Jaguar
XJ13

Why it matters

The XJ13 was Jaguar's mid-engined V12 prototype intended for Le Mans, and it is the only one ever built. It never raced, but it previewed Jaguar's V12 engine and is often called one of the most beautiful racing cars ever made.

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 XJ13 (Wikimedia Commons: Jaguar XJ13)
  Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
• Jaguar XJ13 (Wikimedia Commons: Jaguar XJ13)
  Photo: David Merrett from Daventry, England · CC BY 2.0
• Jaguar XJ13 (Wikimedia Commons: Jaguar XJ13)
  Photo: 35mmMan · CC BY 2.0
• Jaguar XJ13 (Wikimedia Commons: Jaguar XJ13)
  Photo: Michel Curi · 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

Work on the XJ13 began in 1964, but the project took second place to the XJ6 saloon and was overtaken by rival designs before it could race. Its body was shaped by Malcolm Sayer, with Bill Heynes, Wally Hassan and Derek White contributing under Claude Bailey's direction. In 1971, while being filmed at MIRA, a tyre punctured on the banking and the car crashed into the fence; Norman Dewis escaped with minor bruises. Lofty England decided in 1972 that it should be rebuilt, and it was fully restored again in 2005.

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.

There is a single XJ13. Its 5-litre V12 sits behind the driver, suspended from the monocoque and carrying some rear-suspension loads. It has four overhead camshafts, aluminium head and block, Lucas mechanical fuel injection (replacing the original three carburettors per head) and a ZF five-speed transaxle. The body is riveted aluminium on a monocoque. After the 1971 crash at MIRA the car was rebuilt by Abbey Panels using the original jigs and formers, and in 2005 was restored to its 1968 colour.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   1966 Jaguar XJ13 Level A Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust

   • the single XJ13 built had a 5 litre V12 engine
   • There’s only one Jaguar XJ13 in the world
   • 5 litre V12 engine ... mid car
   • a 5 litre V12 engine
   • It had 4 overhead camshafts with 2 valves per cylinder
   • replaced with a Lucas mechanical fuel injected system
   • 502 BHP
   • a 5 speed ZF transaxle gearbox was installed
   • 5-speed ZF transaxle gearbox
   • 5-speed ZF transaxle
   • would have been able to have exceeded 180 mph (289 km/h) down the Mulsanne straight

   Accessed 2026-11-13
2. 2
   Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust: 1966 Jaguar XJ13 Level A

   • 1 only XJ13 built

   Accessed 2026-11-11
3. 3
   Jaguar XJ13 specifications Level C Ultimatecarpage.com · 2007-11-09

   • 60º V12
   • Bore / Stroke 87.0 mm / 70.0 mm
   • Compression 10.4:1
   • 445 bhp / 332 kW @ 7,000 rpm
   • 518 Nm / 382 ft lbs @ 6,300 rpm
   • @ 6,300 rpm
   • the monocoque was constructed from aluminium ... the engine and gearbox carried the rear suspension
   • double wishbones, coil springs over adjustable Armstrong shock absorbers
   • ventilated Girling discs, all-round
   • Steering rack-and-pinion
   • riveted aluminium body on monocoque
   • 2,410 mm (94.9 in)
   • 4,810 mm / 1,800 mm / 1,000 mm
   • 1,420 mm / 1,420 mm
   • weighed in at just under 1000 kg

   Accessed 2026-11-13