Jaguar XJC 5.3 Coupe (32k miles)

History

The Series Two models of Jaguar's brilliant XJ6 and XJ12 saloons were launched at the 1973 Frankfurt Motor Show alongside a new variant on the XJ theme, a two-door coupe. A pet project of Sir William Lyons (and the last one he worked on before he retired from active design in 1972), the XJC used the short-wheelbase floorpan with longer front doors and a slightly different roofline, but was otherwise substantially the same as the four-door saloons.

Lyons had insisted that the front and rear windows met in a pillarless construction, which was very elegant, but posed a serious headache to the development engineers who had to keep down the wind noise on these fast cars. This delayed production until 1975 and the coupes were considerably more expensive and exclusive than the saloons. All featured a vinyl roof which was very fashionable at the time and helped to disguise the thickness of the C pillars.

Just 8,378 were made before production ceased in 1978, of which only 1,873 were V12s, easily distinguished by the chrome strips down each flank. With 285bhp on tap, these were seriously fast cars that could hit 150mph with ease.

This particular 1976 model is thought to be one of just 620 V12 coupes produced in RHD and features the optional velour interior. With just two owners from new, it is said to have covered only 32,000 miles. Dry stored for the last 18 years it has just been recommissioned and is said to drive very well indeed. Last serviced at the Jaguar factory, it comes complete with its original British Leyland 'Passport to Service' book. A better example would surely be hard to find.