I was the body shop foreman at Julians of Reading which the the biggest jaguar dealership in the UK. I used to spray and fit the TWR body kits . I was also responsible for painting the promotional XJS cars in the Benson and Hedges Silk Cut colours for the Jaguar stand at Le Manns. I was also responsible for the idea of turning the Julians of Reading jaguar dealership's body shop into the first Jaguar approved body shop, as jaguar was acquired by Ford and independent of Britain Leyland. 🇬🇧
I enjoy hearing stories like yours. Britain is such a hub for motorsport, and the sheer number of specialists that range from in the fore, to in the shadows is staggering. I’d love to commit one summer to motorsport gatherings throughout Britain.
It must have been exciting to assemble a rare body kit such as the TWR.. my son and I are in the finishing stages of a restomod on his 86 XJS V-12 jag.. it is a completely shaved body (no door handles, no side markers, no bulge on the gas door). Custom interior, custom lowered suspension, with a 1-1/4" front sway bar,1" rear. 265-rears,,245 front's , on 18" rim's.. custom engine management from Mobeck with electric idle control,, custom headers, mating to 2-1/2" SS exhaust system with X pipe,,everything is polished or chromed in the ER,, removed aux gas tank, relocated battery to the right side trunk pocket, custom made panels and now the trunk is matching the interior.. What did you need to install the front and rear TWR bumpers, did you have to remove or replace the bumper brackets? Thank you for keeping these beasts alive..
well Jack, back in 1985 I was in the engine shop at TWR after finishing a Stag apprenticeship. on one occasion I took Tom Walkinshaws own XJS across Oxfordshire to pick up some urgently needed timing parts. I'd driven a few XJSs in my previous occupation but Toms was truly sublime. it was very VERY quick and placement through the corners was beautiful. I was part of the Group C team building the 6.4 litre and there was a guy called Mike who used to build all the 6.0 litre road and race engines. Mike was quite a master of his art. I remember one day we blew a Group C lump on the dyno which bent one of the camshafts. he tapped it straight for us whilst we frantically rebuilt the engine. the big take away from working there was "its not how good you are, its how good you cheat." there were plenty of naughty things hidden in those engines.
What kind of things can you hide in an engine? I imagine the things that would help the most might be things like airflow improvements and cam profile changes that would be easy to spot?
@@MathsYknowanother ingredient is component strength or the method of component attachment which allow the engine to rev higher for longer without self-destruction.
I've owned 2 XJSs. A 1983 HE which was deceptively fast although did have high repair bills due to my inexperience with Jaguars at the time I bought it, then a 1994 XJS 6.0 convertible which as ruby red over parchment leather and a dreamy car. So smooth with their ride and power delivery, one night late after work I had my wife drive me back to my office to pick up my Ferrari 308GT4, she was in our HE. Once I got in the Ferrari I had a devil of a time keeping up with her in the XJS, redline shifts and maximum throttle just to keep up! When we got home, I asked her why she was in such a hurry and she replied, 'What? I was just driving normally' LOL... sneaky fast those XJS V12s! Thanks to the TWR V12 review Jack.
I like how you could pick all the options individually. So if you wanted a stock looking car that was a racer underneath, you could have it that way, or if you just wanted the race car looks with a stock, comfortable car underneath, you could have that too. That's cool.
This took me back. As a kid my next door neighbour was a petrol head (and hairdresser) who owned an Aston DBS and then an XJS. Used to ride in the back while he hit an optimistic 140mph on the short run from my school back to home. Anyway I always loved the look so bought a late 1990's 6 litre convertible XJS here in New York. I fitted the special breathing kit and chip conversion from AJ6(?) to boost output to around 330hp (Harry Metcalf's XJC had the same runed manifold etc before he had it rebuilt). I think those engines borrowed a lot from the TWR era. TBH the car was a hot rod barge but still very refined. Problem is even during the Ford era these were very unreliable and I got tired of the ration of shop time to drive time. So I sold it and ordered a brand new E46 M3 CiC which was way quicker, handled better, had more space and revved and revved and revved. That lasted me 21 years with barely an issue. But I still miss the unique look of the XJS, especially the coupe with the flying buttresses. Timeless.
I'm probably one of the few that have owned a V12 XJ-S for 30 years now. Absolutely love it. I dont drive it like a racing car on the roads, never will. Graceful, quiet, smooth and effortless to drive. Suits me perfectly. Proper servicing is the one requirement with these. Not a fan of the body kit, sorry. Great video Jack as always.
I had a series 3 TWR, it was one of eleven built to the spec of the race car, it had the wheels but no body kit, 6 ltr engine apparently 340 BHP. Uprated brakes,steering rack, suspension, 5 speed ZF gearbox, and a free flowing exhaust.... Yes the changes made the world of difference!!!! Let's face it a standard V12 can really pull if you lock it in second gear... I remember being late one day and joining a motorway... In second gear and I kept my foot down, not to the floor but a long way down.... My god it lit up and flew!!! The noise will live with me forever!!! I have been very lucky to own my favourite cars this was one of them. I wish I had a garage I could of kept it in.... 😢
Around 1996 I had a XJS-Cabriolet, and took my lady to Oxford to go to Birmingham with a friend and his lady in his 6 litre XJR-S. On the return drive back down the M40 at 02:00 down a deserted motorway he managed to do an Average of 100 mph from Brum to Oxford, having to do 125 in the last 10 miles. Highly illegal and irresponsible I know. However, the car was rock steady, we passed zero traffic at that time of night. A memorable night.
That was a hefty upgrade price back then. Looks worth it, though. The car has that great transitional late 80s-early 90s look to it, and it was such an interesting profile compared to any other car. With respect to the car phone, they do add flair to 80s and 90s cars. I had an early 90s Nissan with one installed by the original owner and it was always a conversation starter.
I will say seeing these big green beasts race in Australia back in the day was truly a highlight for us and the group c era They were absolutely amazing 😍😍🇦🇺
Over the past year or two I became obsessed with these pre-facelift bodykit models; TWR and Lister. Finally nabbed myself one with the Lister kit over the weekend and it's just a joy. One of the most unique and still decently obtainable cars on the road currently.
Great car, I had a1988 TWR conversion on my car which included, steering, suspension mods. and body kit. No engine mods. It transformed the car into a real BMW and Porsche beater but retained the quiet refinement of the engine which had more than enough power as standard. Most noticeable was the steering which put great feel into it. It looked great too.
The sound of these cars in historic racing is epic (as it was at the time)! Sad to see it make way for a homogenised two-make pushrod V8 class with Falcons and Commodore only. 12 cylinders > 8 cylinders!
Lovely car and a great video . As a newly qualified driver in 1978 my dad agreed to let me drive his XJ 5.3 C on the motorway for motorway driving experience. Same basic engine. A golf GTI cut us up on the way to the motorway . Don’t react said my dad . Once on the motorway he said “ now catch the B*****d “ . I am not going to say what I did next or the indicated speed that I hit . But I will say that the Jaguar V12 was an extremely rapid car . It easily and rapidly overhauled the VW . The on.y cars which I have experienced that have exceeded my dad’s XJ are our Bentley’s both of which have featured on Jacks channel . Technically a V12 will always be superior to a V8 even with a turbo or two . But only the Bentley’s have exceeded the experience of my father’s XJ 5.3 C . An absolutely stunning British car and a total credit to its owner
I am not overly keen on the XJS but this is something quite different. TWR did well with it as you say and probably encouraged Jaguar itself to get more involved. Remember back in the day any manufacturer worth its salt would go racing and or rallying to promote their brand which was a very successful business model for selling standard cars. Whilst some still do it is not such a big deal as it was in lets say the 60's. A great review Jack thank you. 👍👍
Absolutely gorgeous car! I`ve ALWAYS loved Jags, both the XJS and the XJ12 saloon and that V12 when combined with a less silenced freer flowing sports exhaust delivers an EPIC soundtrack. This car really deserves a manual gearbox and 6 or even the Lister 7ltr conversion for the true power that it rightly deserves. Basically a Lister Le Mans (over 500bhp and 200mph top speed and the soundtrack of a howling demon!)
Hi Jack. TWR won Bathurst here in Australia in 1985 i think.... they bgot 1st and Third i seem to recall.....the cars really were very quick...... Love an XJS! Cheers S
Thank you for going into the ACTUAL DIFFERENCES that make this a TWR car vs the standard cars. So many of the (few) reviews just gloss over things like this, other than the body kit. Only think I would have added was a specific mention of the victory at Bathhurst - that's still an amazing race.
A beautiful car , the TWR mods really set them off. No other car looks like it . While working in the UK in 1987 I got to drive one from the TWR shop in Kiddlington back to London …great times :)
Ive had two "normal" XJ-S's and they were amazing and i always wanted a TWR as it was the pinnacle at the time, the V12 was sooooo smooth. Amazing video matey and a beautiful car
I have a modified 1992 facelift XJR-S. You definitely need the TWR spec steering rack to appreciate how well it feels on the road. I've also upgraded the front brakes to bigger disks, and swapped the rear end from a 1994 XJS with larger, outboard brakes. Since the Aston DB7 has the same floor pan it is dead easy to fit lowered and uprated suspension. Sounds enormous with a big bore exhaust. I love it and would never want to part with it. The only thing lacking is a manual box.
What's actually different with the steering rack? I want to improve the steering feel on my XJS. I've heard you can get some device that limits the power assistance from the pump. Were the TWR racks actually different?
@@asdreww The XJR-S rack has a modified modulator valve that changes the assistance level, I don't know about the specifics of the TWR rack but it is likely much the same modification. I would guess that you are talking about a similar device. The other difference from a standard rack are extended limit stops, to stop the wider tires rubbing on full lock.
I have the TWR rack. Agree it makes a great difference. My understanding is also that it only reduces the assistance and is otherwise ordinary. Polyurethane steering rack bushings are also a must-have for any XJS.
I have a 1990 XJRS 6.0 V12 since 2004 with all of this kit except manual gearbox. 44,000 quid new only 442 made. It is very comfy around town and flies on country roads locked in 2. Fuel consumption is leaded or super unleaded 98 octane and consumes like a Range Rover.
I worked with a chap who reckoned to get from Brighton to Stansted for work in an hour every morning in an early manual car. I raced a six litre version for seven years lovely car to drive, six MPG at race speeds.
The S also had a successful competition history in th USA, winning one manufacturers' title and two drivers' titles. This led to a classic print ad campaign under the tag line, "Thundering Elegance". I was in the Jaguar business at the time, and I don't remember a single customer buying an S because of the racing successes, but several expressed approval of the ad campaign. Wonderful high-speed motorway flyer, but rather expensive to maintain and boy did they eat tires (think "4400 pounds and 5.3 litres"). I never much cared for the later ones, especially those with the sunroof, which robbed the car of headroom it could hardly spare. Plus, both versions of the soft-top had a tendancy to leak in hard rains. But I still have a soft spot for the HE non-sunroof models. Good video.
Brings back memories for me, I had a red, 1975 Jaguar XJS 5.3L V12. It was immense! As a 6'2" bloke it was a little tight but not uncomfortably so and the seats, mega comfortable. I had a gun metal grey HE V12 XJS of 1988 vintage, again a fantastic car. I bought them both secondhand and wish I had kept them.
My uncle had one which he raced. It was beautiful. When I was 19 back in 1984 my boss had a black V12 5.3 that I got to use every day. Can you even imagine the kudos cruising around town in it. I owned my own in 1991 and today have an XK I've had for 16 years (2008), all wrapped up in the garage road-ready for dry weather driving only. Love Jags.
I envy you the garage. You can't get then for love or money round where I am . What really boils my brussels is when I see a garage door slightly ajar ,rammed full of old furniture and other tat ....
mid 80s we had Tom Walkinshaw humiliate our local racebred Australian muscle cars at Bathurst ,those Eurotrash awful pommie chariots just tore our v8 knuckledraggin bogan vehicles to shreds ,been a Jag fan for life as i met Tom as a young kid and he was just the best,Tom became a hero overnight as he was like us not a stuck up look at you down your nose high and mighty type ,Tom took our beloved VL Commodore and redesigned it into the most beloved legend of Australia ,say hello to the VL Walkinshaw Commodore ,just the most beautiful car ever made with just an incredible motor under the bonnet ,love this video Mr 27 its your best to date ,i cant wait to show the boys at work after Easter break
I had a v12 5.3 litre for sixteen years and traveled all over Europe in it , only thing ever broke on the car was the high pressure steering hose but the car could be driven to the garage
I have a black one just like this. Thank you for the video!! Wish I could like it 100 times. 3:06 The bushes aren’t different. They’re just turned 90 degrees so that the holes in them are no longer lined up with the fore/aft forces on the radius arm, effectively making them firmer. Any XJS can be modified this way for free. 😊 🇨🇦 🇬🇧
Watching the TWR XJ-S made me remember: Early in the 90s I had the opportunity to drive a six litre XJR-S - black exterior and nearly white leather inside. Gorgeous combination of colours and nice to drive!
Many years ago I had the opportunity to buy one, a 6 litre. A good friend also intended to buy it. Because we were mates and didn't want to piss each other off, neither of us bought it. I should make a list of cars I had the opportunity but failed to buy and now regret. It's a long one. But I think the look has aged well. I saw a standard XJS in a lay by behind an Audi TT and it looked like a stiletto next to a blunt instrument.
My goodness Jack, you certainly know how to come up with cars that time forgot. I have to admit the XJS was a comfortable ride as were most Jags of that time, the styling leaves a lot to be desired. The TWR improvement was "beneficial".
I had a 1984 XJS HE, and was a great car indeed. It was stolen and written off as too much damage. But this was definitely my pride and joy. From Australia 🇦🇺
Love these cars. The race program originally started in house and when Tom approached Jaguar it was a no brainer as it would save Jaguar money and resources. Of the five race cars the first one is the one to own as its the lightest. That car was acid dipped to shave off some weight by Jaguar just before Tom approached them.
They always come across as a luxury gt car to me as you said. My Dad had 7 different Jags while I was growing up. One being a 1984 Jaguar XJS V12 Guy Salmon Jubilee edition with gold plated emblems and two tone brown and like a champagne gold body. It was super smooth and so quiet/refined.
The central “barrel” instruments drew on avaition experience and were designed so that all of the indicators read in the middle under optimum conditions. Hence all could be checked with one glance.
Great to see one of these featured - they are hidden gems. I've got a 1990 6.0 XJR-S which I'd like to convert to a manual (it currently has the factory 3 speed auto). It's a really comfy GT but it's got enough of an edge to really entertain when you find a good bit of road to let it loose on. I've also never experienced anything like the way that Jag V12 will pull from motorway cruising speeds when you poke the 'go faster'pedal. She might be an old girl now,, but she can still pick up her skirts and hustle when the need arises. 😁
We had one back in the mid 80s. That spoiler used to amuse me. It had a hole for the radio Ariel to pass through which was fine until you opened the boot with the radio on, and snapped it 😂
I have the later facelift car without the hole, but still with the problem of the spoiler being in the way of the arial. There was a relay fitted to the boot latch so when you opened the boot it would lower the arial automatically. Had to wait for it to drop down, then curse that it had broken, again.
My uncle had the red xjrs from the 89 i think motor show stand in this red. G plate. Its on street view somewhere 13 scots close stanwell. When he died it ended up being taken by an enthusiast as it had stood idle and rotting for maybe 10-12 years. Had an xe which I inherited and a 63 reg xj ultimate whixh got sold to the same guy I think. Was a jag man through and through. Im glad the xjrs and the big limi went to real jag lovers.
My cousin Owen from Southall did 140mph on the M1 30 years coming from Derby in his Blue with Doe skin leather . The white lines became one continuous line we were going so fast . Naughty yes but if you have the pace you're going to have to test it out occasionally . The greatest all rounder ive ever been in ❤
When I was considerably young than I am today, my father picked up his new 5.3 Double Six TWR. Now you would think it had full tank of petrol from new, er no. While filling up, I turned on the radio, the electric aerial activated, which went up through the rear spoiler, at which point it went straight up the nose of the guy that was filling the tank, to the extent, I needed to turn the radio off to get it out. Yes, back in the day, someone filled your car for you, how times change.
I remember a brand new top end V12 XJS being at a car show in the mid to late '80's,it was £55,000 which seemed an astronomical amount of money at the time.
Big Jag tourers always age sooooooooo well. Don't much like the bodykit on this example, but in general design terms the XJS, and the XK that followed it have been fantastic looking cars.
That Tom Walkinshaw really got around didn’t he? Between this massive beast and the diminutive Mazda RX-7 no car was spared. That’s what I call a racing spirit.
@@Paul58069 Good for you! Hindsight says you made a good life decision, as time at the track is time well spent. I suspect you’re talking to the RX-7 reference? We probably didn’t realize what a great time we were living in - rich automotive years.
@@pete5534 Yes, I was referring to the RX-7. Dutch team, I was a guest in the paddock. Kept on going that RX, while most other cars were on their last legs towards the end of the 24 hrs. Jag sounded mighty ! RX sounded like Scud rocket landing in your street ! I believe second year the Volvo's 240 turbo were there, there were unreal fast. If I am not mistaken BMW's 635CSI's as well.
Yes TWR Jag somewhat blew away the rest of the field, exept for the RX. Even back then there were rumours about Major Tom cheating. Water injection on the brakes to cool them is what I remember
Really enjoyed this Jack...owned a stunning xj6 some years back but a XJS has always been on the list of cars to own for a long time...I like the late ones - mid 90s. See you in May 👍
Tom Walkinshaw was a visionary and an incredibly astute individual whom surrounded himself with very well selected and highly capable people. The crown jewel in my mind will always be 7 litres of V12 power taking the fight to the Porsches and winning at Le Mans. I will never forget being glued to the telly for the duration.
Don't forget that 7.0 Litre V12 was engineered by Al Melling, who went on to design the TVR AJP8 & Speed Six engines. Ian Callum worked at TWR and the DB7 was a TWR / Jaguar / Ford proposal for an F-Type before it was re-designed as the DB7. Walkinshaw himself was not just astute but rather cut-throat and legends of his 'sharp practice' and in many cases outright cheating abound. But as you rightly say, some great people worked there and made a huge difference to British Motorsport.
I loved driving my father's pre-facelift XJ-S V-12 in California. I can see in your video that the TWR suspension kit does a great job in the corners. I'll never forget the refined ride and silky power of that engine! We had XJ-S racers run by Group 44 in the Trans-Am series here in the States. It really showed it's colors when it won on the long, fast Road America track in 1978. It was great fun to see and hear them at speed. See it here - th-cam.com/video/kOal50E2fpk/w-d-xo.html
1:28 From 1985, TWR focused on racing the Rover Vitesse in touring cars, except for a couple of races. For those who have yet to see it, you need to watch the video of Mt Panorama Bathurst 1985 TWR Jaguar XJ-S V12 Qualifying Lap
Interesting you mention the rear tyre width limitation in the ETCC. Walkinshaw realised it needed wider tyres at the back so they modified the rear chassis rails and said the race cars were based on the North African Export model. You wouldn't get away with that today!
Walkinshaw did a lot of upgrades for the GMH team in Australia, producing some very quick and often pretty cars, and the racing unit in Britain is so attractive, with its wide tyres,
Enjoyed that Always wanted one they’re such a good looking car, prefer the non body kit cars That racing footage looked ace I’d love one of the liveried race cars
A colleague of mine in Switzerland had one with the 6.0 l V12 and the bodykit - but it wasn’t an original TWR as far as I know. Still it was an impressive beast in the company car park, and he got it to 260,000 km without mechanical problems.
Lovely, in H E form. A pal of mine, ten years my senior and now, sadly, suffering from Alzheimer's disease had the earlier model. Fantastic ride quality but had some problems with overheating and electrics. I wonder how the TWR ones compare with the Broadspeed offerings ?
the XJS is still a good looking car, particularly the earlier design. While living in Switzerland I very nearly bought used a Le Mans version back in the early 90s, fear of service costs meant i opted for a bmw instead. Later i did but a UK low mileage Celebration model, ( not the best looking model) but didnt keep it long..lack of space for such a large car was a disappointment.
Jack, have you ever come across Harry Metcalf while shooting your videos? Looks to me like you guys travel several of the same roads. I always liked the XJS but I was just out of college when these came out and I was poor. Great video!! Too bad that the phone didn't ring while you were driving.
I came close to buying a twr xjs donkeys years ago, when they were ridiculously cheap...... But maintaining the V12 inj scared me to death so i didn't risk it..... When i was a bricky apprentice my boss had a xjs v12 hc and it was always in the garage 😩,, so i bought an sd1 vitesse when they were also giving them away.... Cost me £1000 and was a tidy decent car which i had for about 4-5 years before selling.
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I was the body shop foreman at Julians of Reading which the the biggest jaguar dealership in the UK. I used to spray and fit the TWR body kits . I was also responsible for painting the promotional XJS cars in the Benson and Hedges Silk Cut colours for the Jaguar stand at Le Manns. I was also responsible for the idea of turning the Julians of Reading jaguar dealership's body shop into the first Jaguar approved body shop, as jaguar was acquired by Ford and independent of Britain Leyland. 🇬🇧
That's cool. Painting cars is an artform.
I enjoy hearing stories like yours. Britain is such a hub for motorsport, and the sheer number of specialists that range from in the fore, to in the shadows is staggering.
I’d love to commit one summer to motorsport gatherings throughout Britain.
It must have been exciting to assemble a rare body kit such as the TWR.. my son and I are in the finishing stages of a restomod on his 86 XJS V-12 jag.. it is a completely shaved body (no door handles, no side markers, no bulge on the gas door). Custom interior, custom lowered suspension, with a 1-1/4" front sway bar,1" rear. 265-rears,,245 front's , on 18" rim's.. custom engine management from Mobeck with electric idle control,, custom headers, mating to 2-1/2" SS exhaust system with X pipe,,everything is polished or chromed in the ER,, removed aux gas tank, relocated battery to the right side trunk pocket, custom made panels and now the trunk is matching the interior..
What did you need to install the front and rear TWR bumpers, did you have to remove or replace the bumper brackets? Thank you for keeping these beasts alive..
Mate that's awesome!
You mean British Leyland, previously BMC (British Motor Corporation Ltd.).
Anyhow, interesting.
well Jack, back in 1985 I was in the engine shop at TWR after finishing a Stag apprenticeship. on one occasion I took Tom Walkinshaws own XJS across Oxfordshire to pick up some urgently needed timing parts. I'd driven a few XJSs in my previous occupation but Toms was truly sublime. it was very VERY quick and placement through the corners was beautiful.
I was part of the Group C team building the 6.4 litre and there was a guy called Mike who used to build all the 6.0 litre road and race engines. Mike was quite a master of his art. I remember one day we blew a Group C lump on the dyno which bent one of the camshafts. he tapped it straight for us whilst we frantically rebuilt the engine.
the big take away from working there was "its not how good you are, its how good you cheat." there were plenty of naughty things hidden in those engines.
What kind of things can you hide in an engine? I imagine the things that would help the most might be things like airflow improvements and cam profile changes that would be easy to spot?
@@MathsYknowanother ingredient is component strength or the method of component attachment which allow the engine to rev higher for longer without self-destruction.
Rules are meant to be broken!
C’mon. Do tell…
I’ll never tire of stories such as yours.
maybe I'll do a video on it one day...
I've owned 2 XJSs. A 1983 HE which was deceptively fast although did have high repair bills due to my inexperience with Jaguars at the time I bought it, then a 1994 XJS 6.0 convertible which as ruby red over parchment leather and a dreamy car. So smooth with their ride and power delivery, one night late after work I had my wife drive me back to my office to pick up my Ferrari 308GT4, she was in our HE. Once I got in the Ferrari I had a devil of a time keeping up with her in the XJS, redline shifts and maximum throttle just to keep up! When we got home, I asked her why she was in such a hurry and she replied, 'What? I was just driving normally' LOL... sneaky fast those XJS V12s! Thanks to the TWR V12 review Jack.
What a machine. Still looks good today.
Very cool vid.
I like how you could pick all the options individually. So if you wanted a stock looking car that was a racer underneath, you could have it that way, or if you just wanted the race car looks with a stock, comfortable car underneath, you could have that too. That's cool.
However being working class wasn't an option
This took me back. As a kid my next door neighbour was a petrol head (and hairdresser) who owned an Aston DBS and then an XJS. Used to ride in the back while he hit an optimistic 140mph on the short run from my school back to home. Anyway I always loved the look so bought a late 1990's 6 litre convertible XJS here in New York. I fitted the special breathing kit and chip conversion from AJ6(?) to boost output to around 330hp (Harry Metcalf's XJC had the same runed manifold etc before he had it rebuilt). I think those engines borrowed a lot from the TWR era. TBH the car was a hot rod barge but still very refined. Problem is even during the Ford era these were very unreliable and I got tired of the ration of shop time to drive time. So I sold it and ordered a brand new E46 M3 CiC which was way quicker, handled better, had more space and revved and revved and revved. That lasted me 21 years with barely an issue. But I still miss the unique look of the XJS, especially the coupe with the flying buttresses. Timeless.
I'm probably one of the few that have owned a V12 XJ-S for 30 years now. Absolutely love it. I dont drive it like a racing car on the roads, never will. Graceful, quiet, smooth and effortless to drive. Suits me perfectly. Proper servicing is the one requirement with these. Not a fan of the body kit, sorry. Great video Jack as always.
I had a series 3 TWR, it was one of eleven built to the spec of the race car, it had the wheels but no body kit, 6 ltr engine apparently 340 BHP. Uprated brakes,steering rack, suspension, 5 speed ZF gearbox, and a free flowing exhaust.... Yes the changes made the world of difference!!!! Let's face it a standard V12 can really pull if you lock it in second gear... I remember being late one day and joining a motorway... In second gear and I kept my foot down, not to the floor but a long way down.... My god it lit up and flew!!! The noise will live with me forever!!! I have been very lucky to own my favourite cars this was one of them. I wish I had a garage I could of kept it in.... 😢
When driving too Hard Jag V12 tend to drop valve seats
That is so cool. The race cars had no body kit, so I guess your car was very authentic.
The ones that got away 😢
@@SpaNT650 I've only had two the TWR Jaguar and my Mercedes-Benz 280 SL pagoda!! I regret selling both.... But the Mercedes the most.... 😞
Love the look of these, and remember seeing the 7.0 Lister a couple of times on the road.
I am showing my age now, but I loved watching the Saint with the white XJS in it.
Same. I had a toy "Saint" XJS.
I remember him in a Volvo P 1800. You're showing your age?
@@gerrybailey447 🤣🤣🤣🏆🏆🏆
@gerrybailey447 Likewise, I remember the P1800. Back in 1981, I saw a red Mercedes Benz on Wandsworth Bridge with the reg ST1 it looked so wrong!
Ian Ogilvy stared in the short lived 'The Return of The Saint' series where he drove an XJS.
Around 1996 I had a XJS-Cabriolet, and took my lady to Oxford to go to Birmingham with a friend and his lady in his 6 litre XJR-S.
On the return drive back down the M40 at 02:00 down a deserted motorway he managed to do an Average of 100 mph from Brum to Oxford, having to do 125 in the last 10 miles.
Highly illegal and irresponsible I know. However, the car was rock steady, we passed zero traffic at that time of night. A memorable night.
That was a hefty upgrade price back then. Looks worth it, though. The car has that great transitional late 80s-early 90s look to it, and it was such an interesting profile compared to any other car. With respect to the car phone, they do add flair to 80s and 90s cars. I had an early 90s Nissan with one installed by the original owner and it was always a conversation starter.
I will say seeing these big green beasts race in Australia back in the day was truly a highlight for us and the group c era
They were absolutely amazing 😍😍🇦🇺
Over the past year or two I became obsessed with these pre-facelift bodykit models; TWR and Lister. Finally nabbed myself one with the Lister kit over the weekend and it's just a joy. One of the most unique and still decently obtainable cars on the road currently.
Lovely distinctive wheels
Nice video Jack, liked the commentary, very nice
From an Australian perspective, racing land barges was a proud tradition - until someone realised that it was insane - until the Jaaag arrived.
And the legend John goes won Bathurst in a walkinshaw jag
@@TheTruckdriver999 There is footage on TH-cam of some quali laps - white knuckle stuff.
And it sounded beautiful around the mountain. I used to go all around the track on the day. Every spot was a wonderful symphony.
Yes 1985 John Goss
I remember being at Le Man's in 1987 I think watching the xjs fly past.
Great car, I had a1988 TWR conversion on my car which included, steering, suspension mods. and body kit. No engine mods. It transformed the car into a real BMW and Porsche beater but retained the quiet refinement of the engine which had more than enough power as standard. Most noticeable was the steering which put great feel into it. It looked great too.
Walkinshaw and the XJS were epic at Bathurst in 85. Recommended watching the race on You Tube
The sound of these cars in historic racing is epic (as it was at the time)! Sad to see it make way for a homogenised two-make pushrod V8 class with Falcons and Commodore only. 12 cylinders > 8 cylinders!
As a very young lad my dream cars were an XJ-RS, the XJ220 and the gen 1 NSX....
Was a great time to be a kid growing up
Lovely car and a great video . As a newly qualified driver in 1978 my dad agreed to let me drive his XJ 5.3 C on the motorway for motorway driving experience. Same basic engine.
A golf GTI cut us up on the way to the motorway . Don’t react said my dad . Once on the motorway he said “ now catch the B*****d “ . I am not going to say what I did next or the indicated speed that I hit . But I will say that the Jaguar V12 was an extremely rapid car . It easily and rapidly overhauled the VW .
The on.y cars which I have experienced that have exceeded my dad’s XJ are our Bentley’s both of which have featured on Jacks channel . Technically a V12 will always be superior to a V8 even with a turbo or two . But only the Bentley’s have exceeded the experience of my father’s XJ 5.3 C .
An absolutely stunning British car and a total credit to its owner
I am not overly keen on the XJS but this is something quite different. TWR did well with it as you say and probably encouraged Jaguar itself to get more involved. Remember back in the day any manufacturer worth its salt would go racing and or rallying to promote their brand which was a very successful business model for selling standard cars. Whilst some still do it is not such a big deal as it was in lets say the 60's. A great review Jack thank you. 👍👍
Absolutely gorgeous car! I`ve ALWAYS loved Jags, both the XJS and the XJ12 saloon and that V12 when combined with a less silenced freer flowing sports exhaust delivers an EPIC soundtrack. This car really deserves a manual gearbox and 6 or even the Lister 7ltr conversion for the true power that it rightly deserves. Basically a Lister Le Mans (over 500bhp and 200mph top speed and the soundtrack of a howling demon!)
Hi Jack. TWR won Bathurst here in Australia in 1985 i think.... they bgot 1st and Third i seem to recall.....the cars really were very quick...... Love an XJS! Cheers S
Thank you for going into the ACTUAL DIFFERENCES that make this a TWR car vs the standard cars. So many of the (few) reviews just gloss over things like this, other than the body kit. Only think I would have added was a specific mention of the victory at Bathhurst - that's still an amazing race.
A beautiful car , the TWR mods really set them off. No other car looks like it .
While working in the UK in 1987 I got to drive one from the TWR shop in Kiddlington back to London …great times :)
Ive had two "normal" XJ-S's and they were amazing and i always wanted a TWR as it was the pinnacle at the time, the V12 was sooooo smooth. Amazing video matey and a beautiful car
Glad you enjoyed it old boy!!!
I have a modified 1992 facelift XJR-S. You definitely need the TWR spec steering rack to appreciate how well it feels on the road. I've also upgraded the front brakes to bigger disks, and swapped the rear end from a 1994 XJS with larger, outboard brakes. Since the Aston DB7 has the same floor pan it is dead easy to fit lowered and uprated suspension. Sounds enormous with a big bore exhaust. I love it and would never want to part with it. The only thing lacking is a manual box.
What's actually different with the steering rack? I want to improve the steering feel on my XJS. I've heard you can get some device that limits the power assistance from the pump. Were the TWR racks actually different?
@@asdreww The XJR-S rack has a modified modulator valve that changes the assistance level, I don't know about the specifics of the TWR rack but it is likely much the same modification. I would guess that you are talking about a similar device. The other difference from a standard rack are extended limit stops, to stop the wider tires rubbing on full lock.
I have the TWR rack. Agree it makes a great difference. My understanding is also that it only reduces the assistance and is otherwise ordinary. Polyurethane steering rack bushings are also a must-have for any XJS.
I have a 1990 XJRS 6.0 V12 since 2004 with all of this kit except manual gearbox. 44,000 quid new only 442 made. It is very comfy around town and flies on country roads locked in 2.
Fuel consumption is leaded or super unleaded 98 octane and consumes like a Range Rover.
Mega respect, brother. A fine choice for the discerning gentleman.
I worked with a chap who reckoned to get from Brighton to Stansted for work in an hour every morning in an early manual car. I raced a six litre version for seven years lovely car to drive, six MPG at race speeds.
The S also had a successful competition history in th USA, winning one manufacturers' title and two drivers' titles. This led to a classic print ad campaign under the tag line, "Thundering Elegance". I was in the Jaguar business at the time, and I don't remember a single customer buying an S because of the racing successes, but several expressed approval of the ad campaign. Wonderful high-speed motorway flyer, but rather expensive to maintain and boy did they eat tires (think "4400 pounds and 5.3 litres"). I never much cared for the later ones, especially those with the sunroof, which robbed the car of headroom it could hardly spare. Plus, both versions of the soft-top had a tendancy to leak in hard rains. But I still have a soft spot for the HE non-sunroof models. Good video.
I always liked the XJS, especially when it starred in The Saint...it looked fantastic in white!
Brings back memories for me, I had a red, 1975 Jaguar XJS 5.3L V12. It was immense! As a 6'2" bloke it was a little tight but not uncomfortably so and the seats, mega comfortable. I had a gun metal grey HE V12 XJS of 1988 vintage, again a fantastic car. I bought them both secondhand and wish I had kept them.
My uncle had one which he raced. It was beautiful. When I was 19 back in 1984 my boss had a black V12 5.3 that I got to use every day. Can you even imagine the kudos cruising around town in it. I owned my own in 1991 and today have an XK I've had for 16 years (2008), all wrapped up in the garage road-ready for dry weather driving only. Love Jags.
I envy you the garage.
You can't get then for love or money round where I am .
What really boils my brussels is when I see a garage door slightly ajar ,rammed full of old furniture and other tat ....
mid 80s we had Tom Walkinshaw humiliate our local racebred Australian muscle cars at Bathurst ,those Eurotrash awful pommie chariots just tore our v8 knuckledraggin bogan vehicles to shreds ,been a Jag fan for life as i met Tom as a young kid and he was just the best,Tom became a hero overnight as he was like us not a stuck up look at you down your nose high and mighty type ,Tom took our beloved VL Commodore and redesigned it into the most beloved legend of Australia ,say hello to the VL Walkinshaw Commodore ,just the most beautiful car ever made with just an incredible motor under the bonnet ,love this video Mr 27 its your best to date ,i cant wait to show the boys at work after Easter break
I had a v12 5.3 litre for sixteen years and traveled all over Europe in it , only thing ever broke on the car was the high pressure steering hose but the car could be driven to the garage
I have a black one just like this. Thank you for the video!! Wish I could like it 100 times.
3:06 The bushes aren’t different. They’re just turned 90 degrees so that the holes in them are no longer lined up with the fore/aft forces on the radius arm, effectively making them firmer. Any XJS can be modified this way for free. 😊
🇨🇦 🇬🇧
Like the peanuts on the concord were "free"
Great car! I have a white 76 Pre HE and love it.
That mobile phone was the perfect touch to top off the 80s vibe!
Watching the TWR XJ-S made me remember:
Early in the 90s I had the opportunity to drive a six litre XJR-S - black exterior and nearly white leather inside. Gorgeous combination of colours and nice to drive!
Many years ago I had the opportunity to buy one, a 6 litre. A good friend also intended to buy it. Because we were mates and didn't want to piss each other off, neither of us bought it. I should make a list of cars I had the opportunity but failed to buy and now regret. It's a long one. But I think the look has aged well. I saw a standard XJS in a lay by behind an Audi TT and it looked like a stiletto next to a blunt instrument.
My dad had ones of these in white when I was a kid. I thought it was the coolest thing I ever saw
IMHO one of the most menacingly beautiful cars of all time.
My goodness Jack, you certainly know how to come up with cars that time forgot. I have to admit the XJS was a comfortable ride as were most Jags of that time, the styling leaves a lot to be desired. The TWR improvement was "beneficial".
Well put
I had a 1984 XJS HE, and was a great car indeed. It was stolen and written off as too much damage. But this was definitely my pride and joy. From Australia 🇦🇺
Love these cars. The race program originally started in house and when Tom approached Jaguar it was a no brainer as it would save Jaguar money and resources. Of the five race cars the first one is the one to own as its the lightest. That car was acid dipped to shave off some weight by Jaguar just before Tom approached them.
Jesus those Walkinshaw boys could drink. Many, many lost nights with them on WSCC races.
They always come across as a luxury gt car to me as you said. My Dad had 7 different Jags while I was growing up. One being a 1984 Jaguar XJS V12 Guy Salmon Jubilee edition with gold plated emblems and two tone brown and like a champagne gold body. It was super smooth and so quiet/refined.
The central “barrel” instruments drew on avaition experience and were designed so that all of the indicators read in the middle under optimum conditions. Hence all could be checked with one glance.
Only when the fuel tank was half full.
Looks great,loved the white one in the saint as a kid.
funny that it's whisper quiet as I remember the race cars being deafeningly loud, and epic
Great to see one of these featured - they are hidden gems. I've got a 1990 6.0 XJR-S which I'd like to convert to a manual (it currently has the factory 3 speed auto). It's a really comfy GT but it's got enough of an edge to really entertain when you find a good bit of road to let it loose on. I've also never experienced anything like the way that Jag V12 will pull from motorway cruising speeds when you poke the 'go faster'pedal. She might be an old girl now,, but she can still pick up her skirts and hustle when the need arises. 😁
We had one back in the mid 80s. That spoiler used to amuse me. It had a hole for the radio Ariel to pass through which was fine until you opened the boot with the radio on, and snapped it 😂
I have the later facelift car without the hole, but still with the problem of the spoiler being in the way of the arial. There was a relay fitted to the boot latch so when you opened the boot it would lower the arial automatically. Had to wait for it to drop down, then curse that it had broken, again.
Very NICE review. One think the fine spirit of the well breed motor has crept into the reviewer!
They were ripping Bathurst ... I still watch that footage from time to time
My uncle had the red xjrs from the 89 i think motor show stand in this red. G plate. Its on street view somewhere 13 scots close stanwell. When he died it ended up being taken by an enthusiast as it had stood idle and rotting for maybe 10-12 years. Had an xe which I inherited and a 63 reg xj ultimate whixh got sold to the same guy I think. Was a jag man through and through. Im glad the xjrs and the big limi went to real jag lovers.
That's cool, having the motor show car! do you know where it is now - back on the road?
My cousin Owen from Southall did 140mph on the M1 30 years coming from Derby in his Blue with Doe skin leather . The white lines became one continuous line we were going so fast . Naughty yes but if you have the pace you're going to have to test it out occasionally . The greatest all rounder ive ever been in ❤
We had the TWR XJS-C. Magnificent car for its era, but it was horrifically expensive in every aspect.
When I was considerably young than I am today, my father picked up his new 5.3 Double Six TWR.
Now you would think it had full tank of petrol from new, er no.
While filling up, I turned on the radio, the electric aerial activated, which went up through the rear spoiler, at which point it went straight up the nose of the guy that was filling the tank, to the extent, I needed to turn the radio off to get it out.
Yes, back in the day, someone filled your car for you, how times change.
Fuel filler cap is on the opposite side to the aerial 😂
I remember a brand new top end V12 XJS being at a car show in the mid to late '80's,it was £55,000 which seemed an astronomical amount of money at the time.
That is a beautiful looking car with a lot of soul ❤
Big Jag tourers always age sooooooooo well. Don't much like the bodykit on this example, but in general design terms the XJS, and the XK that followed it have been fantastic looking cars.
Im a bit of a geek and this car has an outstanding recall according to DVLA.
That Tom Walkinshaw really got around didn’t he? Between this massive beast and the diminutive Mazda RX-7 no car was spared.
That’s what I call a racing spirit.
I know, I was there at the 24hrs of Spa twice :)
@@Paul58069 Good for you! Hindsight says you made a good life decision, as time at the track is time well spent.
I suspect you’re talking to the RX-7 reference? We probably didn’t realize what a great time we were living in - rich automotive years.
@@pete5534 Yes, I was referring to the RX-7. Dutch team, I was a guest in the paddock. Kept on going that RX, while most other cars were on their last legs towards the end of the 24 hrs. Jag sounded mighty ! RX sounded like Scud rocket landing in your street ! I believe second year the Volvo's 240 turbo were there, there were unreal fast. If I am not mistaken BMW's 635CSI's as well.
@@Paul58069 Sharing your experience keeps it alive! Thank you.
I love the sound of an angry rotary.
Yes TWR Jag somewhat blew away the rest of the field, exept for the RX. Even back then there were rumours about Major Tom cheating. Water injection on the brakes to cool them is what I remember
Had to come watch this video when I saw an XJR-S for auction here in Finland. It has the 6.0 engine also. Love the looks of this car.
Great video as always, Jack!
Also, the TWR XJS is hands down, one super cool and awesome classic Jag.^^
Excellent stuff as always Jack and what a fantastic jag! It suits the red too 👍
Got to love a Jag with extra RRRR. Great things.
Really enjoyed this Jack...owned a stunning xj6 some years back but a XJS has always been on the list of cars to own for a long time...I like the late ones - mid 90s. See you in May 👍
Tom Walkinshaw was a visionary and an incredibly astute individual whom surrounded himself with very well selected and highly capable people. The crown jewel in my mind will always be 7 litres of V12 power taking the fight to the Porsches and winning at Le Mans. I will never forget being glued to the telly for the duration.
Don't forget that 7.0 Litre V12 was engineered by Al Melling, who went on to design the TVR AJP8 & Speed Six engines. Ian Callum worked at TWR and the DB7 was a TWR / Jaguar / Ford proposal for an F-Type before it was re-designed as the DB7.
Walkinshaw himself was not just astute but rather cut-throat and legends of his 'sharp practice' and in many cases outright cheating abound.
But as you rightly say, some great people worked there and made a huge difference to British Motorsport.
I loved driving my father's pre-facelift XJ-S V-12 in California. I can see in your video that the TWR suspension kit does a great job in the corners. I'll never forget the refined ride and silky power of that engine!
We had XJ-S racers run by Group 44 in the Trans-Am series here in the States. It really showed it's colors when it won on the long, fast Road America track in 1978. It was great fun to see and hear them at speed. See it here - th-cam.com/video/kOal50E2fpk/w-d-xo.html
1:28 From 1985, TWR focused on racing the Rover Vitesse in touring cars, except for a couple of races.
For those who have yet to see it, you need to watch the video of Mt Panorama Bathurst 1985 TWR Jaguar XJ-S V12 Qualifying Lap
It was always something it never promised
Yep.
This is a properly badass car and would be very cool at any car show. Thanks for sharing!
I remember them racing in Australia at the Bathurst 1000
Tom won at with the Jag at Bathurst in Australia in the 80s pole position to flag victory ,those big cats let loose lol
Interesting you mention the rear tyre width limitation in the ETCC. Walkinshaw realised it needed wider tyres at the back so they modified the rear chassis rails and said the race cars were based on the North African Export model. You wouldn't get away with that today!
I have the later model with the 6.0 engine . in gunmetal grey . You have inspired me to put it back on the road after a 14 year layup in the garage .😀
I used to walk by one of these (non TWR) v12 on the way to school in the eightys. I'm forever smiting. 😊
Walkinshaw did a lot of upgrades for the GMH team in Australia, producing some very quick and often pretty cars, and the racing unit in Britain is so attractive, with its wide tyres,
Enjoyed that
Always wanted one they’re such a good looking car, prefer the non body kit cars
That racing footage looked ace I’d love one of the liveried race cars
What a glorious, glorious car!
A colleague of mine in Switzerland had one with the 6.0 l V12 and the bodykit - but it wasn’t an original TWR as far as I know. Still it was an impressive beast in the company car park, and he got it to 260,000 km without mechanical problems.
Now thats a cracking machine
The TWR 6.0 engine developed around 380 bhp, if I remember correctly.
Never knew of this but, TWR never disappoint.
Lovely, in H E form. A pal of mine, ten years my senior and now, sadly, suffering from Alzheimer's disease had the earlier model. Fantastic ride quality but had some problems with overheating and electrics. I wonder how the TWR ones compare with the Broadspeed offerings ?
Big TWR looking Fantastic DC
Thanks Ian 👍🏻
the XJS is still a good looking car, particularly the earlier design. While living in Switzerland I very nearly bought used a Le Mans version back in the early 90s, fear of service costs meant i opted for a bmw instead. Later i did but a UK low mileage Celebration model, ( not the best looking model) but didnt keep it long..lack of space for such a large car was a disappointment.
It looks really good.
What a dream if it would have been equipped with a manual gearbox.
Cheers from Belgium.
Swap out that yellow cooling fan ASAP! They are prone to shattering and wrecking the front of the engine bay!
Jack, have you ever come across Harry Metcalf while shooting your videos? Looks to me like you guys travel several of the same roads. I always liked the XJS but I was just out of college when these came out and I was poor. Great video!! Too bad that the phone didn't ring while you were driving.
Check out that car phone.. Fantastic
.
I came close to buying a twr xjs donkeys years ago, when they were ridiculously cheap...... But maintaining the V12 inj scared me to death so i didn't risk it..... When i was a bricky apprentice my boss had a xjs v12 hc and it was always in the garage 😩,, so i bought an sd1 vitesse when they were also giving them away.... Cost me £1000 and was a tidy decent car which i had for about 4-5 years before selling.
Would be interested in your thoughts of the xj-s compared to the BMW 850i
I remember Tom Walkinshaw had a TWIN TURBO version for himself.
TOM WALKINSHAW's twin turbo personal version was featured in STREET MACHINE magazine in Australia. I think it could cover the 1/4 mile in 12 sec.
Lovely ride...gives them a new appeal.
Fantastic history here, both for racing and 80s car culture