Jaguar
XJ12C Broadspeed ETC cars

Why it matters

The Broadspeed XJ12 Coupés were Jaguar's return to front-line British racing in the mid-1970s, run in the European Touring Car Championship under British Leyland. Ralph Broad had ideas for developing the Jaguar V12 as a racing engine.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

After British Leyland centralised its motorsport and used outside contractors, Ralph Broad of Broadspeed, who had raced Triumph Dolomites successfully, was chosen to lead the Jaguar effort. The cars were heavily modified within Touring Car rules and, among other changes, got a manual gearbox. They debuted at the Tourist Trophy at Silverstone in September 1976, where Derek Bell led until a driveshaft failed. Reliability problems recurred; the best result was second for Bell and Andy Rouse at the Nürburgring in 1977, and BL did not continue the project.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The Broadspeed cars are heavily modified XJ12 coupés fitted with a manual gearbox, unlike the automatic standard cars; the Heritage Trust keeps one.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Sports Car Market – 1976–77 Broadspeed Jaguar XJ12 Saloon Level C

   • 4 race cars built by Broadspeed 1976–1977 ("number two of four built by Broadspeed"); the same article's author later questions whether the total was three or four

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   Jaguar XJ12 Coupé (Broadspeed) Level A Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust

   • develop the Jaguar V12 engine for a proper racing car
   • were fitted with a manual gearbox

   Accessed 2026-11-12