Just thought I would share some pics of my other car A rare 1973 series 1 XJ12 Long wheelbase model

 

Always love old Jags!

 

You sir have my total respect. That is a seriously cracking motor. The engine bay pics just show what a fantastic condition it is in.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.. I'm jealous !

Is it totally original ?

 

Was 73' a change over year ? my Jag book has the 5.3 as single cam and a series two

 

she is totaly original with 47000 miles.

The series 1 XJ12 was midd 72 to early 73 so there really isn't many still around and mine is the long wheelbase model so even rarer

 

Beg pardon.. should have read further !

And I quote..

"In spite of the decision to produce a single-cam version rather than the twin-cam, the V12 was still as tight fit in the XJ bodyshell. With the machinations of the Leyland poiltics beginning to affect Jaguar, the introduction of the XJ12 was somewhat delayed and it was not until 1972, some four years after the XJ6 launch, that it was finally unleashed.
The praise was even more lavish than it had been in 1968. The XJ12 was considered a serious contender for the title, 'Best car in the World', and was voted 'Car of the Year'.
Just as it had been unheard of to bring the complexity of a twin camshaft engine within the realms of the man in the street - such a configuration had been reserved for racing engines in the late pre-war and early post-war days - so the sophisiticatied V12 configuration had been the province of racing cars and low-volume, Italian exotica. Jaguar had once more brought the height of sophistication to relatively large-scale production. There was arguably nothing to compare with the XJ12's quiet, silky smooth, effortless power. "
(Jaguar - History of a classic marque - Philip Porter, Quintet Publishing 1990)

 

If I ever get up your way can I come up to see her ?

My dad was a Jag lover, he always lameted changing from his 420G, OR his daimler double six (mark one), and so have I even though I can't remember the first !

 

Must've languished unwanted for a while during the oil crisis too; M was Aug '73 to July '74.

Unusual colour, too.

Very cool car.

 

I miss balancing twin SU's !, though have only tried on straight sixes !

 

there was a four cam Jaguar V12 engine sold recently on ebay for £17,000 (requireing a rebuild) that will be finding its way into an XJ13 replica. shame the four cam never went into production although one was fitted into a MK10 (i think) for testing but nobody was allowed to lift the bonnet.


few yeas back i worked on the one remaining XJ6 prototype. i work on old Jags for a living