1975 Jaguar XJ 12L Saloon

One of the finest luxury saloons of the day, the Jaguar XJ12 was first seen in July 1972, using the same 5.3-litre V12 motor found in the late model E-Types with an automatic transmission. To cope with the additional power, Jaguar installed bigger front brake discs, stiffer front springs up front and tyres rated for the higher speeds attained by the new model, which could reach a genuine 145 mph and do the 0-60 mph sprint in an exceedingly rapid 7.4 seconds. Not surprisingly, Jaguar made some improvements to the cooling. Coventry also made the decision to offer a long-wheelbase version to increase legroom in the rear compartment, and the XJ12 had a more luxurious interior generally. Hailed as one of the best high performance saloons on the market, the XJ12 was revised, along with the rest of the XJ range, to become the Series 2 in September 1973, thanks to new crash regulations imposed by the American market. The bumpers were redesigned, while the interior also came in for some treatment as a result of the new safety measures, along with a vastly improved heater unit. The XJ12 ultimately remained in production until the early 1990s, proving the worth of the original design, and good examples are now becoming sought after by Jaguar collectors who recognise the importance of the model in the marque's long and illustrious history.