repainted White Onyx. So yes, white may not be original to this car, but that neutral purity makes it more exotic and really sets this Jag apart. White also gives the luxury convertible a certain visual elegance and looks great under the tan power-retractable soft top.

The 2+2 interior has a complementary color combination of Oatmeal leather seats and muted colors for the door panels and dashboard, all warmed up with glossy wood accents around the power window controls and on the steering wheel, dashboard, center console, and shift knob for the five-speed automatic. Like any proper Jag drop-top, this one comes equipped with several conveniences, including power mirrors and locks, automatic climate control, heated front seats, and an AM/FM/cassette radio with a trunk-mounted CD changer.

If the body, cabin, and 4.0-liter V8 look unusually fresh, there’s a reason for that. Make that 44,766 reasons – that’s how many miles have been put on this big cat in 22 years. There are plenty more sunset cruises, road trips, and drives to the beach to take this on. Given its color, this XK8 would also be great as the car to drive away in after you get married. If you want to have this British convertible for better or for worse, you can show your devotion by paying the $13,900 asking price.