Jaguar XJ12 SI SWB

Luckily or not, I succumbed to the charms of this ancient dinosaur, despite her thirst and rust galore.

The odyssey starts back in my childhood when I would see an XJ6 SI parked near my granny's house when an old aristocratic lady visited her hairdresser. As a certified PetrolHead, I was hooked on her muscular and yet elegant lines!

Let the saga begin!

After reading many books and being quite enchanted with the Jaguar XJ, I started to hanker for a Series I, Short Wheel Base, preferably with a V12 engine in the front.

After quite a few months and seeing some rotten baskets XJ6's, I was getting quite depressed as these Series I seem to be quite thin on the ground in good condition, especially the XJ12.

Fast forward to Christmas 1999, when I finally managed to track down an elusive XJ Series I.

By chance when browsing some old JEC club magazines, I encountered an XJ12 Series I SWB, fresh from restoration. Although in Old English White with Red Russet leather (not my particular taste), it didn't put me off, I could always repaint it in a different colour from my OEW SII. Apparently this was an ex- Dutton Forshaw director's car.

Bare metal restoration had been carried out less than two years previously but not to very high standard. Rust had started to show its ugly head on the driver's inner sill, apart from that, it was quite solid.
The interior was in quite a pitiable state and those Wolfrace Slot Mag wheels had to go. Notwithstanding, on the test drive, its accelerations and induction noise just won me over, it reminded me of my motorbikes! After all, this beast could do 7.4 sec 0-60 in 1972, it was quicker than a Maserati Bora from 50-70 and its top speed was 147mph, making it the fastest four door in the world and the only one with a V12 engine!

I did strip the interior and took the floors to bare metal, then gave it a few licks of Hammerite Smooth Finish in white, re-assembled the interior, re-couloured the seats and fitted new sound proofing and carpets reproduced by me, all in a Central London street, good thing my neighbours are so understanding!
Less than a month after I bought it, the Borg Warner 12 auto box refused to engage reverse, so I had it rebuilt a fitted through Jag Shop and Chris Coleman , London.

I did drive the car for a couple of years, through France, Spain and driving her all around Portugal but her condition kept nagging me as I'm a perfectionist by nature, so I embarked on long journey to restore and modify my car to her current state and yes; it is still not finished. I get a feeling by the time I finish her, there won't be any petrol left for her to devour!

In the next few pages, you will find out all about my tribulations and sorrows, but hey, that's the fun of it, better than getting old and fat watching telly.

How does my car feel driving? Read On here!

Hope you enjoy!

Edgar

Driving my car...