Jaguar XJ12 L Series 1.

The sale of my 2.5 Spitfire in '95 furnished me with enough green folding stuff to nip around the corner from home to go and buy this fabulous V12 Jaguar (photographed with dad's Series 3 XJ12 HE). Not many of these long wheelbase Series 1 V12s were made, and despite averaging a lowly 10mpg or so, and being out of work at the time, I had to have this XJ12L. Turning up at the Job Centre to sign on in this one raised an eyebrow or two.
Series 1 XJ12

Originally bought new by a wealthy London-based Saudi Arabian gentleman in 73, this old XJ12L Jaguar had only covered around 39,000 miles when I bought her. The fuel gauges didn't work properly, so I soon learnt to estimate my fuel range by using the mileometer, although this wasn't always successful and on more than one occasion I gently drifted to a silent stop, both tanks devoid of fuel. Engine wise RAR 115L didn't need much doing to her .. someone had removed a number of carb air pipes, which took some working out how to refit, plus I reconditioned all 4 Strombergs with overhaul kits. Some of the coolant hoses had seen better days, so I undertook the not-inconsiderable task of replacing all the hoses with brand new replacements. The grille, plus a few minor pieces of chromework at the back were replaced, light units mostly, and the whole thing was given a damn good polishing, something that she hadn't had for years. The beige leather interior responded well to a good cleaning - the only negative on the interior side was the droopy headlining, something not unknown on these models.

I think I sold this fabulous old machine in 1997 - I didn't really want to part with her, and when someone offered me the asking price saying he wanted to plunder her for the engine for his %^"$%% E-type, I told him 'where to go'. Eventually I did find a worthy owner, and sold her on, the money eventually going towards the deposit on my house, a year or so later. However another V12 was still to come, although this time in the form of a BMW 750iL a couple of years later...but I still hanker for another S1 XJ12 some day..!

Update November 2004 And lo! what should appear on ebay one day but the self same XJ12L, some 7 years or so after I'd sold it and still maintaining its regal air, if looking a little down at heel in places. I was soooooooo tempted to buy it back, but in the end a furious bidding war between 2 bidders pushed the bid price waaayyyy over what it is actually worth, and I stayed away. I'd have loved to buy it back, but with so many things on the boil, it wouldn't have made much sense to buy it back, not that I often let sense get in the way of such a 'reasonable' purchase :)

Maybe in another 10 years this lovely old Jag will be back on the market, and I can once more offer it a home..

Rear view XJ12L Series 1

Other XJ material.
Jaguar XJ6 and XJ12 Feature
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