1977 Jaguar XJ12 Coupe

The Coupé incarnation of Jaguar's ground-breaking XJ saloon didn't peek from showrooms until 1975 although it had been announced publicly rather earlier, back at the 1973 London Show. Its original design dated from even earlier still as it was developed alongside the original Series 1 XJ back in the late 60s and in fact the company even issued project numbers for the Series 1 Coupés- XJ33 for the six-cylinder and XJ34 for the V12- although they were destined never to be produced. Instead, the car was launched in Series 2 form known as XJ35 and XJ36 respectively. However, a combination of Sir William Lyon's frequent tweaking of the design and engineering 'issues' with the roof panel and side windows, meant that it was early 1975 before the first XJ-Cs would glide stylishly out of Jaguar Showrooms.

The Coupé was based on the short wheelbase version of the XJ and offered in 4.2 and 5.3 engine sizes from Jaguar known as either the 'Sovereign' or the 'Double Six' from Daimler. In 1977 just 329 Jaguar XJ12 5.3 Coupés were built by the factory making this particular car a very rare production model. In fact, only 1,200 were ever made by the factory in total.

The car has had just three fastidious owners from new and covered 42,300 miles, corroborated by the old MOTs which are in the history file along with its fresh MOT, a full service history, and a photographic record of the car's restoration in 1990. Judging by the results, this restoration process must have been painstaking and prolonged, and there are details in the file of the respray which cost £7,500 (in 1990) and a full renovation of the interior by respected trimmer Mick Turley. A Concours standard was the aim, and that was obviously achieved, as it has won over 18 national Concours d'Elegance competitions, including one at the N.E.C. Classic in Birmingham, and also various Jaguar Drivers Club and Jaguar Enthusiast Club events nationally between 1999 and 2011.

Our vendor tells us that since he has owned the car "The Jag has been maintained by Graces in Tring. They are a locally renowned classic Jaguar specialist who have relieved me of a couple of thousand pounds in servicing costs since I"ve had the car, but it is now largely as it was when I purchased it. ie. in multiple-concours winning condition."

It can't be a fluke, when on 18 separate occasions a group of people who are selected for their knowledge and valued judgement, arrive at the same conclusion, that what they are looking at is simply the best. Surely then, this must be one of the very best XJ Coupés in the world and deserving of a place in any collection of distinguished and important British motor cars.