2010-04-02 22:21:06 | pauls writes:

Car was at auction 3/10
www.brightwells.com/3rdparty/orphanspress/classiccars/viewdetails.php

Auction description:
Lot number 14
Hammer value £1,000
Description Jaguar XJC V12 Coupe
Registration BWX 791S
Year 1977
Colour Old English White
Engine size 5,340 cc
Chassis No. 2G1389
Engine No. 7P3312654

One of two Jaguar/Daimler Coupes in our sale today, this is the rare 282bhp 5.3-litre V12 model of which only 604 examples were made in right-hand drive. A letter in the history file from Jaguar Cars also states that BWX 791S was the very first XJ12 to be fitted with the GM400 gearbox which replaced the previous Borg Warner unit.

Supplied new by Forshaws of Preston, it was first registered to a fertiliser company in August 1977 and has had just three owners since, the current vendor having owned it since 1986. The car was driven into storage in 1994 and has not been used since, although the engine was last run in 2000 and the vendor sees no reason why it would not run again once hooked up with a fresh battery and fuel supply.

Although the Russet leather interior remains in fine condition the bodywork has deteriorated considerably and will need substantial restoration. The owner was intending to restore the car to show condition and has amassed all the panels necessary to complete the job, although the work was never actually started. The panels alone cost almost £2,000 and include many genuine Jaguar items such as: two front wings; two door skins; rear inner arches; inner, middle and outer sills; sill ends; radius arm panels and front valance. Pattern items include: rear wheel arches; floor panels; front cross member; rear skirt panels and valance.

The car comes with much history from 1982 onwards, various old MOTs back to 1980 and the aforementioned spares. These magnificent V12 Coupes are now very rare and this example deserves to be restored although the parts, engine and interior alone are worth more than the guide price suggested today.