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Is it that it is LWB which whould be 1996 for your market and not 1995? I have to say I'm not really that clued up on the US spec models! But it beats working!
Been looking for a XJ12 for a while now and I was actually thinking about going for this car a few months ago, then noticed things were off. Like mentioned above, it says 1995, run the VIN and says 95, even has the gold emblem on the grille, BUT it's a LWB! To my knowledge/research, ALL 95's were swb in NA. I have been thinking about taking a look anyway since it's only a little ways from me just because why not. I want to check the VIN in the trunk (I think that is where at least one of the places it is stamped, right?) and see if it matches the window/ad one. Maybe a pieced together car? Or maybe, the rarest one ever made!
Is it that it is LWB which whould be 1996 for your market and not 1995?
Good Eye, Scott, especially for a ROW resident! I knew it would be hard to hide that from the real experts here.
That VIN is way earlier than any LWB model made for the NA market.
The Goggles brought up tons of SPAM but there were a few hits for that VIN which seemed to match the car. So it could be legitimate. I'd guess its not impossible, but it sure would be odd! I wonder what JDHT would have to say about it?
So now you have another reason to investigate, WinterJag. It could be a grey market car in some way. But it doesn't make sense that they supposedly didn't make any LWB until 746814. Maybe it was a prototype???
Richard: I did all that digging too and like you say, it just doesn't make sense! At first I thought maybe a Canadian car. Since that is where I'm from (up until 5 years ago) we did get some cars the US didn't (like the xj12 in 97 I believe like the UK and those last few XJ12's in I think 87-92), but again, the VIN just doesn't make sense. This place is about 45 min from me, so maybe when I get a chance I'll pop in and double check the VIN in all the places the VIN should be and make sure they match. I can tell from the pics it is a lwb (amoung other things, it has the controls to adjust the front passenger seat from the back, only lwb had that), so that leaves the prototype idea. Didn't think they got released to the public though!
Don't know when I could get there but this thing has been for sale for a LONG time, so no rush probably. I mean, who is looking for a 6.0 V12 with current gas prices (besides crazy people like me, and probably some of you here too). Based on the pics, the interior is rough, body looks ok and has relatively recent PA stickers in the window for safety/smog, so guessing it's not too bad and no real emisson/evap leak issues (but don't need the smog here in my county, so don't really care). If I got serious, I'd say they are too pricey. They'd have to be in the 4ish range to get my attention, assuming there is nothing else wrong with it besides what's in the picture (but when does that ever happen!). I almost moved on a nice 96 100k mile one a few months ago for $4000, and we all know used car prices have been inflated as of late.
Last edited by WinterJag; Sep 6, 2022 at 05:53 PM.
Glove box... could be more evidence. It was added during 1995 model year. Maybe at 1995.5 739427?. John does yours have a glove box at 730xxx? How about you Jeff? Mine doesn't, I'm nearly first off the line, at 720470.
Orange dot/stripe... another telltale. The Delayed Engagement TSB only refers to 96 models, but certainly the 95s have that problem as mine did. A test drive of that car would probably reveal it, if it is not an orange dot/stripe.
SC 734702. Two data points there that refer to model year 1995. 4725 cars before the 1995.5 MY and 12,112 cars before 1995.75 when LWB was introduced. I like the theory of a prototype LWB. They probably built a bunch to make sure it was right, including North American spec. Once certified they might have been able to sell them if they were fully equipped.
We need to check the "born with" VIN stamped by the battery.
So this car would be a UNICORN among unicorns if its true. Value increased. Just don't tell the dealer!
The build date for my car is 21Nov1994 and it is a short wheelbase XJ12 with a glovebox. It was first sold to the original owner in the UK who sold it to the second owner who imported it to Australia and I bought it from him. Interestingly it has the mesh grille usually only found on the XJR. Numbers of the VIN are 730603. It has over 350,000 kms/ 225,000 miles on it and is still going strong.
That's what I was thinking about with the VIN! I remembered it was stamped somewhere (as you say, by the battery) and would be pretty much impossible to fake. All this really makes me want to figure this out, one way or another. Even if I don't make a move on it, now I just want to know: a weird oddball car pieced together, or as was said, unicorn of unicorns! If it turns out to be some kind of almost one-off prototype or something similar, it would make me more inclined to try and make a deal. Still, rare or not, if it needs work, no way I'd overspend on it. The price would still need to be right.
#730443 does not have a glovebox. 11/94 build date per doorjamb sticker (where do I find the day?). Its grille growler also isn't gold, but when I got it there was evidence of light front end damage in the form of a broken-off headlight bracket lug, so the grille could have been swapped out when the car got fresh paint.
I was going to say, hey, we haven't seen any underhood shots, maybe it's "just" a VDP with a V12 inlaid passenger airbag fascia, but google the vin and a previous listing has this pic:
Perfect, thanks for the input, guys! We just found a narrow range of first VIN with glove box installed. It could be published somewhere already but its not in my recent memory. Your cars are only 160 apart, so John you missed a glove box by probably 2 days. They were in the truck on their way to Coventry. Your date of dispatch is probably 19 Nov 1994. I believe it would be shown on your JDHT certificate. Why don't you have one of those yet? Why don't I have one of those yet??
Interesting but probably not relevant to our investigation.
Good find with the undercarriage photo. I don't see any sawzall marks or welds under there like a prototype might have! But its been a long time. All that stuff would be stretched and some parts might show fab evidence.
It bugs me when sellers don't show the engine. Especially cars with a special engine like this.
Don’t forget that Jaguar did sell a kit to retrofit a glove box if people were desperate to have one……. they are tiny after all,
I think the kit had a different t profile as people who attempt ‘just’ putting any old one in have difficulty.
On the glovebox issue, mine is 723676produced in September 94'. It has a glovebox and as far as I know, came with it from the factory. Mine is RHD so I've no idea if there were completely different cut off dates for the LHD vehciles produced. Conceivably they had stock of left and right side dashes and used up the non glovebox items at differing points in the production run.
One thing I don't have my head wrapped around is the break over point / date on the 6.0 liter V12
noticeably the ignition system and ECU final Nippon Denso manufacture and if there are other differences to be concerned with
Radiator cooling fans ( mechanical drive vs. electric ) and the fan size comparison between the 2 installed ( one large . one small and the two the same size installation )
I don't have the V12
Last edited by Parker 7; Sep 12, 2022 at 06:35 PM.
I sent more than the basic “Still Available” email. Keys with remotes, manuals and records. I pulled the CARFAX and it showed it was imported into Ontario Canada, then sold at auction. I will call the dealer later today.
Spot the Discrepancy
