XJC Vin #001 for sale

[Brakebuster]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331698084134? ... EBIDX%3AIT


as far as i can tell ( not being an XJ owner ) this may be a significant car , and worth saving if real

anyone know about her ?


BB

[oldtimer]

Hi BB,
What a tremendous project for a very competent person with the facilities to take it on. The pictures look as though the body is completely corrosion free which surely must be more than half the battle.

The text says it is a pre production model but must not forget the XJ had been in production for five years. The Series 2 XJ 12L on which the coupe was based (L being long wheel base) had 4 inches let into the floor pan aft of the B post. I suspect the coupe reverted back to the original floor pan length, possibly the same as the XJ- S . It also says that it was a 3.4 litre pre-production model but as the build is starting from a shell any of the engine sizes could be installed including the V12

Mike H might well add his penneth regard to value but that model has an enthusiastic following.

Carry on like this and I'll talk myself into thinking about it until one considers the time and cost to complete. Without jotting down any guess costs I reckon it would be over double the buying price and that's doing it yourself.

At my age it is the stuff of dreams but I know a young fellow in North Linconshire that it would suit a treat !!!!!!!!!!!!

Oldtimer

[davidr]

Ooooooo! Tempting!
Maybe the Heritage Trust will get interested?

[mike020150]

There's no doubt, it is an exciting project but a big one. I'd speculate the car's value will be determined more by the state of the body restoration than by its claim to being a prototype. After all, if Jaguar decided at the time the 3.4L engine wasn't powerful enough for the image they were promoting for the car, why would anyone prefer a 3.4L now? Installing a 4.2L or V12 would take away its claim to history but arguably would make it a more usable car. As mentioned earlier, the coupe was based on the SWB XJ6 platform (which was further shortened for the XJS). As for prototypes, there is at least one series 1 coupe in existence. Some years ago, I recall Ken Bell having a very early (prototype?) car which had several detail differences from later vehicles, eg the chrome at the base of the 'C' pillar was of a different design and there may have been seal differences for the rear windows. Unfortunately, buying a project as a box of bits risks the loss of that type of detail and the kudos of being a prototype. In fact, the pictures make it look more like the equivalent of 'Trigger's broom', albeit an attractive broom! Mike.

[ptjs1]

Interesting Project! Notwithstanding the apparent large amount of money already spent, I suspect there's a huge amount of money still required!

The reference to a 3.4 engine is interesting. As Jaguar had already announced in 1973 that the Coupes were to be 4.2 & 5.3, I wonder why a car apparently built in Jan 74 would be fitted with a 3.4 as Jaguar hadn't even finished final design of the 3.4 engine for the XJ saloon until after this date? It didn't go into a production saloon until April 75, did it? So, if the engine is original, that seems a bit of a mystery.

As the car is close to me, if anyone was really serious about it, I would be happy to go and photo any aspects for you.

Maybe Keith P would like this one?!

Paul