Replacing the legendary E-type was never going to be easy for Jaguar – and radical thinking was going to be needed. Ian Nicholls charts the development of the prototypes which helped shape Jaguar’s brilliant 1970s GT, Projects XJ-21 and XJ-27.
Initial thoughts: the XJ21 project



Moving on: XJ27






Keith Adams
Editor and creator AROnline at AROnline
Created www.austin-rover.co.uk in 2001 and built it up to become the world's foremost reference source for all things BMC, Leyland and Rover Group, before renaming it AROnline in 2007.
Is the Editor of the Parkers website and price guide, formerly editor of Classic Car Weekly, and launch editor/creator of Modern Classics magazine. Has contributed to various motoring titles including Octane, Practical Classics, Evo, Honest John, CAR magazine, Autocar, Pistonheads, Diesel Car, Practical Performance Car, Performance French Car, Car Mechanics, Jaguar World Monthly, MG Enthusiast, Modern MINI, Practical Classics, Fifth Gear Website, Radio 4, and the the Motoring Independent...
Likes 'conditionally challenged' motors and taking them on unfeasible adventures all across Europe.
Is the Editor of the Parkers website and price guide, formerly editor of Classic Car Weekly, and launch editor/creator of Modern Classics magazine. Has contributed to various motoring titles including Octane, Practical Classics, Evo, Honest John, CAR magazine, Autocar, Pistonheads, Diesel Car, Practical Performance Car, Performance French Car, Car Mechanics, Jaguar World Monthly, MG Enthusiast, Modern MINI, Practical Classics, Fifth Gear Website, Radio 4, and the the Motoring Independent...
Likes 'conditionally challenged' motors and taking them on unfeasible adventures all across Europe.
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In the picture of “DKV915C”; what is lurking in the background, buried under tarps and other detritus? Would there still be an XJ21 clay around? Or just another nasal treatment of XJ27?
looks like the clay model in the first photo
The right side of the XJ27 clay model looks a bit like Wayne Cherry’s mid 1970s Vauxhall front ends.
The XJS was never intended as a replacement for the E Type, Jaguar intended a more “sports” focussed car to replace it and what became the XJS as a premium GT car.
Following the Leyland takeover Jaguar plans were pulled in, both to save money but also realistically the resources did not exist to develop all these vehicles even if the money had. The XJS survived because it was based on the XJ so was relatively cheap to put into production.