I do realize that there weren't a blue million XJ12's or XJ40's or XJ81's made. Whenever I try and buy parts for my coffee and cream kitty I have FITS! Though fun and interesting to own, I have not yet found anyone who can tell me EXACTLY what I have. My car has an XJ12 medal/tag on the back. It has a coffee/cream interior / exterior. It has a glove box versus an airbag on the passenger side. It is left hand drive. (American designation) Also, it has a 6.0 liter V12 engine and square headlights. Any help on to what to call my kitty would be appreciated. It would sure make it easier to find parts. I NEVER EVER get the correct part on the first attempt at ordering. I have been corrected again and again by people at parts houses saying, "Its NOT an XJ12, its an XJ40", or "Its NOT an XJ12 or an XJ40, its an XJ81" or Its NOT an XJ40 or an XJ81, Its an XJ12. WTH??? I have owned this cat for nine years and it has been quite an experience. I am looking forward to being on here, sharing my experiences, and hearing yours. Thank you for any time that any of you put into replying. I suspect I will get many of you arguing among yourselves as that is all I seem to get when folks discuss this vehicle. There seems to be no clear cut designation for this car. Thanks, Jeff

 

I'm gonna subscribe to this thread just because I'm curious to see the answer.

 

+1 here

 

The most technically correct answer would be XJ81 but darn few people, including many Jag people, drill that far down into the detail of "X-codes".

Most all, however, know what an XJ40. I'd simply refer to it as an XJ40 and add "V12" only if ordering parts where it would be important to know which engine.

Even then many parts catalogs would simply list it by the model name of "XJ12".

The confusion continues even on the later cars. For example, the "X300" is well known....but X305 (the V12 version of the X300 car) and X306 (the XJR version of the X300 car) are not as well recognized.

Cheers
DD

 

Square headlights so +1 on the V12 XJ40.

 

I answered this in your Intro but I'll repeat it here.

It is factory designation XJ81 - a rare and very desirable model. The LHD specification was 6.0 litre 'Export' of which 1325 were produced. This is the type with the glove box. Although built in 1993, the USA vehicles were apparently all titled as 1994 models.

A final run of 101 LWB and 50 Majestic in 1994 had the passenger airbag.

Installing the V12 in the XJ40 was not straightforward as the engine bay had been deliberately designed to prevent use of the Rover V8 engine! The story behind this was detailed by Philip Porter in his book 'Jaguar Project 40 - The Inside Story of the New XJ6'.

Parts identification should not be difficult for anyone who knows their way around the JEPC (Jaguar Electronic Parts Catalogue):



It comes under XJ6 & XJ12 (XJ40) from (V)667829 up to (V)708757 - Canada/USA

Graham