Day 1: Series 1 XJ - 12 days of Jaguar-xj-mas

The Jaguar saloon confusingly named XJ4 began life in 1962 as a Jaguar E-Type 4 door saloon idea. Progressing from 1964, XJ4 was the last project directly involving Sir William Lyons and Fred Gardner on the exterior design, Bill Heynes and his team on engineering, and Doug Thorpe's Radford based design team on the interior. A number of styling design mock-up's reveal the earlier Jaguar E-Type nose and rear influence. Another front design exercise emulated the Gordon Keeble style although the final design language for XJ4 hardened with the purposeful expression of what was to become the face of Jaguar XJ6 confirmed with the four front lamps being aligned at the top with lead loaded cowling. The wide track with Dunlop SP wide tyres and the low roof line enhanced the powerful stance. Notice the flat glass used either side of the B-pillar: curved glass was available but not yet adopted by Jaguar. Jaguar XJ6 was launched at the Paris motor show in 1968 and whilst some styling aspects might have been considered old fashioned at the time - the over-all styling aesthetic was a huge success with a waiting list of client orders of up to two years. The Daimler derivatives launched one year later in 1969 recognisable by the fluted front grill and boot lid chrome work that were offered with the same 2.8 and 4.2 straight six XK engines. In July 1972, XJ12 was launched offering the creamy Jaguar 5.3 V12 in a saloon body for the very first time. Styling changes were limited to V12 badging and a vertical slate front grill. V12 cars were only available with 3-speed automatic transmission courtesy of the Borg Warner Model 12 unit modified to manage the extra power and torque of the new V12 engine. The level of refinement and power was unprecedented and perhaps the Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas model, launching in September 1972, was the ultimate expression of Grace, Space and Pace.