Jaguar
XJ12C (XJ5.3C)

Why it matters

The XJ coupé was a two-door pillarless version of the XJ saloon, shown at the 1973 Motor Show but in series production only from 1975 because of sealing problems with the rear quarter windows. It was built until November 1977.

How rare is it?

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

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

• Jaguar XJ12C (XJ5.3C) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
• Jaguar XJ12C (XJ5.3C) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: TOM at Picassa. · CC BY-SA 3.0
• Jaguar XJ12C (XJ5.3C) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: Edvvc from London, UK · CC BY 2.0

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

The coupé was built on the short-wheelbase Series 1 floorpan with doors four inches longer than the saloon's, folding front seats and a black vinyl roof on every car. Customers could choose the 4.2-litre XK or the 5.3-litre V12, and from 1975 the V12 had fuel injection. Production ended on 8 November 1977 when XRW 116S, a V12, was the last of 10,426 two-door cars across the four coupé models. British Leyland cited the small numbers as the reason.

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.

Distinguishing features are the pillarless side windows with no B-post, the longer doors, a black vinyl roof covering on all production coupés, and XJC badging on the boot lid.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust – Coupé Countdown: XJ-C XRW 119S Level A

   • 1855 V12-engined XJ-Cs

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   1977 Jaguar XJ12 Series 2 5.3 Litre Coupé (XRW 119S) Level A Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust

   • the last of the 10,426 two-door cars of the four models having been built
   • the 5.3 litre V12 253bhp engine
   • From 1975, with the adoption of fuel injection on the V12, power output was raised to 285bhp
   • pillarless window style with no doorframe or B-post

   Accessed 2026-11-12