Is this Jaguar XJ Coupe V12 manual the best sounding car in my garage? Maybe..

After a year long restoration, my '1978 Jaguar XJC V12 manual is now fully run in and I can finally use all the power of the tweaked V12 engine! I think it's one of the best sounding, as well as best looking Jaguars of all time. Let me know what you think in the comments below!
This video was created with the support of:
Follow me on

[KiwiStag]

Harry, I have tears of....I have no idea....rolling down my cheeks as I listen to that engine tell its story. That sound affects me on such a deep emotional level.

A Lamborghini in the low revs has little to no pickup and the sound it makes until it's up around 4000rpm does not do the looks justice. The XJC in contrast has a low burble, then a growl that turns into a snarl and then a full-on scream of happiness - as if the engine loves being pushed hard. I got the impression that the 5.3 litre V12 would happily rev way past the red line and keep going until it exploded if you let it. I have not seen or heard another rev that quick, that beautifully or that audibly superb since three green XJSs attended a little race in Australia called the Bathurst 1000 in October of 1985....with a little-known (haha) Scotsman named Tom Walkinshaw taking the lead car out. For eight hours we got to hear them sing their V12 song and although they were each beset with the odd problem, they still finished first and third after the 1000 kilometre endurance took out many well-known and seasoned vehicles and drivers.

That XJ12C of yours is not a race car, but she's no plodder either. She's a gentleman's cruiser that would happily respond to a poke on the throttle if the day, situation or one's mood demanded it. She's a sleeper in some ways - ready to take up any challenge when and where it is demanded. I cannot think of a better combination - a very sexy bodied pillarless coupe, painted in a modern colour that could easily have been a factory one, with period wheels and correct sized tyres being turned by a fuel-injected 300+ horsepower balanced V12 through a 5-speed manual gearbox and the soundtrack being delivered to you in stereo when all windows are down through a set of enlarged and tuned pipes. One could not ask for

To me, it just shows you what happens when money is put into the RIGHT sort of modifications or changes to how a car initially presents. Tasteful, solid-bodied and exactly what the doctor ordered. The wheels and tyres, steering wheel, number plate placement and everything else got my vote. Initially, I'd have loved to see her with a black vinyl roof, but that green roof just looks too good to cover. White leather interior eventually? up the dirt too easy! Leave her as she is and just keep driving take the camera along. You don't even need to say anything after the I just wish I didn't live 13, 000 miles away on the other hemisphere, where there is no way I will see this beauty in could ask you very nicely if you would take me for a run in it....pretty please?! It's made the decision for me as to my next classic when I sell my Stag

[timstott]

Possibly my favourite car in the stable, partly because it is almost attainable and I can see myself driving it, and partly because it is simply a superb rebuild! An unmitigated success! Well done Harry 😎

[davidrbrtsn]

Thank you for NOT switching out the wheels. You've modded this PERFECTLY. Enjoy!

[TeamCGC]

I don't think I've ever saw Harry this happy reving out that V12. Gorgeous car. Harry's got the best taste.

[ianworley]

"I now have, what is in effect, an as new body shell". Harry, there's nothing 'as new' about that car. The attention to detail will last for decades. So much better than any XJ12C that Jaguar ever produced. An absolute thing of beauty. I'm not sure what the final all in cost of the project was, but it's worth every penny. It has been a real joy to follow the journey.

[ZGearbox_AT]

This is maybe one of the best Jag I've ever seen; and it's a proper Jag at that!
Props for mantaining a period correct set of wheels, they look gorgeous!

[MultiICR]

I love seeing how happy and excited Harry gets with the XJ Coupe

[benpenagonzales]

When Harry’s laughing to himself you know he’s having fun 🤩

[Peter-MH]

The colour is what has really transformed this car! Looks absolutely incredible!

[jahnemann]

I haven't been behind the wheel of my 77 xj coupe in 11 months and 3 weeks and this is helping hold me over. Thank you Harry.

[TwinCam]

I don't know why it's taken me eight months to watch this episode, but this car is dreamy!
Despite their BL overlords, Jaguar design was simply spectacular in this period, and your car finally brings the XJ-C's potential to life. I adore it.

[WorldwideDarts]

My dad inherited one of these things from his friend that passed away. What a beast of a car!

[robsawalker]

Bigger wheels and tyres... no. No, no, no, no, no, no! You have totally made the right decision sticking with those fantastic alloys Harry!

Sounds absolutely amazing

[hamishyoung]

Has to be said, and I am sure others will say the same, that this is a personal favourite on the channel. Sounds and looks amazing, what we see now is perhaps what it always should have been?! Top effort. Brilliant.

[petermolloy]

I’ve always loved the XJ-C, but the addition of the V12 and the subtle tuning mods makes this an amazing car. I was a teen when the XJ-C arrived and it’s still as attractive today as it was in the ‘70s
When you accelerate, I’m immediately brought back to the sound of cars racing at Road Atlanta. Beautiful engine! I didn’t realize it was a short stroke engine!!
I did own an XJ8 for a few years and enjoyed galloping around the SE states in the US, doing around 30k miles a year. It was also a mighty car, but the seat and my back couldn’t get along, so sadly I had to part with it.
Jaguar had so many amazing cars in the era (e-type, mark II, mark IV) I’m glad I was alive to see them in their hay day!

[garethdesborough]

Tom Lenthall is brilliant, nobody knows Jag engines better. He did plenty of work on my aging XKR convertible a few years ago and was always cheerful and communicative about options as more and more horrors were uncovered!

[Steve-rvql]

Harry is like a kid in a sweet shop, he does the stuff you always wanted to do yourself but never had the cash! Great great vid and a car who’s mods have been so perfectly judged to be a great drive and not a slave to trends, beautifully done.

[R_Jake]

‘If I want a quicker car, I’ll buy a quicker car’ well, you actually own a fair few much quicker cars. You’re so humble and that’s why I so enjoy watching your videos 😄

[ashleychambers]

Not only the best sounding car in the garage but probably the best ever sounding car you’ve ever reviewed

[paulroper]

Have watched most, if not all of Harry’s Videos.. have never heard him so exited 🤣 Like a kid with his favourite new toy especially that right hand sweep at about 10 minutes😎