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Hi all. I just wanted to share this information in case its of interest to anyone now or in the future. Might save them making a request to JDHT or save them from asking a similar question.
As you may recall, I'm a new guy here who recently bought an XJ12 in the UK, first registered in February 1997 but with an early'ish looking VIN number. It was previously confirmed that my build date was the 20th September, 1994 and shipped to the distributor (HR OWEN) on the 27th September. Supplying dealer was Riders of Truro (No longer existing as a legal entity). I am assuming it spent 2 and a half years as a showroom car as demonstrater cars are usually road registered and not driven around on trade plates. Turns out to be the 51st RHD XJ12 produced. Not early, but earlyish!
My questions to JDHT:
1) What exact date did production of the X300 range begin, assuming it was with chassis 720125?
*Production began 24 November 1993 with Chassis 720002
2) How many Right Hand Drive XJ12's preceded my car in production? My car is SAJJHALS3BR723676 and manufactured on the 20 September 1994.
*50 Preceded SAJJHALS3BR723676
3) How many RHD XJ12's were manufactured with paint code Morocco Red Metallic?
*11 manufactured in Morocco Red Metallic
4) How many RHD XJ12's were manufactured by year? 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997?
5) What does the letter 'B' relate to in my VIN code? The 10th position is supposed to mean model or year code. But 'B' doesn't seem to refer to any published list for either the model or year. 1994 should be R, or if it was model year 1995, it should be 'S'.
*The ‘B’ relates to the model code in your case B = X300
A few take outs from this. Between chassis number 720002 and 720125, I would assume that these were pre-production test mules, safety test vehicles etc. 720125 is mentioned in other literature as the 'first' X300 chassis. My question should have been 'What date was 720125 produced on?' Which was what I was trying to get at. But in any case, we now know that the first X300 chassis produced for testing was back in 1993 on the 24th November 1993.
A total of 234 RHD XJ12's were made across the total run of the X300 model range. I'm assuming this includes both standard wheel base and long as I didn't ask to differentiate or split.
The vast majority (152/234) were produced in 1994 which considering was maybe just a 5 month run, is even more interesting. Possibly a burst of orders in the beginning as it was a new model and it quickly tailed off. Maybe the DD6 became the model of choice for those wanting the V12 and the XJ12 for the out and out Jaguar purists.
Morroco Red Metallic accounts for 11 out of these 234 cars which might explain why you don't see many in my colour. How many are left of these 11 in the UK? Anyone know of any other owners that you may have seen at meets with Morocco Red Met??
The last question related to an apparent anomoly in what was Jaguars own documentation where the 10th position letter represented the model year or year of manufacture of the vehicle. This isn't the case. 'A' was used in the XJ40 and X300 became 'B'. JDHT have confirmed that so we now know why we all should have a B at the 10th position depsite year made.
On its way to my storage from it's home since 1997 in Weston Super Mare.
Not sure when I'll get to drive it but a friend test drove it when it arrived at the storage and he said it drove like new and has a tonne of power. His words! And he drives a Tesla performance for his everyday car.
Very interesting information Scott. It is cool to find out all those details right from the source, to now be proudly offered by you to anyone who is curious!
Yours is a special one from a special model run. Only 11 RHD in Morrocco Red, and a few might have gone outside the UK.
I will inquire about mine when I order that JDHT certificate which I have been intending. I'm quite an early build at 720470. My estimate is that mine is within the first few dozen NA spec XJ12s. I'd like to know exactly.
Yes, that's true. Some could've ended up in other RHD markets such as Japan, Australia etc. Hadn't thought immediately of that.
I have asked JDHT when 720125 was produced as I worded it badly and may have had a little time left over from the 2 hours I paid for. We shall see if they give me the exact build date for that car as we should then know when they really started the X300 production run in ernest.
They took a long time to get back to me as I think someone had covid etc and the people sifting through the paper records are part timers. But either way, I love this stuff and don't see it as a waste of money. Wish it was free of course but would rather the records remain relatively well looked after.
My car, a 1995 XJ12, is a British spec car that was privately imported to Australia by the second owner. From memory the build date was Nov1994 and first registered in 1995. The VIN is SAJJHALS3BR 730603 and I am the third owner and I’ve had the car since 2006 and it has over 350,000 kms on it and still runs strong.
That's some serious mileage! But with proper servicing and a long term owner who understands the model well, I think they can be strong and reliable cars. Rust and related issues is always a problem for UK cars. my '97 S500 Mercedes has no rust having spent 22 of its 25 years in Vietnam. Sadly, the biggest issue here is lack of mechanical knowledge and I bought it just shy of 300,000kms. Tried to do some maintenance to get it running well and a mechanic I was recommended managed to do something so bad to the engine that he snapped the crank. I'm now 2500usd into repairs on the engine with no idea if it will run properly. Wish I never bought it to be honest.
Anyway, back to the XJ12's! I'm hoping the fuel crisis solves itself before I get to drive mine in the UK. Fuel here is at an all time high but more like US prices so running the 3 V8's I have here isn't so crazy.
As Watto will attest to there are few things it might be beneficial to spend money on if your XJ12 is going to be parked up due to fuel prices given the age of perishables on the car. The rubber oil cooler lines, fuel lines on top of engine, coolant hoses, rubber radiator support washers, maybe front suspension bushings, ball joints, shocks depending on current state. Despite these cars looking very grand there are achilles heels that will put you on the side of the road and hurt the motor if you haven't stayed on top of them.
Just as a small update to this, JDHT kindly informed me that 720125 was produced on the 15th June 1994. So that at least gives us a rough start point for the market X300 chassis rather than the pre-production models.
XJ12, Right Hand Drive Data
