Photo: Building the Legend
In the world of motorsport, the name Jaguar is no longer as feared as it used to be some decades ago. The British brand was for a while, mostly in the 1950s, the hard-to-dispute champion of Le Mans, Sebring, and others.
As it often happens in motorsport, Jaguar's reign began to dwindle as the 1960s came to be. The last victory Jaguar scored at Le Mans was in 1957, before a long drought of over 30 years prevented it from claiming the title again until 1988.
And not for the lack of trying.
In 1966, Jag attempted to climb back on top with the XJ13 prototype, the brainchild of engineering director William Heynes and Jaguar engineer Claude Baily. On paper, the car seemed extraordinary, but it never got the chance to express itself on the track, for reasons no one cares about now.
Because of the revolutionary engine is was fitted with, the car might have made an incredible impact on racing. The mid-mounted 5.0-liter V12 might have caused quite a stir on the tarmac, if it hadn’t been killed, together with the entire development program for the XJ13.
There are some however who are trying to revive the said engine, and actually give it a chance at hitting the road. Dubbed Building the Legend, the group is on the verge of presenting a functioning replica of the engine, made to be used as an upgrade for the classic Jaguars.
Dubbed tera, the engine will be on display from February 21 at Race Retro in Stoneleigh Park, Coventry. It is naturally-aspirated, uses electronic fuel injection, and has a safe rev-limit of between 8,000 to 8,500 rpm.
According to the manufacturer’s website, the order books for the engine are already open, but there’s a warning that only few of them will be built, and handed to customers on a first-come, first-served basis.
And not for the lack of trying.
In 1966, Jag attempted to climb back on top with the XJ13 prototype, the brainchild of engineering director William Heynes and Jaguar engineer Claude Baily. On paper, the car seemed extraordinary, but it never got the chance to express itself on the track, for reasons no one cares about now.
Because of the revolutionary engine is was fitted with, the car might have made an incredible impact on racing. The mid-mounted 5.0-liter V12 might have caused quite a stir on the tarmac, if it hadn’t been killed, together with the entire development program for the XJ13.
There are some however who are trying to revive the said engine, and actually give it a chance at hitting the road. Dubbed Building the Legend, the group is on the verge of presenting a functioning replica of the engine, made to be used as an upgrade for the classic Jaguars.
Dubbed tera, the engine will be on display from February 21 at Race Retro in Stoneleigh Park, Coventry. It is naturally-aspirated, uses electronic fuel injection, and has a safe rev-limit of between 8,000 to 8,500 rpm.
According to the manufacturer’s website, the order books for the engine are already open, but there’s a warning that only few of them will be built, and handed to customers on a first-come, first-served basis.
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