Series 3 xj12

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.

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

The Jaguar X300 and Range Rover P38 – both released in 1994 – are bargains now, but which is best?

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

Buying the best example possible of the shortest-lived XJ