1976 Jaguar Broadspeed XJC V12 Racing Coupe

With the re-organisation of British Leyland in 1973, all motor sport activities were centralised. British Leyland increasingly turned to contractors to prepare cars and manage of racing teams. Ralph Broad of Broadspeed had enjoyed a successful run. He had ideas of his own about the possibility of developing the Jaguar V12 engine for a proper racing car and was therefore chosen to spearhead an attempt to bring a Jaguar back into racing, running the XJ12 coupe, XJC for short, in the European Touring Car Championship.

Development began in 1975 and the car was unveiled in March 1976. To stay within the regulations, the cars were substantially modified by Broad and even fitted with a manual gearbox! The cars' debut was the Tourist Trophy race at Silverstone in 1976. Derek Bell led the race for a while, until a driveshaft failed.

The was to be the recurring theme throughout the car's brief career. Always spectacular, often fast but without the reliability, or luck, needed to stay the course or achieve a high finish. The best result was to be a second place for Bell and Andy Rouse at the Nurburgring in 1977. Alas, it was not enough for British Leyland to agree to continue with the project for another season, although Ralph Broad personally never changed his opinion that with further development, the car would have been a winner.

Engine: V12 cyl, 5343cc Top Speed: 170mph (274km/h) Power: 560bhp Coachwork: two-door coupe Price New: not quoted