1997 XJ6 VDP (X330) Mfg 2/97 VIN 803843

I ask because my '99 XK8 was right on the bubble between a regular or a chip key. Of course, I took a chance and ordered a cut regular and got it wrong!

I've thoroughly examined my original black and green key and nothing obvious in the molded key head. Does my '97 pre-date the chip key?

Bonus question: Did the '97 VDP have a keyless remote system?

 

I don’t think any US x300 cars had chips in the key, but they did have remotes.

 

RFID keys were first used in 1998MY Jaguars in the North American market.

 

The key of an X300 has a transponder in the key.

 

If there is, my key I had cut without a transponder in it starts my car fine.

 

As motorcarman confirmed, in the USA the transponders were not introduced till the X308.
In Europe the X300 did have transponders.

All country’s had remote key fobs, but the USA ones operated on a different frequency to the rest of the world.