In the footsteps of greatness

Discreet good taste and well put together ...

Jaguar scored a hit with its first homegrown engine, the XK of 1948. But when it came to its second go, it aimed high. And the E-type Series 3 was the first beneficiary of the new V12 unit.

The V8 came of age in the USA, but historically America has by no means been its only home, nor the source of some of its greatest exponents. British car makers also saw the layout’s appeal, and while

Jaguar’s Le Mans debut, June 1950

If this halfway house between original looks and final usability appeals,what do you need to know?

Despite appearing largely standard, this early XJ12 Series II hides two secrets; a 6.0-litre V12 from a later model plus a modern sixspeed automatic. The result is a still classic-looking saloon that’s as powerful as it is discreet