Jaguar XJ13 Is A True Unicorn With Just One Car Ever Made

Jaguar XJ13 was a prototype racing car made to compete at the mid 60’s Le Mans. The person responsible for this was Jaguar engineering director William Heynes, however, the car never got the chance actually to drive in the actual race. Only one car was produced making it one of the rarest cars on the planet.

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How were the design and development conducted?

The design of this mid-engined prototype first came out in 1960 by William Heynes, however, the construction began does not begin until 1965, and the first car was running as of March 1966. The exterior of the car was made entirely from aluminum so it weighs less while sustaining the rigidity of the structure. Aircraft technology was used to make the car aerodynamic so it remains stable ducting consistent high speeds.

Although the development of the XJ13 was taken seriously by the designers, it was not prioritized by the officials of Jaguar and it got even less because of the 1966 merger with BMC. The formal testing of the XJ13 does not begin until 1967, by the mid-year while testing the car at Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA), David Hobbs clocked a top speed of 161.6 mph, which remained for 31 years until Gordan Murray built the F1 which reached the top speed of 165 mph. In the year 1968, the Le Man's race officials decided that the prototype engines will be restricted to 3.0 liters of displacement which made the low-slung roadster obsolete and jammed in the corner of Jaguar’s engineering shop.

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What about its performance and specifications?

The Jaguar built the XJ13 to compete with the 7.0 Liter Ford GT40, the Ferrari P4, and the Porsche 908. Thus it had to be a performer to be able to compete with these cars and it was. The design and development were made only with performance in mind. 

Jaguar XJ13	Specs
Price	NA
Powertrain	5.0 liter, V12
Horsepower	502 hp @ 7600 RPM
Torque	386 lb-ft @ 6300 RPM
Transmission	5-speed manual transmission
0-60 MPH	3.3 seconds
Top Speed	175 mph

The XJ13 was a mid-engine format, with the 5.0 Liter V12 engine designed by Heynes and Claude. It was basically two XK six-cylinder engines that were put together sharing the same crankshaft with an aluminum cylinder block. 

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MIRA Crash

In 1971, when Jaguar was all set to launch the series 3 E-type, its first production V12 engine. As the public wanted to see the XJ13 in action, It was taken to the MIRA circuit driven by test driver Norman Dewis. He was driving it at a high pace and the tire got damaged making Norris lose control.

The Jaguar crashed and flipped several times wrecking the whole car, however, the Norman made it out with minor injuries. Later, the car was resurrected by “Lofty” with specifications with bits that remained similar to the original car.

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How much is the Jaguar XJ13 worth?

Since Jaguar made only one prototype of the XJ13, it becomes difficult to quote the exact price of the car. The valuation depends on several factors such as the condition, significance, and history of the car. In 2017, the Jaguar XJ13 prototype had an estimated value of a whopping $15 million. The actual price may vary as this car will be auctioned due to its desirability, which grabs the attention of many rich car enthusiasts. 

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Is the Jaguar XJ13 real?

Yes, the Jaguar XJ13 was a real prototype created by Jaguar to compete in the 24 Hours Le Mans. It created a lot of hype but did not actually race in any racing events. After the rules of the Le Mans changed and the car got obsolete due to the regulations.

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Where is the Jaguar XJ13 now?

After the fatality it faced in the MIRA circuit crash, the car underwent a full restoration by Jaguar. The new XJ13 made its debut in July 1973 when Lofty drove it around the Silverstone at the British Grand Prix meeting. You can see the car parked on the display at British Motor Museum in Gayton, UK