United Kingdom · British/European launch pre-HE coupé · September 1975

Jaguar XJ-S 5.3 V12 Coupé

Jaguar replaced the E-Type with a quiet, fuel-injected V12 grand tourer built for fast long-distance travel.

Grand tourers

Exterior · Photo shows Representative 1975–1981 pre-HE XJ-S coupé; exact individual model year is not established.. representative with explicit scope
1975–1981 Jaguar XJ-S coupe, Golden Super Cruise 2026-09-05.jpg · Xnatedawgx · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Research pending

A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.

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A place in vehicle history

More than a set of wheels.

Jaguar revealed the XJ-S in September 1975 after a long development that began while the E-Type was still in production. Malcolm Sayer influenced the shape, and Doug Thorpe's team completed it after Sayer's death. Instead of recreating the E-Type, Jaguar entered the international grand-touring class with a closed 2+2, automatic climate control and a shortened XJ-derived platform. Its 5.3-litre V12 gained electronic fuel injection, while Bob Knight's suspension delivered the mixture of speed, ride and quietness expected of the larger XJ saloons.

Look a little closer.

Its rear buttresses began as an idea for an abandoned mid-engined road car related to the XJ13 project.

Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.

A grand tourer, not an E-Type remake

Jaguar described the XJ-S as its first International Grand Touring model. The closed 2+2 body, air conditioning and XJ-based suspension targeted sustained high-speed comfort rather than the light, open sports-car character many buyers expected. That difference explains both the early controversy and the car's later long production life.

Source: Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust · 1975 XJ-S ↗

Fuel injection changed how the V12 behaved

The 1975 launch engine used Bosch D-Jetronic made under licence by Lucas, with Lucas OPUS electronic ignition. Jaguar engineer Harry Mundy told Motor Sport that the V12 had been conceived for injection. The system did more than raise a headline number: it spread useful torque and improved driveability, important in a heavy automatic grand tourer.

Source: Motor Sport · The Jaguar XJ-S, October 1975 ↗

Where these facts come from

Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.

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