AutoArt 1:18 1967 Jaguar XJ13

The crown jewel of European racing is the prestigious 24 hours at Le Mans. Winning this grueling race honors the manufacturer as well as the drivers. And, of course, those honors will hopefully translate into sales. In the early 1950s, Jaguar's XK series engine was having great success, but by 1955, it was clear that a new engine would have to be built. A 5 litre carbureted 4 cam V12 was conceived and was to be installed in a mid-engined sports racing car. In 1960, work on the chassis and body had begun under the guidance of Malcolm Sayers. The mid-engine design would allow for sleeker aerodynamics and the resultant weight distribution would improve handling qualities. Progress was slow because Jaguar's interest in racing had waned due to financial considerations. As a result, it wasn't until 1966 that the car was ready for testing. It could have been slated for Le Mans in '66 or '67 but the merger with BMC that created British Motor Holdings made the future too uncertain to justify further investment. With sales of their E-Type beginning to take off, Jaguar did not even want the XJ13s existence known less customers delay their orders for the 6 cylinder, waiting for this mid-engined V12 to become available. Sir William Lyons instructed that the car not even be circuit tested. Ultimately the car was prepared by workers on weekends and spirited to a test track for evaluation anyway. At its best, this 2200 lb machine generated 445bhp @7000rpm and 362 ft/lbs of torque which gave it a top speed of 175mph. As great as its performance was, its all around abilities were never enough to challenge the vaunted GT40s that ruled the latter part of the '60s. The V12, however, lived on to be introduced in the E-Type in 1972. Taken out of mothballs in 1971, the XJ13 was brought out to the test track for, among other things, a promotional film to introduce the new V12 E-Type. On a high bank at 140mph, the G-load collapsed the rear outboard wheel and the resulting crash reduced the car to a complete wreck. The car was eventually restored because the wooden formers used to form the original body still existed at Abbey Panels in Coventry. It resides today at the Jaguar Museum. It was recently displayed at an event with a price tag on it of £7million. It was assumed that it was Jaguar's idea of a joke.

I first saw AutoArt's 1/18 diecast replica of this car a year ago at a show in its windowed box. I had no idea what it was. Thinking it was some new concept car that sported some retro styling, I admired the detailed engine compartment and moved on. A few months ago, I watched Alan DeCadanet in a show on Jaguar take this car out for a spin, and after drooling over this exquisitely beautiful race car and listening to him recounting the car's history, I had to have this diecast. AutoArt has once again weaved it's magic giving us a midpriced diecast with a highend look and feel. Richly finished in the obligatory British Racing Green, AA has nailed the look and stance of this elegant machine. It's as sensuous as the Ferrari 330P4, as aggressive looking as a GT40, yet uniquely Jaguar. As to the stance, it's even more realistic with the use of pneumatic tires (Dunlops, dontchaknow) mounted on perfect replicas of the specially designed, one-off racing wheels. BTW, in the 1971 wreck, two of the wheels were destroyed and the original molds were lost. They were recreated by hand and employed undercarriage parts from of all things, the Concorde.

Abbey Panels' bodywork has been faithfully replicated down to every rivet and fastener. The removable bonnet cover is riddled with a myriad of real louvers, not simulations.... a nice piece of casting. Lifted from its 4 locator pins, it reveals the coolant and oil radiators with electric fan, the front suspension and a "plumbed" windscreen washer system. The riveted sheet metal as well as the tub in the "trunk" really highlight what makes AutoArt so successful in providing such a bang for the buck. Its plastic panels are indistinguishable from the rolled aluminum and steel it is meant to represent. I literally had to tap on each piece to determine whether they were metal or plastic. Make no mistake, however, this diecast has plenty of heft to it, but AA has found so many ways to provide convincing detail without the expense incurred in highend mixed medium replicas like Exoto. As a purist, I prefer the mixed medium approach. As a pragmatist, at 1/3 the cost, you can easily fall in love with AutoArt's plastic simulations. They are that good.

The cockpit is a real treat for the eyes.... as well as a real strain. The flush fitting doors open on precise, invisible springloaded hinges. The door panels reflect spartan, riveted, black painted plates of the original, with exposed locking mechanisms, white grab handles and adorned only with a fire extinguisher mounted on the driver's door. The seats are adorned with 4 point restraint systems of real cloth and accurate looking hardware. The real treat is the dash. Incredibly busy for a race car, it appears more like the console of a commercial airliner. Every gauge, toggle and switch is replicated as are the labels that mark each one. I want to say they are all legible, but they're so microscopic that even with my large magnifying glass, I can't quite read them. I can just barely make out the placard that honors Abbey Panels of Coventry as the coachbuilder. The streering wheel is brass riveted wood and AA has used photoetched metal for the spokes and hub which is adorned with a 3-D microscopic Jaguar emblem.

Behind each door aft of the bulkhead is an operating louvered panel that reveals the battery compartment and the fuel filler. In between, is the clear engine cover. Flip that up and behold that impressive V12 engine, all plumbed and wired, nicely paint detailed. The fuel lines to the carbs are molded together where bound and a little blackwash will make them more separated in appearance. With the cover closed, you have to admire the crystal clear glazing which is also employed with the side windows and windscreen. It's literally optical quality material.

Once you've satisfied yourself with all this detail, stand back and take in the purely sensuous lines of this great race-car-that-never-was. AutoArt has really done this fine machine justice. There is a company that is producing this car with current engine (V8) and drivetrain technology. If you have to ask the price, then buy this AutoArt replica. It's a 5 star wonder.

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