Images via Duncan Hamilton
This muscular 1976 Jaguar XJ12C Broadspeed is one of just four, was driven in period by Derek Bell and David Hobbs, and is up for sale at Duncan Hamilton.
In 1976 Leyland Cars decided to contest the European Touring Car Championship, contracting Broadspeed to build a car based on the 5.3-litre V12 XJ12C Coupe. Only four XJ12C Broadspeed race cars were built, with this car, chassis number 1, completed well into the 1976 season.
The car debuted in the Tourist Trophy at Silverstone late in the 1976 season. There, it demonstrated both its greatest strength and most crippling weakness. Chassis #1 took pole position with driving team Derek Bell and David Hobbs, but lost a wheel and dropped out of the race. This was to be the story of the XJ12C Broadspeeds – blistering single-lap pace plagued by poor reliability and lack of the investment required to realise their full potential.
In 1977 chassis #1 was used for publicity and development, while two new cars were built for competition with driving teams Derek Bell and Andy Rouse, and John Fitzpatrick and Tim Schenken. They were driven to pole position at Monza, Salzburgring, Brno, the Nürburgring and the Silverstone TT, but continued to struggle with reliability and failed to make a significant mark on the championship. Following the 1977 season, the programme was cut.
When the racing programme concluded, chassis #1 went on display in the Coventry Transport Museum. It has since been treated to a restoration and rebuild to bring it back into period condition, with significant investment put into improving its reliability.
Following that work it finally realised some of its potential, claiming an outright win in the Motor Racing Legends Historic Touring Car Challenge.
Up for sale at Duncan Hamilton, it’s in racing condition with current FIA papers. Head to the Duncan Hamilton website here for the full details.
Images via Duncan Hamilton
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