The original XJ range of Jaguars, introduced in 1968, was the last to be overseen by Sir William Lyons, the company’s founder. The XJ12 was announced in July 1972, and it was regarded as being an outstanding car. This was a genuine four-seat luxury saloon that would do 145 mph and go from 0–60 mph in just 7.4 seconds—a fantastic swan song for Lyons.

The Series II models were launched at the 1973 Frankfurt Motor Show, which also saw the introduction of the two-door coupé. This car, the XJC, was given the suffix “C” for coupé, and it would be Lyons last project before he retired from active design and duty in 1972. The Series II cars had a completely revised interior and dashboard, but it still had Jaguar’s “gentleman’s club” feel of walnut and leather. The car also featured a brand-new heating and air conditioning unit. Even though the car was shown in Frankfurt and at the London Motor Show in 1973, production did not begin until 1975.

Although the factory never produced a drophead coupé, a very few XJ12 coupés were modified into dropheads by Lynx Cars and Avon. The coupé used Jaguar’s short-wheelbase chassis and it had larger front doors and a different roofline than the saloon, resulting in the coupé being the platform of choice for the drophead conversions. The new open top enhanced the desirability of the car, and it made for a lovely grand touring experience, as the car was still able to carry four people and their luggage in comfort.

The car presented here is a right-hand drive example that is finished with silver paintwork and red leather trim. It is one of the rare drophead-converted versions of Jaguar’s XJ12 Coupé. In 1976, just 663 cars were produced, making this a very rare example of an already rare car. The car is largely original and has clearly been enjoyed over the years, which is evidenced by its odometer reading over 63,000 miles. This car begs to be driven and will no doubt be enjoyed as a warm-weather driver by its next owner.