LONG-RUNNING LEGEND

Although Jaguar’s all-important V12 engine made its debut in March 1971 under the lengthy bonnet of the Series III E-Type, fans of the phenomenally successful XJ had to wait until July of the following year for the highly-praised (and by then well-proven) twelve-cylinder to find its way into their favourite saloon – almost four years after the launch of the original XJ6. Happily, however, the wait was worthwhile, as from day one the new XJ12 won global praise for its sensational performance and effortless driving style.

It’s unfortunate that the XJ12 arrived so late in the career of what we now refer to as the Series I. But admirers of the powerplant needn’t have worried, as it was destined to also appear in the subsequent Series II and Series III versions, with the latter proving to be particularly long-lived.

The story of the Series III XJ12 is a fascinating one, and it’s just such a car that we’re experiencing here. First though, a quick recap of the XJ12’s long and successful career, which began with that lateto-the-party Series I version of 1972. Its glorious 5343cc engine (initially pushing out an enviable 250bhp) was complemented by Borg Warner’s latest Model 12 automatic transmission, the end result being an ultra-refined luxury saloon with a claimed top speed of around