NEW THINGS are always better than old things,” said the artist Andy Warhol once. With most consumers agreeing with him, that’s why, whether it’s televisions, mobile phones or trainers, all products are considered oldfashioned as soon as they go on sale.
This is especially true in the automotive world with cars quickly receiving a mid-life facelift before being replaced after only a few years as manufacturers attempt to lure customers with yet another new model with even more exciting features.
One of the few exceptions to this rule was the Series 3 XJ12. Since it was the second facelift of the original XJ6 from 1968, when the third generation went on sale seven years later it was already seen as old fashioned. And yet it was kept in production for a staggering 13 years, an eon in car terms. When the final car – ablack Daimler Double Six – rolled off the production line 30 years ago it was a dinosaur compared to newer rivals
