Unlucky "13"... [PIC]

Since the mid-fifties, Jaguar was developing a race-worthy V12. The result was the 5.0, 502hp DOHC designed from two XK 6 cylinders with a common crank shaft with power through the 5 speed ZF transmission. It was a full race version with plans for a detuned variant for passenger cars. By 1966, it was incorporated into this beautiful,graceful aluminum body designed by aerodynamic guru, Malcolm Sayer of the Bristol Aeroplane Company who was the designer of the C Type and D Type Jaguars. The goal was to race this at LeMans and they hired Jack Brabham to test the car at Silverstone. There were too many refinements needed on the car for the LeMans race so the car was put on the back burner. When the Series 3 V12 XKE was to be debuted, they brought out the XJ13 to be filmed at speed with the E-Type and due to a bad tire the car was virtually destroyed in a crash and the wreckage was hauled back into storage. Years later, Edward Loades discovered the wreckage and with his company, Abbey Panels (see the plaque on the dash), offered to restore the car 'similar' to its original condition. When the restored car was debuted in 1973 at Silverstone, Jaguar issued a disclaimer that the car wasn't exactly like the original. Perhaps a bit of sour grapes there. The car now resides at the British Motor Museum in Graydon, UK.

I first saw the AUTOart model at a show and was blown away by it but I didn't have the funds with me to buy it. I finally chased one down a few years later and I just love it.