Monday 7th January 2013

Spotted: TWR Jaguar XJ-S V12

It's got a V12! And two-tone paint! What's not to like?

---

Ahh, the Jaguar XJ-S. The E-Type successor that wasn’t. We’ll spare you the inevitable recounting of the way the XJ-S shocked the world when it was unveiled as the replacement  for Jaguar’s most iconic car; suffice to say, it didn’t go down too well. That reaction has tarnished its reputation ever since, and to this day it has never quite lived up to the greatness of its famous forefather.

Why one shade of green, when you can have two?

That said, time has done the XJ-S’s ‘challenging’ looks many favours. Today, the long, low profile has an elegance and a drama that could never have been predicted, while details like the sweeping buttresses, ovoid headlamps and squat glasshouse all add character. The good kind, that is, as opposed to “character".

This one, however, is not your usual XJ-S. When this one emerged from the factory, it went straight back into another workshop – that of TWR, the company whose credits include taking V12-powered XJ-Ss to European Touring Car Championship and Bathurst 1000 victories in 1984 and 1985 respectively. TWR ran a programme which honed and fettled standard XJ-Ss, fitting stiffer springs, gas-filled dampers, four-pot callipers, a free-flowing exhaust system, a GRP bodykit (designed in the wind tunnel) and 18-inch Speedline alloy wheels. It was such a success that Jaguar eventually formed a joint venture with the company, JaguarSport, and made the TWR XJ-S an official model – the XJR-S.

There's even a green carpet. Bliss.

Inside, there's all the luxury you might expect from a Jag, with chunky strips of polished walnut, swathes of cream leather, thick green carpet which extends up the doors, and plenty of toy-promising buttons smattered around the dash, some of which may even still work. Plus, you get the classic pre-facelift XJ-S barrel gauges reading back your fuel level, coolant temperature, oil pressure and voltage. Splendid.

It's is priced at £7,995, and while that might seem like rather a lot of cash for an old Jag from the era that reliability forgot, XJ-Ss aren’t cheap things anyway, so for a relatively special one with few miles, that figure is actually pretty reasonable. And resplendent in two-tone Moorland over Alpine Green, with what look to be colour-coded alloys, it’s just about as kitsch as you can get. We want it, quite deeply.

---

JAGUAR XJ-S V12 TWR
(figures for standard XJS V12)
Engine: 5,345cc V12
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Power (hp): 295
Torque (lb ft): 320
MPG: 22.5 (combined)
First registered: 1988
Recorded mileage: 45,150
Price new: £29,900 (plus TWR upgrades)
Yours for: £7,995

---

 

[LaurasOtherHalf]

quite like that actually.

did i read somewhere that the flying buttresses at the back were because the car was originally designed to be mid engined?

[Motorrad]

'the era that reliability forgot'

also the era that good taste forgot from the look of that thing.

It's great.

[Spanna]

3-Speed Auto!?

[FWDRacer]

Chest wigs need only apply.

Bl**dy marvellous.

[Charlie Michael]

I have a guilty pleasure for the XJ-S - love that colour scheme.

[DonkeyApple]

[quote]Ahh, the Jaguar XJ-S. The E-Type successor that wasn’t. We’ll spare you the inevitable recounting of the way the XJ-S shocked the world when it was unveiled as the replacement for Jaguar’s most iconic car; suffice to say, it didn’t go down too well. That reaction has tarnished its reputation ever since, and to this day it has never quite lived up to the greatness of its famous forefather.
[/quote]

It only shocked stuffy idiots and most of them are only shocked because magazines have briefed them to be.

The numbers show a slightly different story as no one wanted E-Types by the mid 70s. They were fat, ugly, dated and for chavs.

The XJS sold in twice the numbers the E-Type ever did and was a better car.

[C7 JFW]

I can only imagine the noise that thing would make, nice.

[Digga]

XJS was an ace car. The old man owner three examples over the years - all the 6 cyl poverty spec mind you, one of which (a late 4 litre) he kindly/foolishly allowed me & Mrs Digga to borrow for a long weekend road trip up to the Scottish borders. Epic car - really came alive on the long, clear (pre scamera) A-roads.

However, he never did own a V12. One of our customers had one of these early TWR V12s and they really were, IMHO, the dog's bks. With a big engine like that 3 speeds is all you need!

[P2BS]

I've never had love for the XJS (sorry) but I was overtaken by a XJS half-cabrio (remember their first effort?) and a XJ6 (or maybe a 12) coupe on my way to work on Saturday night - they were fairly shifting (driving together), and both looked fantastic. Maybe I do have a slight soft spot after all...

[Krikkit]

I have a lot of love for the XJS, a TWR even more so! Probably the most ruinous car I can think to buy except a barn-find Aston Lagonda though.

[PascalBuyens]

Does have it's character indeed... (and I mean that in a positive way)

[nonplussed]

Hideous in an wonderful way.

[SimonSaid]

Love it. Chap on the road next to mine has one, in a 'charming state of disrepair'. Looks particularly fantastic IRL, especially in profile - with those massive wheels and all the skirts and spoilers it looks like a kids toy. Also, wonder if these might start to appreciate in value soon.

[grumpy52]

Make note,my 2013 prediction is that XJS prices will start to rocket !
Just hope my x300 goes up as well !

[L100NYY]

Some better pictures of it here

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=161&i=237...

[burwoodman]

One of the most lovely looking cars of it's day and still is. Shame it was a nighmare

[James1972]

Massive want ! Always loved XJS's after my dads friend took me out in his near new HE and I saw 100 for the first time (in near silence) on the A1001 near Hatfield.
Also had this TWR/ Jag newsletter on the XJS touring cars complete with a massive poster
Proper TWR connection means top of my XJS list. Must buy ticket !

Just found this - one angry cat !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhXLysNl-wE

Edited by James1972 on Monday 7th January 11:07

[verminator]

Have owned an E-Type and loved it, but started my 'special' car ownership with an XJ-S
and loved that too. Have had two pre HE', the firt one was a little er rot in places. The
second one was absolutely rot free and superb. Had a complete bare metal respray. They
just get better looking as the years go by.And as for the V12 engine, it really is one
of the great engine designs of all time. Great cars and they will go up in value without
a doubt.

[V8 FOU]

Sorry, but one horrible car. I had a V12 for a while and worked on quite a few, including an early V12 manual (can you improve the mpg? It only does 6! - did improve it to 12....)
Not a pleasant car to drive. Always found the XJ6/12 a better car especially the coupe.

Beware of failing switches, a/c problems, suspension woes, headgaskets,rust, etc etc

"4 pot brakes"?? They had those as stock IIRC

8 grand SOTW

[Mark-C]

I'm of the age that when I started getting into cars the E-Type was old hat and not really loved anymore so the XJ-S (and facelifted it lost the hyphen) has always been my favourite of the two. Mine is a 4.0 so more wafty than the earlier sixes and nothing like this rather lovely bruiser.

I often wonder if I should have taken the plunge and got a V12 but I bottled it the moment I had a look under the bonnet of one ...

This TWR V12 is a huge amount of car for the money